Jeffrey Scott Melcher

Single Payer- CA SB 810 - Good/Bad News

2012-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

The Single Payer health care reform bill in CA died in the California Senate on Tuesday Jan. 31, the deadline for the Senate to move it on to the State Assembly for its turn to wrestle over the bill.

It was short two votes. Four CA democrats ABSTAINED from the vote, effectively killing it. They deserve a concerned phone call or two or a thousand. (see info below)

SB 810 did, however surprise many pundits by passing the Senate Appropriations Committee, giving it a green light on the monetary side of the issue. Your calls made a difference. Thank you for anything you did to support this.

But, some kind of politics stopped the bill from moving forward. Now we will not know if Gov. Brown would or would not have signed the bill. More organizing for our own welfare as a people against the corporate greed is called for.

This issue is far from over. Single payer bills have passed both houses in the past to be vetoed by the sitting Governor (Arnold). It will be reintroduced again.

We have other good health care reform bills to work with this Spring. We can move more reform together in the next few months. If you want to learn more, look to these websites for information:
Single Payer: www.californiaonecare.org/
CA Healthcare reform: www.health-access.org/
For various updates: http://jeffreymelcher.blogspot.com/

SB 810 voting record:
NO vote: Dem. Calderon and Dem. Correa

ABSTAIN: Dems. Padilla, Vargas, Wright and Rubio.

Contact information:
Alex Padilla (Pacoima/LA area)
Capitol – 916-651-4020
District – 818-901-5588

Rod Wright (Los Angeles area)
(916) 651-4025
(310) 412-0393

Juan Vargas (San Diego area)
Sac: (916) 651-4040
Dist: (619) 409-7690

Michael Rubio (Fresno/Bakersfield area)
Sac: (916) 651-4016
Dist: (661) 395-2620

Ron Calderon (Los Angeles area)
Sac: (916) 651-4030
Dist: (323) 890-2790

Healthcare Reform Update and Resources

2011-10-31T18:25:00.000-07:00

As I ride the VTA 181 to make a healthcare presentation at San Jose State University as a guest lecturer, I begin to post some resources for students, activists, citizens, occupyers, friends and family. This is a work in progress. Please check back on occasion for more.

One of the best sources is the well done and fairly easy to navigate http://www.healthcare.gov/ .

The end or postponement of he CLASS program part of the ACA.

Study: Income of Wealthiest 1 Percent Tripled over Last Three Decades

Healthcare Reform Websites:
www.health-access.org
centerforpolicyanalysis.org
http://www.uulmca.org/programs/health.html

and PowerPoint:
centerforpolicyanalysis.org equal-powerpoint-on-health-reform

and Educational Curricula:
www.uulmca.org - health reform small group curriculum.

Open Letter of Support for the Occupy Movement

2011-10-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

Open Letter of Support for the Occupy Movement
Posted by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee

I stand with people around the country and the world who are calling for economic justice.   My values affirm that each person has inherent worth and dignity; that justice, equity, and compassion should be the guiding principles for human relationships; and that all people deserve access to the democratic process.  

My recognition of the inherent worth of every person compels me to speak out against policies that privilege the demands of corporations over the human rights of people. I support the Occupy movement in its affirmation that protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that basic human needs are met must take precedence. All people have a fundamental right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and their families.

I also join the Occupy movement in decrying the wealth disparity that leaves millions struggling for economic security. Policies and legislation that promote economic marginalization are morally unacceptable. Everyone is entitled to a government that recognizes and promotes basic economic rights. Justice, equity, and compassion should be foremost in our government’s decision making.  

Economic oppression is not only a violation of fundamental human rights, it is also a blow to democracy. When economic power is concentrated in the hands of a few and when corporations are awarded the same status as actual human beings, the democratic process is fundamentally compromised. Basic fairness requires that all people have equal opportunity to participate in political debate and to be represented in government.   I envision a powerful and radically inclusive movement for economic justice.

I recognize economic justice as a right that is due to all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, immigration status, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status or distinction.  

