Volume 4. Issue 4, April 1, 2012

Platform Speakers

April 15

"Our RACE TO THE BALLOT Against Amendment One"
Jen Jones, Director of Communications
Equality North Carolina

Jen will talk about the North Carolina Same-Sex Marriage Amendment, to appear on the May 8, 2012 ballot as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. The measure would define marriage in this state as between one man and one woman. Same-sex marriage is already banned in the state of North Carolina, but the proposed measure would add the ban to the state constitution. The text of the measure reads: Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.

Ms. Jones is a North Carolina native who holds an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. With her diverse professional experience and education, Jen brings both media savvy and policy know-how to any organization. Her specialties include expertise is in using online communities to strengthen relationships with the public and furthering organizational messaging.

April 22

Nancy Petty, Pastor
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church

Nancy Petty, the lesbian spiritual leader at Pullen Memorial Baptist church in Raleigh, N.C., has a message for her state: legalize same-sex marriage or else. Until gay unions are legislatively permitted, Petty plans to no longer sign marriage licenses, an action that will potentially have a profound impact on her congregation.

Petty has said that Pullen Memorial has long blessed unions between both same-sex and heterosexual couples but they are not the same. For heterosexuals it is called a marriage and satisfies requirements for the state. The others are called unions and are not legally binding. She also has become increasingly uncomfortable with the inequality of the two ceremonies. Even though the intent is to celebrate lifelong committed relationships equally, she believes the church unwittingly condones marriage inequality by acting as an agent of the state.

April 29

"Ethical Humanism, Secular Humanism, Non-Theism,
Atheism, Agnosticism, and Post-Theism"
Randy Best, EHST Ethical Leader

What is Ethical Humanism's place in today's diverse map of belief/unbelief? What are the distinctive historical and philosophical perspectives that make Ethical Humanism unique and different from other contemporary non-theistic positions? You will find the answers to these questions in this presentation by Randy Best.

Discussion Groups

April 1

"Health Care Reform"
Randy Best, Moderator

Randy looks forward to a group discussion about some of the issues raised in Joseph Coletti’s insightful platform about the ethics of free-market health care reform.  This discussion will focus on out-of-pocket costs for health care in European countries compared to those of the US, similarities of Switzerland’s free market system of health care compared to ours, an ethical approach to eliminating incentives for health care providers and receivers which lead to high health care costs, and the appropriate role of the federal government in our national health care system.  Randy has done considerable research on these issues. Some of his findings along with questions for discussion can be reviewed at Research and Discussion.

April 8

"Human Migrations and DNA"
Film Excerpt and Discussion
Program Committee, Moderators

"The Human Family Tree" is a standard science documentary about human migration. The information is offered to support the claim that we are all African — that every living man traces back to one 60,000-year-old African man, every living woman to one 200,000-year-old African woman, and that race is solely a product of adaptation to the environment. Although this has been asserted for years, it still feels revolutionary, one that we as a species are not necessarily ready to grapple with.

Inter-Faith Council for Social Service

April 1

On the first Sunday of each month, EHST members donate food items to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service. One of its missions is maintaining a food pantry for community people in need of groceries. IFC's impact on food distribution in this area is impressive. The economic recession resulted in a loss of donations to this important social service agency, and it relies on organizations like ours to help its clients. Please contribute generously.

Announcement: "Deepening Circle"

To expand our program offers, EHST would like to try a small group format called a "Deepening Circle."

This is an intentionally-formed group that meets once a month, outside of our usual meeting times, to engage in structured conversations that will allow Deepening Circle participants to get to know each other more intimately.

Meetings focus on a given topic and allow everyone to speak. The purpose is to be able to listen to each other and share experiences, not to discuss or debate. Participants gain insight in to other group members and increase common understanding.

Some examples of Deepening Circle topics are who your mentors have been, important places in your Life, and forgiveness.

This is a different way of fostering our ethical relations with others.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I will be announcing this initiative at an upcoming meeting with the goal of starting a group in April or May.

Let me know if you are interested in participating. Initially we will only be starting one Deepening Circle. Everyone who is interested may not have an opportunity to participate in the first group, but there will be other opportunities.

I am excited about this new EHST venture, and look forward to hearing from members who are interested.

Randy Best, Leader
Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle
rsbest@fastmail.fm