‘Congregations and Beyond’

This past week Unitarian Universalist Association President Peter Morales published “Congregations and Beyond,” encouraging all Unitarian Universalists to “read, discuss, and share” his “vision of the opportunities and challenges that face Unitarian Universalism as an international movement.” Bloggers have been obliging.

The Rev. David Pyle is representative of many responses in wanting to go farther than Morales’s paper does.

Let us open up membership and identity as a Unitarian Universalist to any and all who can connect with us. Let us join with them not how we are used to, or how we are comfortable joining with others, but however the hundreds of thousands out there need us to join with them. Let us accept that they will transform who we are, as our radical faith calls us to accept such transforming power and grace. Let us find any way we can to bring people to the point where they can say, in their hearts and with their voices, “I am a Unitarian Universalist” . . . and to know what that means.

But let us do this for the right reason . . . not because of what we might expect to gain, but because of what we have to give to this wounded, broken, hurting world. What we have to give is our saving, transforming, and healing message. (Celestial Lands, January 20)

The Rev. Chip Roush points out that UUs are not unique.

I agree with much of Peter’s analysis – and I had virtually the same conversation, with a friend about her Lutheran church, two days ago. We UUs are not unique in facing this issue. Nor are we unique in trying to solve it through marketing. (So May We Be, January 21)

The Rev. Christine Robinson considers three circles of engagement in a congregation: “leaders,” “members,” and “the audience.”

The audience includes the people who come to services but don’t join or contribute, sometimes just on Christmas Eve, or when they are between relationships, or when their mother comes to town. They are the people who use the church parking lot as a staging ground for group hikes, who rely on the food pantry, whose children go to the child care center which only pays it’s direct expenses in rent, but not the cost of the capital investment in the physical plant. The audience includes the people who read the op-ed’s which the minister produces, whose organizations meet for free in the meeting rooms, and those who are considering membership and getting involved. (iMinister, January 21; see also January 23)

Patrick Murfin places Morales’s statement into the context of changes in governance within the UUA. (Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout, January 24)

Bill Baar doesn’t think it’s worth reaching out to people who identify as UUs but are not members.

You can’t build Churches (or a Movement) with folks who will not commit to do the hard work of building either.
(Pfarrer Streccius, January 25)

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum says Morales is “vague.”

But the question that he points to, well, that’s intriguing. Morales points out the there are, as we’ve known, bunches of people who identify as UU and who don’t attend UU churches. And there are bunches of people who were raised UU who don’t attend UU churches. Some of them are fairly well connected to UUism in other ways—he points to the fact that a significant number of people who attend SUUSI don’t attend any UU congregation. . . .

But what I think is new about “Congregations and Beyond” is that Peter Morales is not suggesting we find out why they’re not in churches, but, rather, find out what they are interested in doing that would connect them to our movement in other ways. Some people will never be church-goers, he’s saying, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be part of the UU religious movement. (Rev. Cyn, January 24)

The Rev. Scott Wells thinks there’s too little in the report for him “to be hopeful—or upset.” (Boy in the Bands, January 24)

Christine L. Slocum does not experience her faith as membership in her congregation.

I agree with him 100%. I also share a lot of the reaction that various other UUs have – this is not exactly earth shattering. In fact, I am already active with many of the suggestions that Rev. Morales gives. Being somewhat uninterested and somewhat ignorant of UUA politics, I already thought of UUism as a religious movement. Imagine my surprised when, in the ensuing discussion, I discovered that I had the wrong idea the entire time. (Seattleite from Syracuse, January 24)

The Rev. Peter Boullata is “thankful that Rev. Morales envisions the continued central place for congregations and is imagining other experimental forms,” but is concerned about the difference between an institution, such as the UUA, and a religious movement.

The relationship between an organized religion and religious movement, it seems to me, is one of grassroots momentum and institutional response. How does a religious organization spawn a religious movement? . . . [W]here is the movement on the ground that the UUA will respond to? What are the theological and ecclesiastical distinctives among us today around which a movement is moving? (Held in the Light, January 25)

The Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein, on her ecumenical blog for clergy, Beauty Tips for Ministers, explores her personal grief at the changes in congregational life.

I do not want to be a “Churchitarian,” worshiping buildings and traditions that may not minister to seekers of today. But there is a difference between false worship, or idolatry, and love. The Church has earned my love, respect and loyalty. It has changed my life in all good ways. The discipline of Sunday morning worship has been a challenging spiritual practice that has hammered a lot of alienation and unkindness out of me. (Beauty Tips for Ministers, January 24)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Naomi King was waiting for her life “to really begin.”

