Speaking up on the Side of Love

July 3rd, 2009 . Posted in The Political Life, The Spiritual Life | No Comments »
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The Fourth of July weekend is an occaission to reflect on what it means to be American.  I think our history is best described as long struggle to live up to our ideals – that everyone is created equal; that We the People actually means everyone.

Events of the past week both close to home (back in Texas) and nationally remind us that we always have work to do and that we are at the same time making progress.

I encourage everyone to contact the Fort Worth City Government, through Equality Texas action campaign – phone if you can – it’s type of contact given the most weight by public official, and register your concern over the Rainbow Lounge incident.

I also encourage everyone to contact their Federal Representatives and ask them to repeal the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Military.com Legislative Center has an action up that helps you send a letter to your senators and representives.

The need for this action is all the more evident after a military hearing Tuesday recommended discharging Lt. Dan Choi for violating this policy.  dailyKos ran a nice diary including video from Keith Olbermann about this.

Taking action is patriotic way to kick off the 4th of July weekend.  It’s how we live out Unitarian Universalism and Stand on the Side of Love.

A final salute to “The Colonel”

July 2nd, 2009 . Posted in The Personal Life, The Spiritual Life | No Comments »
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I didn’t think I would have much in common with the Colonel except Unitarian Universalism.  I am about as socially, politically, religiously and otherwise liberal a person as you will find.  What common ground would I find with a retired Army Colonel beyond Sunday’s sermon? Surely he’ll disagree with me on war, politics, and gays in the military among other things? The Colonel reinforced for me once again great lessons about labels – they are not for people.

He spoke to me about his time attending services at All Souls Unitarian in Washington, D.C.  while A. Powell Davies was the minister.  I also learned of his time at West Point, and his time serving with Omar Bradley in World War II. He was twice a prisoner of war.  I learned we shared a lot in common beyond Unitarian Universalism, including a deep sense of justice,  a love of books, and a desire to see a Unitarian Universalist presence in more places such as the military and nursing homes.

I was a student minister, an intern at First Parish Church, when I visited Colonel John Ray in an assisted living facility in Weston, MA.  I visited the Colonel every week for two years.  Together, we started a worship service for Protestants at the place where he lived, although at age 88 he was the chief organizer.   I ate lunch with him and his companions there on many occasions.  I met his daughter, his wife, and some other members of his family.  He had lost some of his hearing and most of his vision. So, I would read to him – sometimes articles from UU World or something from a book he was working his way through with other helpers. Sometimes, I would bring Singing the Living Tradition and read the prayers and poems. While reading, we’d share our thoughts on them. Even after his stroke, sitting in his wheelchair, you could see the crisp young officer in him. Until his last days, he had a commanding presence.   He always told me to call him John, that’s the way he was, personable and at ease, and I’m not a military type at heart myself, but to me he will always be Colonel Ray.
I went to visit Colonel Ray just before I left Massachusetts to move to Texas last August. In December, I received a sober phone call from Rev. Tom Wintle in Weston informing me that Colonel John Ray had died. It was the Colonel’s wish that I perform the memorial service along with Rev. Wintle.  Colonel Ray requested three other things about his memorial service: that it be held under the flag pole at the family property in Gloucester, MA, that it be on July 4, and that it include the West Point Cadet Prayer.
Whatever you’re doing this Fourth of July, pray for me or think of me, and the Colonel. You know where we’ll be.

Breaking out of UU Culture into what’s NEXT

June 30th, 2009 . Posted in The Spiritual Life | 3 Comments »
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As a final wrap up to my  General Assembly experience I want to return once more to what’s NEXT?  What’s next for Unitarian Universalism? I don’t know, but I do know that if our liberal religious tradition doesn’t change, doesn’t fall over the tipping point into a new era, we will be left behind as a footnote on the American religious landscape.  Our theology is open, accepting and in many ways both an exciting and challenging place to be spiritually and intellectually, yet our church culture is stuck in a different century.  While other religious communities with far less accepting and engaging theologies separate the sheep from the goats, the saved from the damned theologically, they do a good job at presenting their theology in the language of the post-modern, global media culture.

