"What Does Unitarian Universalism
Stand For?"
A sermon by Rev. Charles Blustein Ortman for Association Sunday
October 18, 2009
READINGS:
Our first reading is from the Christian Scriptures, The Book
of Matthew, Chapter 5:
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat
down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Our second reading is from a compilation of pieces written by
Unitarian Universalsits entitled, Testifying:
From Frances, an African American woman
To be African-American in this country is to face racism throughout
life, however subtle. The love of one's family is paramount in reducing
the damage of racism on one's wholeness. Unitarian-Universalism
is splendid as an affirming church family. Its primary commitment
to justice seeking, its deep belief that every soul has irreducible
value, and its belief that there is the spark of the divine in every
one of us are powerful antidotes to the insistent racist voices
among us. I find Unitarian-Universalism not only soothing, but healing.
It is a perfect medicine for the soul made sick by racism.
From Claire, a White woman
Race was something to be spoken about only in hushed tones in the
nearly all white town where I grew up. What a different experience
my own kids have had! Thanks to the intentional work of the Unitarian
Universalist youth movement, they have engaged with issues of race,
class, and privilege. I treasure the conversations about how those
issues impact their lives and mine. One of my greatest joys and
challenges was to serve with my then teenage daughter on a district
anti-racism team. We grew side by side in understanding and commitment.
For a parent, it doesn't get any better than that.
SERMON:
This morning we are participating in the third annual celebration
of Association Sunday. This is the third time it's ever happened!
Three years in a row, in UU experience, means that this is a tried
and true, traditional, annual event. It's a good idea I think, to
celebrate our liberal religious tradition with other Unitarian Universalist
congregations across the continent, to join together with them in
the exploration and celebration of Unitarian Universalism and to
create a large pool of funds that we will help to grow our faith
tradition.
I start this morning by sharing why I am a Unitarian Universalist
altogether. It is because here I am not told what to believe but
instead I am asked what I do believe. And more, I am asked how that
belief matters, not only in my own life, but in the world around
me. I am asked here to accept things on faith, but on my faith -
not anyone else's. I am a UU because I know my life's path is a
journey and while I don't know just where it may lead or to what
end, I do know that the content of my life consists of the experiences
and choices that I make along the way. And I know that the quality
of my life's journey is also closely related to the company I keep
along that way. And so I am a Unitarian Universalist because this
faith tradition calls me into community, and it calls me into action.
Here, I live with the expectation to make the most of, to do the
best with, and to love the most fully I possibly can with this life
I have been given. I am a Unitarian Universalist because I believe
in the potential for human beings to learn and to grow. And with
that potential, I believe in the possibility of a better world,
rooted more firmly in the ideals of truth, beauty, love and compassion.
I don't know how it is for you, but for me the experience of being
a Unitarian Universalist has provided a way, a spiritual way that
is a worldly way of going into and through things - challenges,
heartaches, wrongdoings, even times of great joy. I'm not so sure
that I'd have found my way into and through many of these experiences
as well, had I not first found my way into this religious tradition.
I have learned to trust the support of this community of kindred
spirits that holds me in the grace of caring expectation, expectation
that I will indeed find my way to spiritual growth with meaning
and purpose. And as a congregation, even though sometimes we are
unaware, we do that same kind reliance, not only on one another,
but on the larger, broader Association of UU Congregations that
provides for all of us safety, guidance and the collective strength
to deal with the challenges of this world.
There is an apocryphal citation that is often credited to any number
of Unitarian or Universalist forebears. It goes, "What do Unitarians/Universalists
stand for? The only true answer to this question is that we do not
stand at all, we move." And sometimes it's added, "We
move, guided by our religious values, with the issues of the day."
This past Sunday I had the opportunity, as one of the twenty members
of this congregation who were able to be there, to march with hundreds
and hundreds of Unitarian Universalists from across the country.
And we were there among some 75,000 who gathered to give the message
that justice requires us all to embrace diversity. We were there
to answer the question, "What do Unitarians/Universalists stand
for," in a way that responds to the urgency of this day, an
urgency that is compelled by those who attempt to impose their values,
fears and privilege on others in ways intended to diminish the other.
What do Unitarian Universalists stand for? The answer that we were
there to support is that we are moving by standing on the side of
love. Let's watch this…
(Click this link to get file for slide show of UU's at the March).
