The Western Carolinas Cluster Gathering

A synergy is realized when the twelve UU congregations in Western North Carolina and Upper South Carolina bring their combined energy, efforts and resources to bear on any given endeavor.

This is the concept of the UU Cluster: getting together, working together to create a liberal religious presence and a force for love, justice and freedom known by the larger community.

This year’s topic is Social Justice: Past and Future. Two main subjects are in this year’s plan: Immigration and Marriage Equity.  The Cluster meeting this year at the Asheville UU Church will consider both. The morning session is being held in conjunction with a remembrance of the Civil Right struggle in the 1960s. Highlight of the morning is a speech by Dorothy Cotton.  Dr. Cotton is a Unitarian Univrersalist who served an important role on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during that period.

She will recount the days she worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Birmingham marches. She also accompanied Dr. King to Oslo, Norway when he received the Nobel Peace Prize.

The afternoon sessions will deal with two issues of great concern in this area: Immigration and Marriage Equality. Both issues are high on the agenda of UU congregations. With North Carolina Voters to vote on a constitutional amendment that would recognize marriage only between a man and a woman, the issue takes on an urgency because votes on the question will be cast just six weeks after this Cluster meeting.  The most effective way to bring UU perspective to bear on these issues will be the subject of two seminars. Those who attend this event may choose one or the other of seminars to show ways to make the UU influence felt across the state.

The Justice Gathering will begin at 9:00 am and conclude at 4:30 pm. Cost, including lunch, for the event will be $25.00. You may register early by going to:

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BVY7GXG. 

Get more information at the Southeast District website.