Gathered Here
- Details
- Created on Sunday, 16 October 2011 01:00
- Written by Elaine Beth Peresluha
Please note that this is the written text from which Elaine speaks extemporaneously. The words will not match what you hear on Sunday mornings. To hear exactly what is said please go to our podcasts of Sunday's sermons.
Something has changed.
In the 1950’s The Fraternal Order of the Eagles teamed up with Cecil B Demille to erect huge promotional tablets of the ten commandments all over towns in the USA- in parks, in front of courthouses, at state capitals- and no one minded. "In God we Trust" was added to our currency and the pledge of allegiance was amended to include "under God".
The tablets stood for decades without causing a fuss- at the very same time we were passing theist money around, and pledging under God, Americans did not vocalize the same religious fervor that we hear now. Historically, “America has been deeply religious, religiously diverse and remarkably tolerant” During the social upheaval of the 1960’s religious affiliation plummeted- that inspired a conservative, evangelical reaction to rise out of the once fringe religious right.
Something changed and we are now experiencing what I call the great divide. Putnam points out that young people, turned off by the linkages between faith and conservative values, either abandoning organized religion or fusing with conservative, fundamentalist evangelical communities, swelling both the ranks of religious conservatism and secular liberalism. The place in the middle-, which didn’t worry about ten commandment tablets, or In God We trust, has all but disappeared. There is no longer a religiously or politically safe place for people who are socially liberal and spiritually hungry.
We now have a coalition of the religious who tend to vote, act, and politicize in one direction while the non-religious Americans tend in the opposite social political direction.
According to Robert Putnam’s surveys, the three largest “groups” of religious in the USA are Evangelical protestants, 30%, - Catholics, 24% and the Nones, at 17%. There are more Nones in the USA than main line Protestants--- and there is not place for a None to go.
Barbara Kingsolver speaks for the Nones-
"I don't expect to see perfection before I die. What keeps you going isn't some fine destination, but just the road you're on, and the fact that you know how to drive. You keep your eyes open. You see this damned-to-hell world you got born into, and you ask yourself ... what life can I live that will let me breathe in and out, and love somebody or something, and not run off screaming, into the woods?"
"What to believe in, exactly, may never turn out to be half as important as the daring act of belief ... a willingness to participate in sunlight, and the color red, an agreement to enter into a conspiracy with life on behalf of both frog and snake, the predator and the prey, in order to come away changed." ...
We are the place for the nones- the seekers who do not want the conservative political or religious perspective of evangelical fundamentalist religious.
There must be those who gather with the congregation of remembrance and compassion
Draw water from old wells,
The old wells… 375 years of historic leadership, controversy, struggle to know what is right, do what is right, live and inspire meaning and purpose in right relationship, loving community. First Parish knows how to be a rock- to win against odds, fires, wars, conflict, and adversity; There has been pride and loss, sacrifice and inspiration for this congregation when ministers have stepped into leadership roles in our denomination, when congregants’ neighbors and community joined together to fight for justice, and loved their neighbors. For years First Parish- has been a leadership congregation for this denomination- one of the top 50 contributing congregations to the Annual Program Fund. Maybe since 1829- When the American Unitarian Association was founded- and Ezra Ripley charged the congregation’s members to support the association with their money….
Something has changed.
Each congregation that holds a place of membership in our association of congregation’s pledges to give the association 58.00 for each member reported to the UUA. From 1980 until 2006 First Parish not only gave their Fair share, they gave above the Fair share on many occasions to assure that search committees would have the resources they need to find ministers for congregations, that ministers and religious educators would be trained that there would be national and international initiatives to promote the principles of our faith in the greater society. Since 2006 the amount that First Parish has chosen to contribute has steadily decreased. For First Parish to be considered Fair Share for fiscal year 2012 we need to contribute $45,530. Our 2011-2012 operating budget has allocated $10.000 for the Annual Program fund- less than one quarter of that $45,530
I feel like there is some sort of harmonic conversion going on here
The UUA is opening its Gathered here initiative Gathered here- for 375 years. The theme of the fifth annual Association Sunday is Celebrating Excellence in Ministries! The UUA is partnering with the UU Ministers Association, the UU Musicians Network, the Liberal Religious Educators Association, and other professional organizations distributing the proceeds from Association to support scholarships, continuing education, an assessment of our ministries and other projects that help religious professionals get the ongoing training they need to support thriving congregations. That is where we come in- and this convergence idea.
COMING TO TERMS WITH HISTORY. Is the first and foremost task of our interim process for in your history rests the truth of who First Parish is- in your history lies the foundation of your mission and vision. You began as congregational community presence 375 years ago- the founding intention of this first parish was to form a community- to be the center, the heart, the seat of governance, and a source of values, laws, and relationships. It is important to understand the meaning and relevance of that choice- the intention. Professional ministry, leadership a voice is at the center of that choice- the development of such leadership, trust in, appreciation for ministry is foundational to First Parish. It makes so much sense that the anything that unravels, tarnishes, threatens, or disrupts that founding principle would shake the pillars on the portico.
That is what makes this Association Sunday so symbolic for First Parish. It is an opportunity for the members to own your role, your identity and your place in Unitarian Universalism. You cannot change who and what you have been or who your are without peril. It time- not to epically and courageously own and hold up your historic presence, to restore right relationship of leadership and in the association of congregations to renew commitment and relationship to the principles and purposes of this faith- to guide, inspire and reshape the very understanding of what it means to be U.U. That is the legacy and the authority that rests here on 375 years of reason, faith, social conscience, and scholarship. First Parish has it all- and the Nones need you. They need a place in the middle that not only provides resources and discovery, but relationships, connections and inspiration. It does not have to be theist- or Buddhist or humanist- it needs to be provocative, relational, and sustaining.
Write out a leadership check- not $20.00, not $200.00 dollars, contribute $1000.00! That is a bold commitment that says “This matter. Unitarian Universalism matters
This is a moment- a harmonic conversion. Gathered here, 375 years- Gathered here- the UU initiative to bring the voice and vision of U.U.'s around the glove together, to response to the uncertainty of our times, the hunger for meaning and purpose, justice and cooperation- we are the ones we have been waiting for.
As Unitarian Universalists we are bound together by covenant, not by dogma but by the promises and the stories that we share. The Gathered Here initiative is a multi-layered invitation to connect with each other, the positive life sustaining and motivating stories among us, and to unleash the power of our faith to transform lives and the world.
Participating in the Gathered Here initiative is an opportunity to discover together what the future is calling from us as religious leaders and people of faith. It is an opportunity to shape, not only the future of our Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations but it is the opportunity to affirm the religious witness that has changed our county and the world before- and can do it again.
We have a vision for creating a more lovable and livable world.... why are we not out there telling many and everyone in our community about it? Instead of ridiculing fundamentalists for their seemingly boundless zeal and overly simplistic answers, why are we smugly content with our self description as "the best kept secret in town"? Our cause is for the enhancement of human dignity and for creating inclusive circles of love. That is our gospel. That is our good news. Isn't it about time that we go tell it on the mountain?
From the Hopi elders:
"There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift, that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore,
They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.Know that the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
Push off into the middle of the river,
Keep our eyes open and our heads above the water.And I say see who is there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history,
We are to take nothing personally,
Least of all ourselves,
For the moment that we do,
Our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves.
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary.
All that we do now
Must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.We are the ones we have been waiting for."