A third way is arising.  A religious and theological exploration that understands the global media culture with all its possibilities and all its possible fault lines, and yet engages deep theological exploration, understanding that limiting theology to rigid creeds and exclusion is not soul deepening, but soul deadening. If you haven’t already, explore online spiritual communities such as Solomon’s Porch, Ikon, and Micah’s Porch.  I’ve mentioned some of these before, including the Unitarian Micah’s Porch.

I dig Ikon’s “Last Supper” :

The Last Supper is an informal gathering of 12 people who meet together over food and wine to discuss a pertinent issue. At each meeting we invite a guest of public standing to join with us and get the conversation going with a 10-15 minute presentation. Then, over the meal, we ask questions of our guest, discuss the issue in more depth and see where the conversation takes us. The evening is called ‘The Last Supper’ because, if our guest does not prove persuasive it may turn out to be their last supper.

Now that’s wild!

As I left the closing worship of General Assembly, I found myself at the rear of the convention hall talking with Rosemary Bray McNatt, Jennifer Innis and Patrick Price discussing a lot of the topics raised by the pastor who preceded me at Pathways, Anthony David, on his blog Thousand Voices, in a post titled On Repelling Fewer People.  By the time the UUA got around to trying its hand at mega church start ups, mega churches were on their way out as the energy center of the American religious landscape and the Emergent Church movement (see also Emergent Village for a taste of this movement) was a decade old.  In order to really revitalize the UUA, we need to be looking ahead to what’s NEXT, not trying what already happened.

To that end Revs. McNatt, Innis and Price and yours truly will be looking to work with others to bring a NEXT summit together, hopefully down here in Texas in the near future.

If you’re also thinking about who and what’s NEXT? – stay in touch.

Theme-based Ministry

June 30th, 2009 . Posted in The Spiritual Life | No Comments »
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I picked up theme-based ministry from ministerial internship at First Parish Church in Weston, MA, but the idea came from All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, OK. The last workshop I attended at General Assembly was led by the executive team of All Souls, Tulsa and they spoke about the entrepreneurial approach of their church since Rev. Marlin Lavanhar become senior minister.  I was impressed with Marlin’s approach to cultivating relationships in the congregations that led to gifts that funded video equipment and the Jenkin Lloyd Jones Press, but I was most interested in the theme-based ministry.  A good handful of UU congregations have now picked up on theme-based ministry and All Souls has started a website that will eventually host a theme-based ministry wiki for resource sharing.  The site is already worth visiting – http://themebasedministry.org/, including a cool wordle introduction.  Theme-based ministry:

  • Gives members a balanced diet of theological learning, spiritual practices, and core competencies.
  • Provides a balance of structure and freedom for clergy and laity to preach, teach, learn, grow, and be creative.
  • Helps members observe and mark their own spiritual and personal growth.
  • Offers members consistent exposure to liberal theology, biblical literacy, and religious ways of dealing with life issues.

Responses to the Rainbow Lounge Raid

June 29th, 2009 . Posted in The Cultural Life, The Political Life, The Spiritual Life | 2 Comments »
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I, along with Rev. Dr. Russell K. Elleven, the minister of Westside Unitarian Universalist Church in Fort Worth, have sent the following letter to the Fort Worth Star Telegram and all Fort Worth area media outlets:

Tarrant County Unitarian Universalist Congregations Stand on the Side of Love

FORT WORTH, TX – At this point, as we write, it is unclear exactly what occurred in the Rainbow Lounge this past Sunday morning, the  8th of June. When we found out about the incident we were attending  the closing worship service for the annual Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, this year, in Salt Lake City (it was held in Fort Worth in 1994 and 2005).

Unitarian Universalists are committed to standing on the side of love. Because of this we promote respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person and believe that no person of any immigrant status, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political view should be dehumanized through acts of violence, exclusion, or oppression.  We at Westside and Pathways see this as an integral part of our mission  as Unitarian Universalist LGBTQ Welcoming Congregations.