I sign this letter as an expression of gratitude to all who are working for economic justice in the United States and around the world, as an affirmation of my hope for fair and compassionate economic reforms, and as a renewal of my commitment to help make it so.  

To sign this Open Letter follow this link: UUSC.org/occupyletter

I signed it. You can too.

Angela Davis Supports Wisconsin Workers

2011-06-04T00:09:00.000-07:00

For the first time ever Angela Davis and Tim Wise shared dialog in a public forum. These two giants brought their humor, wit, and prophetic voices together filling the house with a warm and energetic hope for progressive change during the Speak Out event at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, CA.

In the photo here, Angela Davis symbolically stands with Wisconsin Workers for their right to unionize and in support of the struggle taking place day to day.

"I love the people of Wisconsin."says Davis as she stops for a photo, "I love telling their story of courage."

Tim Wise Stands with Wisconsin Workers to Unionize

2011-06-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to get a ticket from a friend to see Tim Wise and Angela Davis in their first public dialog. In this photo Tim Wise stands up to support the workers of Wisconsin in their right to organize.

About Jeffrey Melcher

2010-05-07T21:50:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey worked as Program Manager with Victor Lee Lewis in 2011 building the Radical Resilience Institute Some of his tasks included systems development, event manager, data management, and social justice advocate. Jeffrey is an EFT practitioner candidate. EFT = Emotional Freedom Technique. Call for a consultation 510.847.8219

Jeffrey first contracted in 2008 with the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry Action Network, California to train CA UU congregations on high tech calling systems to work on the No on Prop 8 campaign. Then in 2009 he contracted with UULM to organize five Bay Area congregations to educate and mobilize for National Health Care Reform. After success in getting Blue-dog Dems to support the bill, carrying a strong CA voice throughout the U.S. he became the UULM Lead Health Care Organizer for CA building a team that helped UUs become known among legislators in Sacramento as the most active faith group on the issue of health care reform. His contract ended in March 2011, as funders shifted away from health care reform. Contact Jeffrey to come make a presentation to your group.

Jeffrey graduated in May 2008 from the Pacific School of Religion with a Masters of Divinity, with additional studies in congregational dynamics, anti-oppression work as pastoral care, and liturgical dance. Sermons and workshops available.

He was authorized in 2008 by The First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco to conduct weddings and ceremonies. He was glad to be able to help in the summer of 2008’s historic events conducting same-gender weddings and still really enjoys co-creating meaningful ceremonies for loving commitments. Jeffery is trained as a Prepare-Enrich pre-marital and marriage counselor.

Jeffrey comes to ministry out of the Unitarian Universalist fellowship movement. He joined the Umpqua Unitarian Universalists of Roseburg, Oregon in 1989 where he was active as the local youth advisor in the Pacific North West District (PNWD) Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) program development. It was in the Roseburg congregation he found Unitarian Universalism to be his spiritual home, and in working with YRUU that he found his spiritual passion.

Upon moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1995, he landed in the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists and became very involved in his second lay-led congregation. There, in the hotbed of this social justice congregation, Jeffrey saw his path leading him to ministry.

Seeking experience in larger congregations, Jeffrey served a year at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin in a part-time student field education position, and then took on the role of UUCM's summer Director of Religious Education. Jeffrey completed his formal UUMA internship at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley 2007-2008. He and his family are currently members of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco.

With a background as a teacher of at-risk high school youth in Oregon and as a massage practitioner in California, Jeffrey’s interest in ministry is in developing intergenerational and multicultural community through supporting family involvement, dance/movement meditation, anti-oppression awareness, the art of spiritually based social justice work, and the enjoyment of building community together. Tutoring: individual and group rates.

Jeffrey and his partner Sharon are actively involved in their cooperative housing project and home-schooling their daughter.

Ms. Marjorie Fogarty

2009-08-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

In honor of my grandmother:

"Grandma: Ms. Marjorie Fogarty"

Red Geraniums on the sea wall at Clear Lake,
Scolding Gerard for scaring granddaughter Kim with wolf growls from the dark room under the house,
Spraying Solarcane on Jeff's sunburned scalp.
A well set table.