Just as I know that my life takes much of its meaning from my engagement
in this community - I do need to be here - I know that this congregation
depends on the still larger whole of the Asso-ciation, even for
our existence. We are here to feed our souls and to grow our spirits,
so that we might be most engaged with fulfilling the potential of
our lives. But not to the end that we have fat and jolly souls that
are self satisfied. We are here so that we might be effective, determined
and devoted agents of transformation. Collectively, the Unitarian
Universalist Association exists so that we congregations have the
best chance to accomplish that goal on a level that touches every
strand of the interdependent web of existence.
Today we celebrate the association that brings and holds Unitarian
Universalists from across the continent together in that larger
and broader effort. Take heart, for you are not alone, and we are
not alone. We are joined in covenant with hundreds of UU Congregations
across the country working to transform hearts, homes communities
and the world.
This year the focus of Association Sunday is diversity. Though
our goals for diversity in the association have long been lofty
ones, we have done less than we might at securing and using our
resources to that end. Honoring diversity means much more than inviting
others to come and be a part of who we already are. Embracing diversity
means that we that we prepare ourselves, and invite others to come
and be a part of who we are becoming with them. I think that this
congregation has learned that lesson over the past 112 years. We
haven't learned it completely, but we have learned it considerably.
There is always more we can learn, but there is already much we
can share with the wider movement in regard to welcoming others
and then being transformed ourselves in the process of embracing
them. The goal of this Association Sunday is to promote the possibilities
of such transformation.
How have we done at achieving the goals of our first two Association
Sundays? Let me share some accountability for what has been accomplished
by the funds raised in the last two years:
On Association Sunday 2007, 626 congregations joined together and
raised over $1.4 million to promote Growing Our Numbers through:
o Our extensive national marketing campaign.
o Growth grants to our districts to help congregations share our
liberal religion with those who seek it.
o The Diversity of Ministry Team's Initiative to support ministers
of color.
Last year, 580 congregations celebrated Association Sunday 2008,
and despite tough economic conditions, raised over $350,000 to promote
Growing Our Spirit through:
o Grants available to districts, congregations, and seminaries for
lay theological education programs.
o Funds enabling the Unitarian Universalists Ministers Association
to expand their initiatives for continuing education for ministers
through their CENTER program.
o Scholarships to students preparing for UU ministry.
o New projects of the Diversity of Ministry Team's Initiative to
support ministers of color.
Association Sunday has given thousands of individual Unitarian
Universalists an opportunity to affirm the value of our faith community
and to act together to strengthen it. Because planning for this
third annual Association Sunday celebration had to begin many months
ago the preparation for it was led by our past UUA President Bill
Sinkford, along with the two UUA Presidential Candidates, Rev. Laurel
Hallman and Rev. Peter Morales. Many of you know that Peter Morales
won the election held at General Assembly this summer in Salt Lake
City. The three of them together though, with input from a survey
to which over 1,000 UU's responded, have selected the Growth in
Diversity projects that your generous gifts on this Association
Sunday 2009 will support.
Growth in Diversity work is tremendously important to us all. This
is work we must do if we are truly to live our faith and to make
our vision of justice and equality a reality. This year, your generous
contributions to Association Sunday will help to develop spiritual
communities that are more welcoming to ALL people by:
o Expanding the Building the World We Dream About curriculum and
associated resources.
o Supporting congregations who are working to create a Unitarian
Universalism that is racially, culturally, and economically diverse.
o Enabling UU congregations and districts to minister effectively
to youth and young adults who identify as people of color or multiracial,
or of the GLBT community, and to their families, in the areas of
spiritual development, racial/cultural identity development, and
leadership development.
And now let's hear from our past UUA President, Bill Sinkford about
this year's effort. (http://www.uua.org/images/video/143239.shtml)
Our new President Peter Morales writes:
"We can be the religion for our time and all time. This requires
a constant effort to stay relevant in an ever-changing world. One
way we can do this is by making sure our congregations and our ministry
reflects the diversity of the world outside our doors. Join us on
Association Sunday as we come together to Grow Our Faith and our
diversity."
This is a once a year opportunity to join together with UUs from
across the country to build the infrastructure of our UU tradition.
I invite you to "Stand on the Side of Love." And I invite
you to give generously.
|
