Very interesting and thought provoking David. Many cultures seems to have religious and/or spiritual leaders, yet that doesn't mean UU should continue that model. We live in a hierarchical world and it challenging to propose some other approach.makes me also think of the role of priesthood, to pass down the "truth". Hmmmn.
David, just as I got a ping notifying me of this latest post from you, a UUA newsletter arrived in my inbox announcing the 2024-25 Common Read—
“Authentic Selves: Celebrating the Lives of Transgender and Nonbinary People and Their Families.”
A question very much on my mind these days is: How long before the UU denomination makes a course-correction away from the extremes of gender dogma? And I ask this as one who used to accept much of the gender identity activists’ narrative as true! Like so many gender-dogma heretics, I’m coming from a place of love and caring, as well as a desire to understand. And as I learned more, my former beliefs started to unravel.
At present, the answer seems to be: Not yet. Those at the helm are doubling down.
Several years ago we needed to hire an “Interim” minister (believe me the UUMA had a range of definitions for various ministers). They tried to sell us a “Developmental” minister which is like hiring a dictator. We said no thanks and did phone interviews with six candidates from Starr King. After the last one got off the phone the selection committee sat in silence for a few minutes until someone said “no way.” None of the offered candidates were remotely prepared to support a congregation. What new UUA Ministers don’t get is that 75% of the work is organizational not the actual service. It’s more similar to running a Community Organization and motivating volunteers. The Community is the Congregation and vice versa. We eventually created or own “Minister in Residence” program mixing member lead services with visiting ministers. This lasted for two years until we recruited a contact minister who lasted two years until he in-turn was recruited by a more wealthy congregation. We subsequently hired another contract minister but now we are considering leaving the UUA as a matter of conscience over A2 revisions. The UUMA has become a Commissariat for an intolerant narrow view of identity politics that seeks to purge the remaining liberal members to acquire their church’s assets.
1) I believe it is time to abandon the protestant format for a worship service (hymn, ritual or two, offering, 20-minute sermon, another song, downstairs for coffee). The sermon was traditionally a device for instruction, but very little is learned during most sermons. If learning or transformation is the goal, then there are better ways to achieve that including: workbooks, reviews, handouts, discussion, etc. If worship services are going to compete with YouTube, podcasts, etc. then the experience needs to be interactive, rather than passive. (note that most people who attend the congregation are there for community rather than religion. Religion is an excuse to gather. )
2) There may be a place for ministers, but I don't believe that running the organization like a CEO should be the default model. Ministers, especially new ministers, are often not equipped to act in that capacity. Lay members in a congregation can do everything that needs to be done to run a congregation, if they are properly trained and organized. I have come around to believing that if a congregation wants professional leadership of the organization, they should look to experienced CEOs of non-profit organizations who have a gift for enabling members to step up and volunteer for leadership. If desired, professional clergy can be added into the programing as determined by the congregation.
I'm not offended by the old time Protestant format, but the new ministerial use of Christian language comes across as hollow and often just for show (Minister: "Our UU theology calls to..." Me: "What the hell is UU theology?")
I second that, David: "What the hell is UU theology?" It seems to me that UUs have stretched the term "theology" to try to cover any opinion that they want to protect from criticism, to the point that the term has burst its bounds and is meaningless in the context of UUism.
The worst word is "our" ("Our UU theology"). They're trying to tell me what my theology is. It's all a part of their attempt to transform UU into a collectivist movement.
Very interesting and thought provoking David. Many cultures seems to have religious and/or spiritual leaders, yet that doesn't mean UU should continue that model. We live in a hierarchical world and it challenging to propose some other approach.makes me also think of the role of priesthood, to pass down the "truth". Hmmmn.
At synagogues, rabbis are considered merely teachers not priests, and they welcome and encourage viewpoint diversity and debate on all topics.
David, just as I got a ping notifying me of this latest post from you, a UUA newsletter arrived in my inbox announcing the 2024-25 Common Read—
“Authentic Selves: Celebrating the Lives of Transgender and Nonbinary People and Their Families.”
A question very much on my mind these days is: How long before the UU denomination makes a course-correction away from the extremes of gender dogma? And I ask this as one who used to accept much of the gender identity activists’ narrative as true! Like so many gender-dogma heretics, I’m coming from a place of love and caring, as well as a desire to understand. And as I learned more, my former beliefs started to unravel.
At present, the answer seems to be: Not yet. Those at the helm are doubling down.
Several years ago we needed to hire an “Interim” minister (believe me the UUMA had a range of definitions for various ministers). They tried to sell us a “Developmental” minister which is like hiring a dictator. We said no thanks and did phone interviews with six candidates from Starr King. After the last one got off the phone the selection committee sat in silence for a few minutes until someone said “no way.” None of the offered candidates were remotely prepared to support a congregation. What new UUA Ministers don’t get is that 75% of the work is organizational not the actual service. It’s more similar to running a Community Organization and motivating volunteers. The Community is the Congregation and vice versa. We eventually created or own “Minister in Residence” program mixing member lead services with visiting ministers. This lasted for two years until we recruited a contact minister who lasted two years until he in-turn was recruited by a more wealthy congregation. We subsequently hired another contract minister but now we are considering leaving the UUA as a matter of conscience over A2 revisions. The UUMA has become a Commissariat for an intolerant narrow view of identity politics that seeks to purge the remaining liberal members to acquire their church’s assets.
1) I believe it is time to abandon the protestant format for a worship service (hymn, ritual or two, offering, 20-minute sermon, another song, downstairs for coffee). The sermon was traditionally a device for instruction, but very little is learned during most sermons. If learning or transformation is the goal, then there are better ways to achieve that including: workbooks, reviews, handouts, discussion, etc. If worship services are going to compete with YouTube, podcasts, etc. then the experience needs to be interactive, rather than passive. (note that most people who attend the congregation are there for community rather than religion. Religion is an excuse to gather. )
2) There may be a place for ministers, but I don't believe that running the organization like a CEO should be the default model. Ministers, especially new ministers, are often not equipped to act in that capacity. Lay members in a congregation can do everything that needs to be done to run a congregation, if they are properly trained and organized. I have come around to believing that if a congregation wants professional leadership of the organization, they should look to experienced CEOs of non-profit organizations who have a gift for enabling members to step up and volunteer for leadership. If desired, professional clergy can be added into the programing as determined by the congregation.
I'm not offended by the old time Protestant format, but the new ministerial use of Christian language comes across as hollow and often just for show (Minister: "Our UU theology calls to..." Me: "What the hell is UU theology?")
I second that, David: "What the hell is UU theology?" It seems to me that UUs have stretched the term "theology" to try to cover any opinion that they want to protect from criticism, to the point that the term has burst its bounds and is meaningless in the context of UUism.
The worst word is "our" ("Our UU theology"). They're trying to tell me what my theology is. It's all a part of their attempt to transform UU into a collectivist movement.