Velvet crumb cake with cinnamon sugar topping,
Serving peanut butter and Vidalia onion sandwiches,
Asking grandchildren to eat beef tongue,
Fresh raspberries and cream.

Dominoes at lunch. Yahtzee at cocktail hour with a little dish of nuts.
Sorority sister, sailor woman, good neighbor.
Dual family Matriarch --

Daughter, Mother, Grandma, Great-grandmother, Ancestor:
Rest now. Be at peace. Continue loving in your own special way.
Be at peace. Rest.

by Jeffrey S. Melcher, son of Rosalind Fogarty Melcher and Richard Glenn Melcher

A Little Movement Please

2009-01-24T14:24:00.000-08:00

Brining movement and dance to worship service is rather new in some congregations. How curious is that since dance is one of the oldest and most humanly widespread forms of worship and appreciation of the divine and Great Mystery.

During my internship at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley I brought a group form of
tai qi which was used during the joys and sorrows portion of the service. (click on tai qi to see the Youtube). This slow form enhanced the experience for many. Some thought it distracting since it was too interesting and ought to have been its own piece. It is designed to be used on multiple occasions and therefor become less distracting to regular attendees. For those who are first timers to the service, they are not going to know the persons mentioned in the joys and sorrows, but they will get the spiritual message of the movement.

In another dance piece, a pregnant friend who dances wanted to share with the congregation and I thought it would be great for her to dance with belly bulging. A powerful Goddess dance display. It was beautiful! The kids were around and then joined in the dance with their own style. A few of the elderly women thought the bare belly was to inappropriate. Most thought it was a delightful display of life. The settled ministers supported the dance and dismissed the criticism as, "You can't please everybody". Take a look yourself and let me know. Goddess dance display.

I finished my M.Div. at PSR last May, but not one of the specialty certificates I was hoping for. I still have one class and one paper to finish to receive my special certificate in liturgical dance. I am by no means an accomplished dancer, yet I can help create space, choreography, and organization for fostering more of this ancient ritual movement for expression of wonder in the Great Mystery.

Blessed Be.

Electrical Socket History -- Manzanar Pilgrimage -- New Civilian Prison Camps

2008-05-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

I used to teach in a high school and GED program up in Oregon. When we got to the history section I would be asked by these 15-21 year olds, “why do we have to study history?” I would reply humorously, “If I told you to go stick your tongue in the electrical socket, would you?” “Of course not!” No? Why not? .... “Lesson for the day: We learn from stories and other people's mistakes and experience.”

The results of the tongue in the socket are immediate. But what about delayed results? It is more difficult to stop eating chocolate when the immediate reward of oral ecstasy is right in front of me even when a brand might be related to slavery somewhere in the world. Or a struggle to cut my meat consumption now even though it will cause some random people starvation two, four, or eight years from now. Can we make proper analysis of patterns and be bold in our prophetic word? It is our call as community leaders, theologians and ministers to do just this.

“The further back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.”
-- Winston Churchill

I have been studying the WWII internment of U.S. citizens: Japanese, German, and Italian. The Japanese Americans bore the brunt of the war time hysteria and prejudice; scapegoats for U.S. fear and xenophobia. Although there were 5 to 6 million German Americans in the U.S. at the time, it was considered politically disastrous to try a mass relocation.

Years of silence can be broken and healing can happen. Our Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, CA) class Pilgrimage to Manzanar traveled to a Japanese American internment camp and it was a deeply profound experience of affiliation - powered by sadness, anger, and hope.

Sitting in the desert at Manzanar for the "Day of Remembrance" I was moved by the day's speeches, nearly all asking for solidarity in preventing this happening to any people, group, or ethnicity ever again. "Never again" a phrase in solidarity with the horrific Jewish WWII experience. “We will not forget. Never Again!” As the Jews promise not to forget the holocaust and work to prevent another such atrocity, these words come also from Nisei (second generation) and Sansei (third generation) who are in the process of healing and enjoin a promise to keep alive the memory of American internment.