We hope and pray there will be an honest and thorough external investigation into this incident. If it is found the Fort Worth Police Department was out of line in their conduct, we hope that not only will those persons be held responsible, but that there will be an increase in the awareness of homophobic actions; an increase that began in earnest 40 years ago because of police brutality.

We believe there is little chance the anniversary of Stonewall Inn raid and the search at the Rainbow Lounge was a coincidence. We believe it was meant to send a message. For it not to be so is like the United States invading another country without understanding the difference between religious sects.

We invite all of the people of Fort Worth to stand on the side of love and hold our police department accountable to the highest standards the citizens of Fort Worth deserve. All of them.

In faith,

Dr. Russell K. Elleven
Minister
Westside Unitarian Universalist Church
901 Page Avenue
Fort Worth, TX  76110

Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Minister
Pathways Church, a Unitarian Universalist Community
525 S. Nolen Drive, Suite 300
Southlake, TX  76092

Equality Texas has responded to the Rainbow Lounge incident.

Fort Worth City Council Member Joel Burns has issues this statement:

I want all citizens of Texas and Fort Worth to know and be assured that the laws and ordinances of our great State and City will be applied fairly, equally and without malice or selective enforcement. I consider this to be part of “The Fort Worth Way” here. As an elected representative of the city of Fort Worth, I  am calling for an immediate and thorough investigation of the actions of the City of Fort Worth Police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission in relation to the incident at the Rainbow Lounge earlier this morning, June 28, 2009.

It is unfortunate that this incident occurred in Fort Worth and even more so to have occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall protests.  Unlike 40 years ago, though, the people of this community have elective representation that will make sure our government is accountable and that the rights of all of its citizens are protected.  We are working together with our Mayor, Police Chief, the City of Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, and our State Legislative colleagues to get a complete and accurate accounting of what occurred.

Rest assured that neither the people of Fort Worth, nor the city government of Fort Worth, will tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens. And know that the GLBT Community is an integral part of the economic and cultural life of Fort Worth.

Every Fort Worth citizen deserves to have questions around this incident answered and I am working aggressively toward that end.

Fort Worth City Chief of Police Jeffrey W. Halstead issued this press release Sunday:

PRESS RELEASE:

DETAILS AND SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING TO A BAR CHECK AT THE RAINBOW LOUNGE:

On Thursday evening, June 6, 2009, a TABC Agent entered into NPD2 and teamed up with a patrol officer in order to conduct alcoholic beverage code inspections of area clubs.  While they were out, they performed these inspections into the Friday morning hours. At approximately 10:00 p.m., Thursday evening, they stopped by the Rainbow Lounge located at 651 S. Jennings in anticipation of conducting an inspection as this club is newly opened and has not received an inspection before this date.  While waiting on the supervisor to arrive, which is standard operating procedure, the owner of the Rainbow Lounge approached the officers asked if there was a problem.  The TABC agent explained they were waiting on a patrol supervisor to make the scene before conducting an inspection of his establishment.  An inspection at the Rainbow Lounge was not conducted on this date (Friday).  Other locations, however, were inspected as a continuing effort to educate and enforce over serving alcohol to intoxicated individuals.

On Saturday morning, June 27, 2009, a person identifying himself as the owner of the Rainbow Lounge called the local police station and spoke with a supervisor to ascertain if there was a problem at the Rainbow Lounge.  At approximately 3:30 p.m., a Fort Worth Police sergeant spoke with the owner of the Rainbow Lounge and explained they were conducting alcoholic beverage code inspections in the area.  The owner advised the sergeant officers were welcome anytime to conduct an inspection of his establishment.  The sergeant advised the owner of the Rainbow Lounge that officers would return to the area this evening to continue inspections and would inspect his establishment.

On Sunday morning, June 28, 2009, at 12:30 a.m., six (6) Fort Worth Police Officers, two (2) TABC agents and a supervisor conducted inspections at 160 W Rosedale (Rosedale Saloon and Cowboy Palace).  This inspection resulted in nine (9) arrests. Once the inspection was completed at these locations, officers proceeded to the Rainbow Lounge.