Perhaps I would have waited longer, if I hadn’t tumbled to the fact that there’s no cure for what I have. I find mercy in that. I’m free to live as I am now, without waiting for something to perfect me first. (City of Refuge, January 20)

Vance Bass, the contemporary music director at First Unitarian Church in Albuquerque, N.Mex., regrets the name he chose for his blog, Liberal Religion Gets Loud:

When I named this blog, I made a mistake: “loud” is not the defining characteristic of contemporary worship or contemporary worship music. . . . We’re no louder than the Steinway, which is to say no louder than the choir. (Liberal Religion Gets Loud, January 20)

The Rev. Kit Ketcham give a peek into the minsterial credentialing experience. (Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show, January 20)

The Rev. Justin Schroeder explains (on day 21 of blogging about spiritual practices) what he means by “spiritual practice.”

Spiritual practices/disciplines are about growing the soul, about paying attention in such a way that the “soul” expands. Spiritual practices are about noticing the ways our inner lives, the world, and something larger than ourselves are woven together. (The Well, January 22)

Crystal St. Marie Lewis looks at religion through the analogy of learning to ride a bicycle.

I do not oppose the guiding hand of tradition. In fact, I fully acknowledge that tradition seems to work like a charm for some people. However, for others, organized religion works better as a springboard to becoming independently spiritual. I think it’s important to understand religion in these terms and affirm the validity of both experiences. Some people prefer the guidance that organized religion can offer, while others prefer to break free and ride more independently. (Crystal St. Marie Lewis, January 22)

Andy Coate draws attention to expressions meant to be inclusive that are actually gendered (and exclusionary), and offers some specific suggestions.

When an assembled body of people is referred to as “ladies and gentleman,” or “men and women” or anything along those lines there is a group of people you’re ignoring. When you sing “brothers and sisters” or “oh, fathers/mothers let’s go down,” or do a reading that calls on “men” to do one thing while “women” do another you are ignoring all of the “me’s” out there. You’re ignoring my existence. I don’t think it’s intentional but I do think it’s something that needs to change. (thoughts ON, January 22)

Linda Laskowski continues her series of posts on the recent meeting of the UUA Board of Trustees at UUA View from Berkeley.

It’s my pleasure to announce that beginning tomorrow, The Interdependent Web will be edited by the Rev. Heather Christensen.

Heather is a member of the Anchorage, Alaska, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and a transfer candidate to the UU ministry.

Heather was, as she says, “born right in the center of Generation X,” and she’s passionate about social media and other technology. She grew up in a Plymouth Brethren meeting, was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and served churches in Ohio, and is now “immensely grateful for Unitarian Universalism.”

You may already know Heather from her blog, Nagoonberry. She lives in Girdwood, Alaska, with her partner Liesl and their dog Brady.

How blog conversations happen

If you are new to blogging, a series of posts this week demonstrates one way conversations take place between blogs. It all begins, as most good blogging does, with someone expressing a strong opinion. Love Wins, a recent book by Rob Bell, a prominent evangelical minister, has generated a lot of conversation about universalism, mostly beyond the UU community, but also within it. (You can find a lot of the UU part of the conversation with a search at UUpdates.net.)

This week, Kim Hampton says, “Until you know who Origen is, don’t read Rob Bell.” Lots of people reply in the comments. (“East of Midnight,” April 4)

Matt Kinsi posts a response, calling Hampton’s post “a load of elitist crap,” which provokes more comments. (“Spirituality and Sunflowers,” April 5)

Bill Baar responds to both Hampton and Kinsi, commenting upon the theological relevance of Origen.

I like to think that if there is a god, God would take us seriously, as beings free to reject God’s love; because our freedom, and accepting the consequences of our choices, that makes us noble creatures. More noble than God, who seems locked into a job without many choices. (“Pfarrer Streccius,” April 5)

Christine Leigh, who left comments on both Hampton’s and Kinsi’s blogs, extends her response into self-reflection.

I have a strong personality, I am stubborn, and, most dangerous, I am smart. I think quickly and it can be an asset, or it can be an instrument of gracelessness. Too frequently it is that. I know myself well enough to understand the mechanisms, the reasons, and to try to remind myself of why. (“Syracusan in Seattle,” April 6)

“Dairy State Dad” finds a personal lesson in part of Leigh’s comment on Kinsi’s blog.

I don’t know anything that has brought me up so short as that. I think practicing it might just be the work of a lifetime. (“DairyStateDad,” April 6)

Contemporary music for UU worship

“Liberal Religion Gets Loud” shares a list of music to “liven your worship, or at least to lift your playlist.” (“Liberal Religion Gets Loud,” April 1)

The Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern is also looking for contemporary music for UU worship.

I’d . . . like to hear your suggestions for music appropriate in Unitarian Universalist worship that:
1. was written in the last 10 years,
2. is in some popular genre, and
3. isn’t already in a UU hymnal. (“Sermons in Stones,” April 5)

Growing churches

“UU Mom” thinks a formal designation of “lay ministry” and training could bring new interest to congregations. (“UU Mom,” April 1)

The Rev. Christine Robinson continues to make observations based on her sabbatical visits to churches.

