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Channing Memorial Church February 24, 2002 When I brought in this Question Box, Jill Ward, our Church Secretary, commented that it reminded her of a Valentine Mailbox, the kind that kids make in school to receive all those brightly colored cards from their classmates. Well, as most of you know, I used to be a preschool teacher and so it was with a bit of nostalgia that I covered the box with red construction paper. The idea of a question box sermon does not originate with me. I do not know who first came up with the idea but I remember my own minister asking for questions and slipping a piece of paper into a designated box myself. On the day of the sermon, I listened attentively for my particular question to be addressed. Sometimes other people had articulated something that I had wondered about myself, usually it was a good review of the basic tenets of Unitarian Universalism, but often the answers led to yet more questions. Like in today's reading, once you have reached one horizon, there is yet another in the distance. I invite you to engage your mind. Take responsibility for your own opinions
and curiosity. One of the principles of our association is to affirm and
promote a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. So, my hope
is that this sermon will serve as a spring-board into deeper conversations,
further exploration and dialogue. Here are the contrasting perspectives: Arius was the champion of the view that God is One, unknowable and separate from every created being. Jesus, the Christ, was a created being and therefore not God. He could be worshipped as a secondary being but not as a deity. Christ was not divine in the fullest sense, but still had more attributes than mere man. Athanasius was the principal supporter of the doctrine of the divinity of Christ. He held that Jesus was "very God of God" and that Jesus was "one substance with God". There were many years of debate and controversy. The trinity was adopted as the doctrine of the church. I imagine many of you are familiar with the Nicean creed a profession of Trinitarian faith in "God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit". Arius and his followers were ultimately banished as heretics for their Unitarian beliefs. Through out the centuries there have been scholars and religious leaders
who have examined the Scriptures in an effort to follow the religion of Jesus
instead of a religion about Jesus. Unitarianism was typically viewed as a
threat to the established order and even to some of the reformers. In 1533,
John Calvin burned Michael Servetes of Spain at the stake for writing "On
the Errors of the Trinity". So, the strains of Unitarian thought can be traced back to Arius in 300 AD, Unitarian congregations arose in Transylvania and parts of Europe in the 16th century, but the establishment of Unitarianism as faith movement in America is much more recent. In the mid-1700's Congregational churches were in the midst of lively debate over the nature of God and free will. The first reading this morning was an excerpt from the sermon given by William Ellery Channing in 1819 that articulated "Unitarian Christianity" so clearly that many Congregational churches split over the theological issues. The American Unitarian Association was established in 1825. What is the meaning of Unitarianism? Unitarianism arose as a form of liberal Christianity believing that God is one and in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man and the Leadership of Jesus. What is the significance of the stained glass above the pulpit? This church was built in honor of William Ellery Channing and dedicated on what would have been his 100th birthday. This congregation was established in 1836 as the Unitarian Congregational Church of Newport. Channing was a Newport native although he served a congregation in Boston for his entire ministry. The window which graces us as a focal point of this sanctuary was a gift from Channing's descendants. It is a reproduction of the painting by Millet of a sower of seeds. The Parable of the Sower is found in the Christian Scriptures and has often been used as an illustration for the conditions in which faith can take root and grow. I have not found anything written yet about why Channing's descendants chose this image. He did have a great reverence for Nature. My interpretation is that it is a reminder of Channing's belief that the seed of divinity is found within each individual. The function of religion is to encourage the unfolding of that seed what he termed self-culture. What is the history of Universalism? Like Unitarianism, Universalist thought can be traced way back in history but was established as a faith movement in America more recently. Origen who lived 185-251 AD was a prolific writer in the early Christian church. He stressed the humanity of Jesus, argued that there was no hell and talked of a benevolent God who would offer salvation to all people. In 1759, Englishman James Relly wrote an influential book called "Union". A follower of Relly, John Murray established the first Universalist Church in America. Many congregations followed, moved by the message of universal salvation in contrast to the fire and brimstone of Calvinism. When the Universalists joined with the Unitarians (when) what beliefs did we incorporate? The merger happened in 1961. The two separate Associations had been collaborating on religious education materials, youth activities and even had a hymnal in common. Theologically, the two liberal Christian movements both believed in universal salvation, the unity of God, both religious traditions were committed to religious tolerance and inquiry, and practiced congregational polity. However, it might have happened differently. Universalists also considered merging with the Congregational Church. Unitarian congregations were generally middle to upper class and highly educated. Universalist congregations were more working class and more engaged in service. The joke that was told back at the turn of the century and still rings true is "Universalists felt God was too good to damn them and Unitarians felt they were too good for God to damn." There are still some churches that are Unitarian or purely Universalist (there's a Universalist congregation in Providence), but most congregations either merged resources with another church or adopted both names. Are we Christian? I am often asked this question and the answer is not simple. Yes, we are part of a Christian tradition. The theological ideas that make up our name "Unitarian Universalist" are liberal Christian concepts. We follow a Christian calendar. Christmas Eve and Easter continue to be our most highly attended services of the year. Our rituals and architecture follow a Protestant structure. However, as Unitarian Universalists we draw from many sources for inspiration: the teachings of prophetic men and women, literature, science and the arts, sacred texts of the world's religions. I was taught in UU Sunday School that Jesus was a great spiritual teacher among many. However, there are individual church members who are Christian, for whom Jesus is the focus of their faith. Do Unitarian Universalists have a central tenet or signature idea? Most