Officers arrived at the Rainbow Lounge to conduct the scheduled inspection.  Some officers remained outside while some entered the club. While walking through the Rainbow Lounge, an extremely intoxicated patron made sexually explicit movements toward the police supervisor.  This individual was arrested for public intoxication.  Another intoxicated individual also made sexually explicit movements towards another officer and he was arrested for public intoxication.  A third individual inside the lounge assaulted the TABC agent by grabbing the TABC agent’s groin.  He was escorted outside and arrested for public intoxication.  The decision was made to release him to paramedics due to his extreme intoxicated state as he was repeatedly vomiting. While dealing with this person, another officer requested assistance from inside the club as he had an intoxicated individual that was resisting arrest.  This person was placed on the ground in an effort to control and apprehend.  A total of seven (7) arrests were made from the Rainbow Lounge during this inspection.  The total arrest count for the entire evening totaled 16.

Alcohol beverage code inspections are conducted frequently at establishments located within the city limits of Fort Worth.  These are conducted in order to ensure a safe environment for all.  A thorough internal investigation into the allegations made is being conducted as all allegations against officers are investigated.

Standing on the Side of Love – Fort Worth, TX

June 29th, 2009 . Posted in The Political Life, The Spiritual Life | No Comments »
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I really wish I had I been back home in Fort Worth today instead of at General Assembly.  As the UUA kicks of its Standing on the Side of Love Campaign, the need for me to Stand on the Side of Love in my own community became a stark reality as Fort Worth police raided The Rainbow Lounge, a gay bar in Fort Worth at 1 a.m. Saturday night, on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. One man, Chad Gibson, remains hospitalized with brain injury following the incident according to the Dallas Voice, which has also published an update on his condition.

There were demonstrations early this evening in Fort Worth demanding answers.  I’ve been in touch with the Standing on the Side of Love campaign and a colleague and I are working on statement.  There will be a rally NEXT Sunday evening in Fort Worth as well.  I encourage everyone in the area who can get there, to attend and Stand on the Side of Love.

From Good Grief to Good Governance

June 29th, 2009 . Posted in The Spiritual Life | No Comments »

From Good Grief to Good Governance

During the final plenary session of General Assembly, UUA Moderator Gini Courter spoke at some length relative to the over length of her Moderator’s Report about congregational governance.  She made a lot of the same points she made at the ends of the Governance track at UU University (and, yes that was way cool having Gini be the closing 15 minutes of that two-day 10 hour affair).

I think Gini is tops, the best, and it’s obvious that she has  the overall respect of the overwhelming majority of delegates and I personally have never met anyone who thinks she’s done a poor job as Moderator.  Quite the opposite.

What follows is my best attempt at capturing what Gini said. I wont’ claim it to be an exact quote as I typed as fast as I could, but missed some things and had put in some words and phrases here and there.

Gini said that if governance at the UUA level is clear it can be a better model for our congregations and that over her time as moderator and that she has recognized matches and similarities between the governance of the UUA and our congregations.

Some of these similarities are – there tends to be a mystery about who holds power and how they get it.  There are congregations where duly elected boards where some self appointed individual or committee is holding power and duly appointed boards are afraid to make decisions for fear of offending the self appointed power be it an individual or committee.

Some congregations are expecting ministers to parent them out of sticky situations. In good economic times things are fine, but when it comes time to make hard economic decisions in tough economic times, we pay the price for not being clear about who we authorize to make decisions in our congregations. Our vices that become habits become really bad habits in bad economic times

Gini recalled a conversation she with a minister about governance and the minister said “We’ve stopped letting the crazies ride the bus.”

Gini told us she told that minister, that was not the language she would use, but the folks who drive  (our congregational busses) should be the ones who are clear that they are driving in the direction the majority want to go.

We need to have holy conversations – that generation vision, mission goals and stay on those courses.

We have to have conversations about staff compensations and things, but some negative people turn it into their personal discontent and we’re afraid of the pledge that might walk out the door, we have to say we don’t make decisions based on the pledge that walks out the door or a view of one self-appointed power or committee.