Did you know that you can personalize and add information to your church’s Google Map listing? The person in charge of every congregation’s web presence (you do have someone in charge of your web presence, don’t you?) should check on the accuracy of Google’s guesses about you, upload a logo, and make it look like you’ve paid attention. (“iMinister,” April 2)

The Rev. Scott Wells wishes “non-theist, anti-theist, and (so-called) freethought movements” used public advertising better.

[I]f the goal is to be an appealing option to inherited religiosity or brunch culture, it needs to have a story and a way for persons to identify with it. (“Boy in the Bands,” April 2)

The Rev. Ron Robinson takes a page from the realtor’s handbook in his post, “Location, Location, Location.”

The more I experience it . . . the more convinced I am that becoming missional means choosing your location wisely, or letting it choose you, and while that has always been a hallmark of the contemporary church planting system, for the missional it means going to the very opposite places that most consider when they seek to plant a church. (Missional Progressives, April 6)

Blogging about the UUA

Matt Kinsi thinks, from his “outside, young adult perspective,” that governance changes at the UUA are moving at “a glacial pace.”

I said it is all good and well we’re excited about this, but what are we actually doing to implement this? Apparently a lot of conversations are happening and talks of coming up with a handful of covenants. (“Spirituality and Sunflowers,” April 2)

The Rev. Chip Roush ponders a suggestion that came up at the Heartland District Assembly: Should “the charter of any congregation that has neither made any financial contributions to our UUA nor sent any members to a District or General Assembly over the last five years” be rescinded? (“So May We Be,” April 4)

UUA board member Linda Laskowski has started her posts about the upcoming April 2011 meeting of the UUA Board of Trustees. (“UUA View from Berkeley,” April 6)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Andy Pakula, whose mother died recently, understands “the most faithful way of living” to be “to embrace life whole.”

Our lives are sometimes beautiful and sometimes terrible. Sometimes life treats us with apparent kindness and generosity and other times it seems we can’t catch a break. Even so, being complete and living fully means being present to all of this—the joys, the sorrows, the births, the deaths… everything. Holding back from any one aspect of life creates distance—not only from what we wish to avoid—but from everything. (“Throw Yourself Like Seed,” April 1)

Jacqueline Wolven remembers giving up her son for adoption.

Don’t get me wrong—it wasn’t easy. It still isn’t. It is the feeling that you missed out on something, will never know the “what if’s,” and had to 100% hope for the best—for someone else. It wasn’t about me, it was about giving the world of possibilities to three people I didn’t know—my son and his new parents. (“MoxieLife,” April 1)

John Beckett looks at “an interesting article on polytheism from a Hindu perspective.”

As a polytheistic Unitarian (how’s that for a religious paradox?) I prefer to say that all gods and goddesses—and humans and all other living things—exist within one God/dess. (“Under the Ancient Oaks,” April 1)

Doug Stowe thinks the “slow food” movement has something to teach us about our whole lives.

It seems that much of our hurry is driven by the metaphor, “time is money.” But time is not money. It is the opportunity to invest care, carefulness, attention, listening. What if our new metaphor for time was craftsmanship? (“Wisdom of the Hands,” April 4)

“Lizard Eater” shares a sermon on the purpose of being a church.

[A]t its core, church is where we are gathered, before being sent back out. We are a gathered and sent people. We are gathered together to strengthen our souls … and we are sent out to strengthen the world. (“The Journey,” April 4)

The Rev. Jeff Liebmann unpacks children’s prayers from old primers.

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Guard me Jesus through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.

In this version, the threat of nocturnal casualty remains. But, now our prayer preempts the menace with Jesus, the ultimate ward against boogeymen. (“uujeff’s muse kennel and pizzatorium,” April 4)

“Strange Attractor” responds to those who call the Rev. Terry Jones’s burning of the Qu’ran terrorism.

Burning books might make you a great many things, including not invited to my home, but it does not make you a terrorist and we diminish terrorism’s horror when we say that it is. Personally I am offended by Jones’s message and his actions. I not only condone, but encourage people to denounce and shun him. (“Strange Attractor,” April 4)

Anna Snoeyenbos says the pause in posts on her blog is a response to “living more fully into the Lenten season.”

I was sick of myself and I missed God. (“Deep River,” April 4)

Barbara Ford responds to the nuclear accidents caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

We are presented with the opportunity to grow our faithfulness and love for our world in our willingness to bear witness. We can learn to breathe through our fear in order to perceive the profound interconnectedness we have with all of life. We can learn to see ourselves as vessels of compassion, of the holy, rather than as needy consumers, or powerless victims. (“Spiraling Through,” April 4)

Heather Christensen contributed to this week’s post.