The support by the Japanese American community for the plight of the Muslim American community since 9-11 was strong enough to bring over 100 Muslim Americans from CAIR Sacramento and Los Angeles to the hot dessert ritual pilgrimage of the Manzanar. They hosted a day long dialog session regarding race, class, and history where the multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual group shared their own experiences, listened deeply, and walked with grace together in difficult conversations.

So, I was concerned when I read about the current building of camps for civilians. Government documents say they are in case of a surge of immigration. What was this all about? I read that KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton, was the the construction firm receiving a contract to build with no other bids on this lucrative job. We know KBR built the Guantanamo containment and torture camp. It has been all over the news about Halliburton being confronted with war profiteering, and Halliburton's move to relocate it's corporation offshore. It is no longer an American Company and therefor not under U.S. law. With little effort I was able to find Halliburton’s own press release regarding a contract for $385 million dollars to build civilian internment camps.

The Army has had policy in place as early as 1997 for "civilian prison inmate labor and civilian prison camps on Army installations." Confirmed as policy by a congressional letter from Congressman Bill Hefner.

Can we trust Halliburton? Civilian employees were threatened with reassignment to military camps under fire if they expressed concern to auditors. Below is an excerpt from:
Senate Democratic Policy Committee Hearing
“An Oversight Hearing on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
in U.S. Government Contracting in Iraq”
Monday, June 27, 2005, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
138 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Portions of the transcript --
**********
STAFF:
And these senior managers ordered you and other employees not to discuss your concerns with the auditors?

MAYBERRY:
Yes. We were informed if we talked; we'd be rotated out to other camps that were under fire.

STAFF:
Is it fair to say that the managers used the threat of transfer to a more dangerous base to intimidate employees and keep them quiet?

MAYBERRY:
Yes.

STAFF:
When employees did talk to auditors, what happened?

MAYBERRY:
All the employees that did talk to the auditors were switched out to other camps or fired because they refused to go to the other camps.
*********** end of transcript section ************

Halliburton has relocated to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Halliburton is under investigation for Billions of dollars of wasteful management and other legal infringement.
Who do we trust? Look here as a former CIA speaks on Haliburton corruption and move to Dubai.

Film clips from mainstream media with former Halliburton-KBR employees, congress persons, and research analysts speaking out about Halliburton profiteering, misusing a cost-plus contract and lack of congressional oversight. U.S. taxpayer money lining the pockets of private bureaucrats and American troops in Iraq suffering at the hands of this greedy corporation. Who is protecting such obvious theft at highest levels of government?

What are some of the "New Programs" that Pres. Bush is preparing for and funding?
“The administration has not only the right, but the duty, in my opinion, to pursue Fifth Column movements,” Graham, R-S.C., told Gonzales during Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Feb. 6, 2006

Here is a web site with a list of camp locations. I can not speak to the accuracy of this list. I did find a couple of YouTube journalists reporting on sites. If you find any more evidence feel free to post.

Is this site a camp in waiting? Or is this camp fully operational with inmates?

How about a Texas family camp?

“In another shining example of modern day corporate fascism, it was announced recently that Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root had been awarded a $385 million dollar contract by Homeland Security to construct detention and processing facilities in the event of a national emergency. The language of the preamble to the agreement veils the program with talk of temporary migrant holding centers, but it is made clear that the camps will also be used "as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency." -- Paul Joseph Watson. Prison Planet.com. February 1 2006.

H.R.6166 Military Commissions Act of 2006 Very troubling. disturbing content!

Everything is already in place to move inmates in federal prisons to become a workforce on military installations. See:

Civilian Inmate Labor Program
Army Regulation 210–35
Installations
Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC 14 January 2005

Other resources from U.S. military sources:
18 USC Chapter 303 Bureau of Prisons
18 USC Chapter 305 Commitment and Transfer
18 USC Chapter 1385 Posse Comitatus Act
28 USC 1346(b), 2671–2680 Federal Tort Claims Act
DODD 5525.5 DOD Cooperation with Civilian Law Enforcement Officials
FAR, Part 22.201 Convict Labor

Cut and paste HERE

I do not know what all this means, but knowing enough history not to stick my tongue in an electrical socket leads me to believe that we as a people in this great nation need to educate ourselves and understand the relation of the past to the present. The past is a good indication of what the future holds unless we move together for change, and stability of our Constitution.

