The funny part of it is, I am an ardent institutionalist. I love this association that provides the larger home for this, our own Unitarian Universalist congregation. I’ve participated by serving on committees and holding office on every level of the UUA. And I want you to know about it, to appreciate it, and to participate in it, because the U.U.A. is made up of you and me and other Unitarian Universalists, like and unlike ourselves, in congregations that span this continent of North America.

The UUA serves us all very well and because it does, it is deserving of our service because that’s how things work. It was five years ago today–on Sunday, April 2, 1995–that this congregation called me to this pulpit where I stand this moment. For those of you who were here, you remember what a glorious moment that was, I know I won’t forget.

For those of you who were intricately involved in the process of developing that call, you know what a vital and indispensable role the UUA filled in bringing the players together. Frankly, without their support, you’d have never found me, nor would the search committee have had the dozens and dozens of other potential candidates to consider. Even more frankly, I’d have never been able to become a UU minister without the UUA’s support–let alone find my way to the door of the Unitarian Church of Montclair.

It wasn’t luck that led us to one another. It was the result of the well functioning systems of a religious institution that was upholding and promoting its religious principles. And I daresay beyond any efforts of my own, of this congregation’s, or of the UUA, synchronicity or grace also played a substantial role in creating that call five years ago today.

The Unitarian Universalist Association came into being in May of 1961. It was born out of its two predecessor movements: Unitarianism and Universalism. In their non-institutionalized forms these movements were considered to be heresies that dated back to the early centuries of the first millennium. It was centuries later before they were recognized religious institutions.

Unitarianism was a movement whose thought had been germinated in the principalities of Eastern Europe and then came to flourish in the democratic soils of North America during the 19^th Century. Unitarianism’s theological claim that, "God is one," espoused a unity, not only within the divine, but a unity among the divine, and nature, and all that is.

Universalism, was conceived in England, but its birth as a movement did not begin until it reached the shores of this country, again in the 19^th Century not so far away, on the south shore of New Jersey. Universalism’s theological claim, was that God is good and that Salvation–not damnation–is each souls destiny.

The stated purpose of the UUA at the time of merger in 1961 was, "To cherish and spread the universal truths taught by the great prophets and teachers of humanity in every age and tradition, immemorially summarized in the Judeo-Christian heritage as love to God and love to man."

Our bent for inclusivity promoted some expansion of that sentiment and two decades later in the 1980’s, the more familiar Principles and Purposes, which are printed toward the front of our hymnals, were adopted as our statement of purpose. Those words too, were augmented once again during this past decade. They now include among our sources of inspiration, the, "Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered religions…" in addition to the Jewish, Christian, Humanist and other world religions that inspire us to the ethical and spiritual life. The most recent wording of our purposes can be found framed and hung out front in our Narthex.

This constant changing of the way in which we articulate our purpose reflects our ever-growing understanding of what it means to be liberal religious persons and liberal religious congregations. That’s been our character for quite some time. Nearly two hundred years ago, William Ellery Channing was asked to define what Unitarians stood for. He responded, "What do we stand for? Why, we stand for nothing; we move with the issues of our day."

The summary of our principles really is a kind of summation, not of the tenets or the creeds of the world’s religions, but of their underlying values. The Principles begin with affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, and they end by affirming and promoting the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. Like all religions, our focus is on living the good life with a balance and harmony between the one and the many, between the individual and the all that is. Like very few other religions though, we are each responsible for defining the all that is for our selves.

There are a few major themes that have been a part of Unitarianism and Universalism throughout their histories, which really have melded well into the core identity of Unitarian Universalism. These five characteristics define much of the activity and expression of our UUA.

The first three come from the Unitarian side. They are: the use of reason, freedom of conscience, and religious tolerance. These three values speak for themselves for many of us. Reason may not be our only guide, but without it we deny our humanity. Freedom of conscience is essential to religious integrity, and because we know how indispensable it is to each of us, we recognize too, the need for religious tolerance and acceptance. We have the use of reason, freedom of conscience, and religious tolerance.

The other two themes come out of the Universalist side. They are: an enthusiastic optimism and social conscience. The optimism is the expression of a faith that holds salvation for all. Whether eternal salvation means something beyond the experience of human death or that all of eternity exists within each moment is of little consequence. Salvation–access to the opportunities of goodness in the universe–is available to us all, and that’s a pretty optimistic outlook. A social conscience and the work of social justice are the natural outcome of recognizing that we are all a part of this great and giving universe; no one deserves any more or any less of its bounty than anyone else. We have an enthusiastic optimism and social conscience.

That we hold these values, as an association, does not mean that we always live up to them. When we welcome new members to our congregation I always say, "We ask you to remember that this is a community of aspiration, not a congregation that has it all figured out. Part of being human is the experience of failure, and part of being in religious community is being there to pick each other up when we have stumbled."

The same is true of our wider association. We have great hopes of being sewers of the seeds for the kingdom of heaven. We have reason, freedom and tolerance. We have optimism and a social conscience. And we don’t always get it right, but we keep these values in front of us. Our association helps us to keep them in front of us.

That’s what the President of the UUA, John Buehrens, and the rest of the administrative staff, and the religious education staff at 25 Beacon Street in Boston work for. That’s what our Moderator, Denny Davidoff, who was here with us to celebrate our centennial a couple of years back, and the Board of Trustees of the UUA work to promote. That’s why our District Consultants and our District Board, our UU Ministers’ Association and all the related committees do all the work that they do: in order to institutionalize these religious values that allow us to attempt to transform and improve the quality of life in our hearts, and homes, our community and the world as we like to say it here.

If you look at the cover of our order of service this morning, you’ll see there the UUA’s version of our faith symbol. The flaming chalice stands within double circles recognizing both faith traditions. Notice that it stands off center inside the circles; that’s to represent that we are A religious way, not necessarily THE religious way.

As you have heard this morning, there are many opportunities to participate in the wider circles of Unitarian Universalism. At our General Assembly this June in Nashville, there will be a proposal on the floor that was inspired and scripted by our own Bill Brach. The proposal is for the UUA to support and encourage programs like our after school program so as to create a cybernetic level playing field for disadvantaged children.

Next year is an election year in which we will elect a new president and moderator, as well as many other offices. This is an exciting time to engage in the wider circles of UU. There are many avenues that are open. There are many ways to help define this faith tradition of such a rich and noble heritage.

Maybe you too would like to participate in the wider movement. But maybe it’s enough just knowing that it’s there and supporting it. We do not stand alone; we could not do here what we do…alone. We are a part of a faith tradition that has created and continues to create and support communities such as this: communities of memory and hope, communities of faith and action. We are Unitarian Universalists.

Our forebear of Unitarianism in Transylvania, Francis David said that, "We do not all have to believe alike to love alike." Me it be so that we are true to this institution that invites us to know our better selves, this institution that has been so true to us.