religions, philosophies, or schools of thought have a central tenet or
a signature idea that distinguishes them and to which their adherents cling
closely, if not passionately. If so, is it worth embracing passionately? Of course, as someone who has devoted my life to this faith movement, I believe that it is worth embracing passionately. So many people have experienced sacrifice and oppression as a part of religion. Unitarian Universalism offers the gifts of inclusion and liberation. To be committed to this faith means asking deep questions of ultimate meaning and not settling for easy answers. It means being engaged in dialogue with other people who may think or live differently and therefore risk being changed. Life then becomes a continual journey of growth, discovery, and service. Here are some separate but related questions: Time was that Unitarians and Universalists were well known and respected players in American society: Thomas Jefferson, Clara Barton, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Susan B. Anthony, to name a few. Although the general public is familiar with these people and their contribution to society, usually they have no idea about their religion. I believe that this is largely because we value individualism. So, the same faith that empowered these great people to think differently and make the world a better place becomes lost in the shadows. I spent many classes, meetings, and conferences discussing this very issue of how to take our message to the streets. So many people just find us by chance. Members of this church have told me "I was a UU all my life, I just never knew there was a religion for me." As a movement and as a church, we need to find ways to share our good news with a larger audience. We are not just a club. Our approach to life is transformative and liberating! In most other (non-Unitarian) churches with which I am familiar, the Minister, Rabbi, or Leader holds a rather exalted position - as spiritual leader, religious authority, etc. The congregants, devotees, followers, etc. are expected to follow his/her lead. This seems to not be the case for Unitarian Universalism in general nor for Channing church specifically. How do you see your role/duties as Minister of this church? How do you see the role/duties of members of this congregation? Our church structure is very similar to the church down the street. That is we have congregational polity. Members of the congregation hold the power to elect officers and call a minister. Although I sit on the Board of Governors, I am not a voting member. The Board reports to the congregation who ultimately make decisions about all aspects of church life. This is a democracy. In some ways I do hold an exalted position. My title is Reverend, after all. When I was ordained to this ministry, I took a solemn vow to honor the privileges and responsibilities of this position including the confidence of pastoral counseling, officiating rites of passage, and being a representative of this church in the world at large. However, just as the beliefs of individual members vary, styles of Unitarian
Universalist ministers vary. Each person who enters the ministry brings different
gifts and expertise. I see my role as a minister as a midwife, drawing out
the gifts and talents of the congregation, offering ideas and resources,
helping to foster connections between people, inspiring thought, feeling
and action. Have you always wanted to be a minister? No. As a little girl, I used to wish on the candles of my birthday cake to be a ballerina. For most of my life, I planned to be an actor. I considered being a psychologist or counselor. I worked as a preschool teacher, actor, and children's theatre director. Through my involvement as an active lay leader, I discovered that ministry brings together everything that I care about and enjoy doing: public speaking, teaching, being with people of all ages, counseling, the arts, nature, scholarship, writing, and social activism. There's been a lot in the news lately about Catholic priest's sexual misconduct. What is the UU position on sexual ethics? People often associate religion with sacrifice and restrictions. When I
tell a stranger that I'm a minister, I often need to explain that I'm not
a nun, that I can get married and that there are lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people who also serve as UU ministers. Our professional code
of ethics states that we are not to be sexually involved with anyone in our
congregation. There were two cases in which male ministers lost their fellowship
for inappropriate relations with female members of the church they served. The UUA has developed a comprehensive sexuality program called Our Whole
Lives, which educates all ages about sexuality, in order to make individual
informed choices about our bodies and relationships. As Unitarian Universalists,
we value communication and honesty in all relationships. Justice means being in right relationship with other people and the environment.
This requires us to bring a critical mind and a caring heart to all aspects
of living and to take action when we see people, animals or the earth being
hurt either intentionally or unintentionally. In response, I offer the "Decalogue for Religious Liberals" by UU minister Paul Carnes as a valuable guide.
A final query: I recommend educating yourself about our tradition. Our faith movement although misunderstood by some and unknown to many has a long and noble history. I find strength in reading about prophetic men and women who pushed the boundaries of convention. Sometimes, giving pamphlets can be a useful way of explaining Unitarian Universalist beliefs. You are free to help yourself to the ones in our literature rack. It may be more powerful still to simply share your story, the reasons that you call Channing Memorial Church your religious home, the people who you have met, how the experience of worship brings you a greater sense of wholeness, what lessons you carry with you into the world. Ask the other person to share with you what they value about their religious community. Sometimes this dialogue only goes so far. One of my friends who is a UU minister lives with the pain that his parents believe that he will go to hell. I received an anonymous letter stating that I am a disgrace to my Jewish heritage. Religion so often serves to separate and restrict people, which is why our message of inclusion and liberation is radical and threatening to some. So, there you have it! I included most but not all of the questions that I found in the box. I encourage not only your questions, but your answers.
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