Vita

2008-03-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey S. Melcher, M. Div.

Education

• Master of Divinity, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA, 2008.
• Certificate in Secondary Education, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 1980. (K-12 mathematics, 9-12 computer science and sociology), 1985.
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 1985.

Current Employment

• Consultant: Officiant for weddings and life celebrations; Premarital Counselor using the Prepare-Enrich program
• Consultant: Health Educator/Health Care Reform Advocacy

• Consultant: Worship service design/speaker/preacher

Experience & Skills

Unitarian Universalist Leadership / Professional Ministry:
• Lead State-wide Health Care Reform Organizer: project management, volunteer trainer, web database information management, organizational development , educational presenter, . Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, CA UULMCA 2009-2011.

• UULMCA "UU Voices for Health Care" Organizer in five congregations: UUCM, MPUUC,
UUSM, UUCiL, and SKUU, 2009.
• Co-administrator, Pacific Central District UUA Coming of Age program, 2008-2009.
• UULMCA PAC Interfaith Field Organizer for No on 8 campaign, 2008.
• Intern Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 2006-2007.
• Intern Minister (part-time Pacific School of Religion field education), Unitarian Universalist Church of Marin, 2005-2006.

Office and Program Administration:
• Project Manager, Radical Resilience Institute: event scheduling, systems development, organizational development, outreach, publicity, volunteer coordination, data management, 2011.
• Co-administrator, Pacific Central District UUA Coming of Age program, 2008-2009.
• UULMCA PAC Interfaith Field Organizer for No on 8 campaign, 2008.
• Exec. Asst., Fundraiser and Event Organizer, Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute, Berkeley, CA, 2003-2004.
• President, Board of Trustees, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, July 2000 - 2002 (two terms).
• Office Coordinator, Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists, 1996.
• Resident Manager, Griffin McCormick, Inc., Oakland, CA, 1997-1998.
• Program Director, Project PRIDE, Phoenix School of Roseburg, OR, 1993-1996.
• Teacher, Phoenix School of Roseburg, OR, 1989-1992.

Congregational Life:
• Member, Internship Committee, FUUSSF, 2009- present.
• Pacific School of Religion Field Education, Berkeley Fellowship UU, 2003.
• President, Board of Trustees, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, July 2000 - 2002.
• Vice President, Board of Trustees, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, July 1998 - June 2000.
• Member, Board of Trustees, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists,
March 1998 - June 1998, 2003 - 2005.
• Office Coordinator, Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists, 1996.
• Interim Director of Religious Education, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1998.
• Religious Education Teacher, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1996-98.
• Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) facilitator/advocate/sponsor,
Umpqua Unitarian Universalist Church, Roseburg, OR, 1990 - 1995.

Anti-Racism Work:

• Radical Resilience Institute

• UNtraining White Liberal Racism program participant, 2007 -2009.
• Ministry of Equality, as Intern at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 2006-2007.
• Pacific School of Religion Dismantling Racism Committee 2004 - 2008.

Fundraising:
• Health care reform organizer, web database information extraction, and fundraising through calls, writing and personal visits. Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, CA UULMCA 2009 - present.
• Fundraiser and Event Organizer, Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute, Berkeley, CA, 2003-2004.
• President, Board of Trustees, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, July 2000 - 2002.

Eldercare:
• House Manager/Caretaker for Ms. Julie Gill, Berkeley, CA, 2001-2003.
• Activities Coordinator, Mercy Retirement & Care Center, Oakland, CA, 1999-2001.

Massage, Movement, Arts and Dance:
• Docent, Bade Museum, Berkeley, CA. 2005-2008.
• Dance ministry facilitator, as Intern at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 2006-2007.
• Massage Therapist in private practice, 1996-2004.
• Tai Chi Instructor, Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR, 1995-1996.