Gini recommends the practices of the governance track and said the path to power is not hold the congregation or minister hostage, or have a personal agenda.
No minister can save us or get anything accomplished in that environment. We have to get right the relationships between elected boards, called ministers and volunteer committees.

Isolation is also something we have to overcome. We have to talk to each other.  If the congregation down the street is in trouble, Gini said,  go be with them.

We have to note the importance of rules and how well they’ve served us at GA (I believe she was referring to plenary) and how important it is to be kind to each other, to have rules and follow them.  It is important to honor the inherent worth and dignity of each other.

AMEN! Preach it, Gini!

When Gini Courter visited the UU University Governance track, she also emphasized that poor governance was one of the main reasons the UUA loses good ministers.

Gini said that we need authentic shared ministry 365 days a year.  Shared ministry, she said, is not having a lay led service once a month, but having elected lay leaders go good governance 365 days a year.  “We have religious professionals who do their jobs and we need to work with them.”

Then Gini addressed head on what some people call “drinking the Kool Aid.”  She said, good governance is the key and the responsibility of those in the workshop was taking the information and learning home to our congregations and working hard and well to pass it on, but being under no illusions we were going to be received as people coming home with the good word.  Instead we are going be viewed as suspect, but we have others who we can now network with who attended the training and we can support each and help each other teach each other’s congregations and leaders.

We were paired up with partners to make a So What, Now What “to do” list. I paired up with a colleague from my Greenfield Group ministers study group and we shared good governance goals for ourselves and I am going to check in with her in September and further on down the road to keep myself (and hopefully my congregation) on a path to good governance.

This colleague shared with me an interesting tidbit.  The word hierarchy actually really means holy organization.  That word carries a lot of baggage about top-down, power over structures, which I would rather not use, favoring power with, lateral structures, but we need to learn not be afraid to empower and be responsible, be accountable and hold others accountable, and have holy organization.

A new way to do GA

June 28th, 2009 . Posted in The Political Life, The Spiritual Life | 4 Comments »
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I’ve had a love-hate relationship with General Assembly since I became a UU and started attending it.  I enjoy being around other UU’s and the opportunity to learn more about how to grow and revitalize my congregation.  I enjoy the opportunity for professional development offered by both Ministry Days before GA  and GA itself as well as the perspective gained by time spent with colleagues sharing and reflecting on our experiences.

I’ve been relieved to learn over the last few years that I’m not the only one who thinks plenaries are hard to endure and seem broken.  I wonder why (and I missed something obvious here so bear with me) that in a democratic movement only those rich enough with the luxury of being able to take a week of vacation could come be here, to vote on things? Why couldn’t all members of congregations vote at their congregations and results be sent in to be counted?

I attended a workshop yesterday presented by the Fifth Principle Task Force called The Status Quo is  Not an Option.  I was surprised to learn I knew two members of the Task Force -Esther Rosado, DRE of my friend Hank Peirce’s church in Medford, MA and Joe Sullivan, immediate past president of my own Southwest District.  An immediate learning/remembering was that all members of congregations don’t vote because we are an association of congregations so our delegates carry our congregation’s vote(s).  This raises the question – then why not have each congregation have one vote?  Why do bigger congregations get more say? AND why do ministers get to vote if we are an association of congregations? It seems to me we still have some fundamental democracy work to do, but I think a real, honest conversation has started about this.

The Fifth Principle Task Force’s charge:

Present two or more recommendations on the future configuration and content of General Assembly (GA). Areas to be examined include but are not limited to:

  1. off-site participation in GA, including voting
  2. reconfiguration of GA content to include current pre-GA functions, including leadership development and continuing education for laypersons and religious professionals
  3. GA frequency
  4. GA. duration

The task force’s deadlines:
interim report due April 09
final report due April 10

Task force had four tele-conferences and four in-person meetings. They
had interviews and feedback from the UUMA Exec, District presidents Association, District Staff, CSW, GA planning committee, Commission on Appraisal, UUA Board, Workshops at six district assemblies. It came out during discussion that the Task Force still has staekholders to talk to such as LREDA and others.

