BEYOND THE CHURCH DOORS

—by Lois Chazen

FORREST CHURCH—SENIOR MINISTER
Forrest had a busy Spring with his usual obligations at the Church and an extensive book tour for Bringing God Home: A Travelers' Guide published in March, 2002 by St. Martin's Press. This involved a number of lectures, public appearances such as book signings, radio and television interviews: the full gamut. Not willing to sit on his laurels, another book The American Creed: A Spiritual and Patriotic Primer will also be published by St. Martin's Press in October.

According to Forrest, it is, "a biography of the Declaration of Independence—Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams—and before and after. Actually, the book starts in 1620 and goes up to the present. It defines America as a union of faith and freedom in which faith elevates freedom and freedom tempers faith. I've included some post 9/11 thoughts. One of great concern is that E pluribus is in a deadly contest with unum." The book tour will run from September through November. One of the presentations, a lecture at Harvard Memorial Church, concerning the issues raised in the book, is scheduled for October 28. "Despite the book tour," Forrest said, "I will be very much around at All Souls."

He is working on another book entitled If God Made the Rose, Who Made the Thorns?: Answering Our Children's Biggest Questions.

As chairman of the New York City Council on the Environment, Forrest is now working with Mayor Richard Bloomberg to put together a new board. The Greenmarket program, initiated by Forrest, continues to flourish at 32 sites in New York City. This includes the Thursday market in front of All Souls.

Last March, Dr. Church went to the Netherlands to present this year's Four Freedoms Award, given by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, of which he is a board member.

JAN CARLSSON-BULL—ASSISTANT MINISTER
Jan has also had a very busy summer juggling her numerous outside activities. In addition to receiving Final Fellowship at General Assembly in Quebec, she has been involved in numerous committees and programs for the UUA and the Metro NY District, including the UUA Commission on Social Witness, the Program Committee for the Metro NY Unitarian Universalist Ministers' Association (as its Chair), the Anti-Racism Committee of the Metro NY District, the Planning Committee for the Metro NY District Annual Meeting, and as a participating charter member of the UU Trauma Response Ministry.