Local, Disrtict and Denominational UU Youth:
• Interim Director of Religious Education, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1998.
• Religious Education Teacher, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1996-98.
• Consultant YRUU leader, Umpqua Unitarian Universalist Church , Roseburg, OR 1990-1995.
• Youth Program Director and Development Team, Camp Imagine (1st Southern Oregon Unitarian Universalist Family Camp) 1993.
• Consultant to start a youth group for the Unitarian Universalists Church of Eugene, OR, 1993 Various Eliot Eliot Institute positions (Youth Program Dir., Youth Speaker), Seabeck, WA, 1992-1995.
• Waterfront Director, Eliot Institute 2 (UU PNWD family camp), Seabeck, WA, summer 1992.
• Eliot Institute Staff (UU PNWD family camp), twice Youth Program Dir., twice Youth Speaker, Seabeck, WA 1992-1995.
Volunteer:
• UUA Pacific Central District Bridging Committee (youth transition ceremony), 2001, 2002.
• Young Religious UUs District facilitator/advocate/sponsor - PNWD, 1990 - 1995.
• Founding co-sponsor of Cascade Connection (PNWD Youth cluster, OR and S. WA).
• Facilitator, PNWD youth cluster convention (leadership training), July, 1994.
• Co-DRE, Umpqua Unitarian Universalist Church, Roseburg, OR, 1994. (Other Co-DRE was 16 yr. old from my youth group).
• District representative, Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network - 1997.
• Adult Sponsor/Chaplain of West Con - Summer YRUU conference (PNWD & PCD),1992.
• "Teacher Training" Renaissance Module at Shoreline UU with Cynthia Breen (PNWD), 1990.

Other Youth Work:
• PANA R2W Summer Youth Program, Berkeley, CA 2004-2008.
• Tai Chi Instructor, Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR, 1995-1996.
• Program Director, Project PRIDE, Phoenix School of Roseburg, OR, 1993-1996.
• Advisory Board Member, Confidence Clinic, Roseburg, OR, 1993-1996.
• Teacher, Phoenix School of Roseburg, OR, 1989-1992.
• Guitar teacher, Rickart’s Music, Roseburg, OR 1992-1994.
• YMCA, Water Safety Instructor, Roseburg, OR 1992-1993.
• Curriculum development staff, School of Experimental Ecology, Eugene, OR, 1988-1989.
• Teacher (K-6 all subjects), Breitenbush Community School, Breitenbush, OR, 1987-1988.
• Teacher (math and soc. stud.), Monguagon Jr. High School, Trenton, MI, 1986-1987.
• Teacher (math and computers), Meridian High School, Sanford, MI, 1985.
• Staff, YMCA day camp, Midland, MI, summers of 1983, 1984.

Other committee work:
• Vice President/Chair of Vacancy Committee, Addison Court Housing Cooperative, Berkeley, CA, 2010-present.
• Secretary of the Board, Addison Court Housing Cooperative, Berkeley, CA, 2009.
• District representative, Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network - 1997.
• Advisory Board Member, Confidence Clinic, Roseburg, OR, 1993-1996.

June 9, 2007 -- Transforming Racism, in Our Congregations and Our World

2007-06-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday, June 9, UU Church of Berkeley, 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

Save the date and plan to attend Transforming Racism, in Our Congregations and Our World. This very special seminar will be co-facilitated by Swan Keyes and Abbazero. Swan Keyes is a Euro-American, Jewish educator who specializes in helping white people understand and unlearn their racial conditioning, in order to become better allies in the struggle to end racism. Abbazero is a Nigerian, Jamaican Hebrew Shaman and ritualist change agent. This seminar will explore:

Social Justice work as Spiritual Practice
Why UU congregations remain predominantly white
What it means to be white in the U.S. and how racism impacts UU congregations today
How we can liberate ourselves from the bondage of social conditioning
How Unitarian Universalists of all backgrounds can work together to dismantle racism and build stronger, more inclusive, conscious, and loving communities

Registration is just $55, and due by May 26. To register or request more information, contact Susan Lankford, or call the Rev. Bonnie Dlott at (925) 256-4334

Honoring Cdr. Zoe Dunning in Historic Ceremony

2007-06-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

I was honored to be the clergyperson asked to officiate at the retirement ceremony of Commander Zoe Dunning on June 2, 2007. The historic ceremony took place aboard the USS Hornet.