The task force had interiviews with other denominations including the UUC and Episcopalians.

Values that inform the Task Force’s work:
Economic accessibility and sustainability
Are delegates empowered and truly authorized?
Excellence in governance and shared ministry and leadership.

The task force is seeking a Governance Driven conference with high-powered team based learning that achieves accountability and transparency thorugh structed conversations among delegate teams and and the UUA Board of Trustees.  It is seeking a GA that hears questions and discuss assessment reports from the President on the execution and results of strategic plans. It is seeking a GA that offers  responsive resolutions in energized, focused plenary sessions and that elects association offices (off site voting technology will be used by duly authorized delegates who cannot attend).

It will be a UUA National Biennial Conference – GA will move to an every other year event.

GA will feed spirit with daily worship, feed imaginations with keynote addresses, feed bodies in fellowship with communal meals and
provide childcare so delegates with children can attend and take part. Change timing to August closer to church year start is being discussed, but that was met with arguments such as being to close to the start of  college and school year to lose youth participation, so maybe late July.

Whose meeting is this (GA)?

GA will be designed for delegate teams from congregations to meet with the UUA Board of Trustees to engage in effective governance of the association.  There will be no delegates from UUWF UUSC UU UUNO and no delegates from the UUA Board.

The national conference would be delegate teams – core teams of seven
seating in plenary arranged geographically, neighboring congregations seated together within districts and regions. Intentional space on floor for reams to meet and work together.
General Assembly would no longer be a financial burden. The UUA would fund all delegates  democratically chosen by the congregations, although the number of delegates would be drastically reduced.

1.8 – 2 million dollars would be spent by the UUA.  There would be no registration fee for all delegates from Fair Share congregations and regional delegates (these delegates sounded like Super Delegates at political party convention).  Non delegate observers could pay their own way to attend.  Settled ministers would also be invited. Questions were raised about credentialed religious educators and musicians.

Delegate Selection would work this way:

Congregagations of 1-250 members =  1 delegate
250-550 members =  2 delegates
5510-1000 members = 3 delegates
1000+ members = 4 delegates

Settled ministers  1 per congregations = 600 more delegates

The Schedule looks like this:
Two full days, come in the night before with dinner and celebration.  Right now the proposal is for a Thursday night  to Sunday morning.

Thursday:

Registration
Dinner

Friday:

Team-based governance training
Conversations with trustees on issues
Ware Lecture

Saturday:

UUA Administrative Reports
Resolutions
Elections
Banquet
Service of the Living Tradition
Sunday:

Closing Worship

In even numbered years, years without GA, – various options exist for getting together, a big tent meeting, thematically aligned regional gatherings , a UU NAtional Week of Service, a year off, etc.

I was excited by this.  After the presentation, the Task Force took a look at FAAQ – frequently asked anxious questions (I love it) – including, “You’re taking away my GA!”  “What about the Vendors and bookstore?”,  and others, all of which I think they handled well.  The big question is – why are we here. At GA, like in our congregations, it should be about good governance and sharing spiritual grounding time together, not talking around and around a secular politcal issue until we’re red in the face.  I’m all for the streamlining.  Heck, I’m sitting here trying to drag myself off to Sunday morning worship with a bad case of GA fatigue, having been here for a week of Ministry Days and GA and having sat through more down time during plenaries than I care to recount.  There has to be a better way. The status quo is not an option.  Kudos to the Fifth Principle Task Force.

Fifth Principle Task Force preliminary report (not exactly what they presented at GA – this is a prior version, but most of what is here is the same as what they presented at GA).

Congratulations to the Rev. Peter Morales

June 27th, 2009 . Posted in The Political Life, The Spiritual Life | No Comments »
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The Rev. Peter Morales has been elected President of the Unitarian Universalist Association and will succeed the Rev. William J. Sinkford.  Some people are surprised or even shocked that Morales defeated the Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman. I’m not.  Hallman had a ton of high profile endorsements, but I think endorsements don’t count for much anymore in the world of secular politics and it looks like the same holds true in denominational politics.  It’s as if people feel you are telling them who to vote for instead of making up their own minds.