An article about the retirement ceremony was published 6/7/07 in the Bay Area Reporter.

Until her retirement, Cdr. Dunning was the only openly gay person serving in the U.S. military. Her partner, Pam Grey, was publicly honored at the ceremony. Because she won a case in military court allowing her to be both open about her being a lesbian and was allowed to stay in the service. After she won her case, military rule was enacted saying that "no one else" could use the same legal argument.

An article about Dunning appeared in the August 2002 issue of Stanford Business.

Jeffrey's offerings were:

Invocation:

Let us pray. God of Many Names, hear our prayer. Your presence is with us now as always. May the power of truth and love, compassion and justice abide within us supported by Your grace.

The values and ethics commander Zoe Dunning holds deeply, brought her on a her journey here to this day. "To defend freedom and democracy around the world, proudly serve the United States Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment; in commitment to excellence and the fair treatment of all" -- these words of the Sailors' Creed, and her religious ethical values, brought her to serve in the Navy Reserves and to “risk of the self” for the greater good.

God, Spirit of Life, Your presence gave Zoe Dunning the courage to embody the Navy value of fair treatment to all, and the Unitarian Universalist principle affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Her courage held her truth, in service to the United States Military, to the Navy Reserves, and to all persons willing to serve their country through military service. Her twenty-two years of dedicated service with a record of high competence, ingenuity, and exemplary conduct is a moral example for us all. We ask many blessings for her in her retirement.

God, Great Mystery of the Universe, we ask for Your continued grace and guidance as we humbly search for truth in love, love and compassion in truth telling, and compassion in justice.

I ask for a moment of silence for all peoples around the world, throughout history who have died fighting in Your name. May we be forgiven, and given the strength to stand against violence in Your name.

(30 seconds silence)

And as we gather today in respect for the service of Commander Zoe Dunning, we ask blessings on her in her retirement, her family, and those that remain in service to this country now around the world.

In the name of One God we pray, Amen.

Benediction:

Loving God, Divine Mystery, let us know Your guidance. We are all God’s children: Christian, Jew, Muslim, atheist, pagan, Buddhist -- each of us dear to You even as we see You differently. For Your vastness in incomprehensible to us. We can never know You fully from our limited human capacity.

O God of all nations, let us be humble as we seek to know the truth. Let us be open to new paths together as we learn to love and create compassionate justice in Your image.

Loving God, we ask a special blessing today for Zoe Dunning as she takes the next step on her life path into an active retirement. We ask a blessing on all of us to protect the love within our hearts and Your peace in the world. We ask a blessing for all those who will remain on watch.

From the Unitarian Universalist hymnal by Rev. Robert Mabry Doss:

For all who see God, may God go with you.
For all who embrace life, may life return your affection.
For all who seek a right path, may a way be found...
And the courage to take it step by step.

In the name of One God we pray, Amen.

Chinese New Year Parade

2007-03-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey marched with his partner and daughter with the Network on Religion and Justice for Asian American and Pacific Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People (NRJ-API-LGBT) in the San Francisco Chinese New Year parade.

Photos are online at the NRJ-API-LGBT website.

Jeffrey was interviewed and appeared that evening on ABC News.

Sermons by Jeffrey Melcher

2006-05-07T22:14:00.000-07:00

"Roll Down Like Waters," January 14, 2007, UU Church of Berkeley. Audio.
"Robby the Lobster" (story) and "The Next Step," December 31, 2006, UU Church of Berkeley. Audio.
"Thanksgiving Givingthanks," November 23, 2006, UU Church of Berkeley.