I’ve heard,  although I haven’t seen the data, that Hallman did better among the early mail-in ballots, but Morales did much better among the delegates present at General Assembly.  That doesn’t surprise me either, as I think the Morales campaign ran a better campaign here at GA (although I didn’t either campaign was all that outstanding at campaigning).  I predicted a Morales victory (and you can check with my church’s office administrator and a Dallas-Fort Worth colleague) yesterday and before dinner tonight.  I’ve heard and seen reports that Morales won by about 600 votes and had just under 60% of the vote.  That was a much bigger margin than I was expecting.

I think the UUA will be fine with President Morales, but I am looking forward to Who’s Next? Already.  And this has nothing to do with Rev. Peter Morales.  I’d be looking forward to Who’s Next with Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman as president too.  You’re out there. You’re reading this, I hope.  You blog, you podcast, you vlog, you tweet, you facebook, you think email is outdated and you certainly don’t need my endorsement, but I’d work on your campaign, but I’m not marching around GA with a sign.  You know what I mean, that’s why we need you as president.

Who’s Got Next?

June 27th, 2009 . Posted in The Cultural Life, The Spiritual Life | No Comments »
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Come Sunday, the Unitarian Universalist Association will have a new president. I’m sure whoever it is will do a fine job.  Isn’t that last sentence lame? I don’t want someone to do a fine job.  I want a UUA president personifying our association in a way that really energizes and engages me, draws me into their campaign and then reinvigorates me in my work, my ministry and my broader UUA involvement.  I’m posting this before Saturday’s election results so it doesn’t seem like a sore loser post, because although I’m voting for one of the candidates, truth be told, I think the other will do a fine job too.  But there it is again, a fine job. There’s a disconnect between me and this campaign, between me and these two candidates, as good as they are and as far more accomplished as they are than say, someone like me, I’m still feeling left out. I’m left wondering if we as a religious movement are going to be really, truly in any soul changing way different in another four or eight years than we are right now, and I can’t see it. I’m not feeling it, so…

I’m looking forward to the NEXT president.  This thinking and reflection was spurred  by a combination of my lack of enthusiasm for the current campaign and a note from a friend that suggested the UUA has been led by Baby Boomers for years and folks should get together here (at GA in Salt Lake City) and talk about who should be next.  So, I started thinking about it and talking about it.  I even sat down and asked a friend and colleague who I thought would be a good UUA President if he’d ever thought about it.  We had an interesting talk.

I think the next UUA president should be a Gen X or Gen Y minister who understands the cultural shift of doing ministry in a postmodern, American religious landscape (and wouldn’t let a GA happen without free WiFi in the convention hall, let’s say).  I think the next UUA president should be younger than 50 years old, hopefully even younger than 40 when they take office.  I think he or she should be someone who fully engages a transformational ministry and has a background working with youth, young adults and religious education or who has spent their formative years in UUA youth groups.  I think the next UUA president should be someone who is not doing the job as a career move or a career stepping stone or as a way to ease into retirement. I’m not accusing either of the present candidates of these things, but the UUA presidency does seem to come at a certain career point.  What would it look like to have a President who, instead of accepting a call to that large charge at that height of the career moment, accepted the call to lead the movement instead?

I think the next UUA president should be someone who has served a small or medium sized congregation or perhaps even been a religious educator.  I think the next UUA president is someone who works in an open source, networked model and wouldn’t accept an endorsement of their candidacy if you offered him or her one. I think the next UUA President should be an openly evangelical UU who loves to talk about the transformative power of religious and spiritual experience and is one of his or her generation’s (X or Y) most powerful preachers.  I think the next UUA president may come into office with a team, so they can play to their strengths, modeling the type of collaborative ministry we can use in our congregations. I think the next UUA president shouldn’t have to wait eight years to run even if whoever is elected this week is having no major problems because it’s impolite to question the status quo.  I think the broader UU world may or may not yet have heard of him or her and I would love to gather a group of Gen X and Y ministers, young adults and youth who have some game to talk about who’s got NEXT?

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