| Vision and Change Rev. Amy Freedman Channing Memorial Church October 15, 2006 I have good news and bad news. Lately it seems like mostly bad news. Keeping informed is important to me. However, there are some days when reading the paper, listening to the radio, or watching television delivers one devastating blow after another. I am concerned about the state of our world and my responsibility as an American citizen. The stakes are high given the nuclear ambitions of North Korea, the death toll in Iraq, increasing tension with Iran, worker's rights in China, genocide in Darfur, and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The news also challenges my vision of the United States as a Promised Land with the closing of American businesses, jobs being outsourced, the growing gang and drug culture, poverty, racism, and our dependence on oil. As if that was not enough to take, a gunmen shot five girls in an Amish Schoolhouse, a college woman was slain, and gun violence is on the rise in our schools. There are days when I wonder if it's a bad idea to have my alarm clock set to National Public Radio. Waking up to the late breaking news is so discouraging that I could simply roll back over and pull the blankets up over my head. Of course, I do get out of bed. I am in my seventh year as your minister. Over the course of my ministry, Channing Church has grown significantly. Not numerically. Our membership size has actually remained fairly stable. However, participation and programming has significantly increased. The number of people who know about Channing Church, attend worship, participate in programs, serve on committees, and support the church financially, continues to rise. Many of the goals set forth in our 2003 Strategic Plan have been accomplished. However, there are lots of things around here that need attention. Just when we seem to be moving ahead, we are faced with significant challenges. Time and time again, church leaders have risen to the challenge whether it was investigating cracks in our steeple, resolving conflict, lead-paint abatement on Channing House, suing our former Treasurer and putting our finances in order, and now addressing the new Fire Codes. We have done all this with talented and committed leaders, a modest budget, and a part-time staff. The challenges we face together are small as compared to the troubles of the world however they call forth significant energy and resolve. In the face of these ongoing needs and challenges, I know that lay leaders sometimes feel as overwhelmed and burnt out as I do. So, here is the good news. Unitarian Universalists are leaders in bringing about change. Historically, whenever a seemingly insurmountable barrier was transcended, Unitarian Universalists were there. Let me give you some examples. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, held his Unitarian faith so dear that he wrote, "I trust that there is not a young man now living who will not die a Unitarian". Unfortunately, that vision has yet to come to pass however, the founding principles of our nation are directly tied to our faith: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Our Universalist ancestors were also on the front lines of social change. Clara Barton is well-known as founder of the American Red Cross. To tend the wounded on the bloody battlefields of the Civil War, to see beyond the divisions of North and South, to organize a mission of healing was an incredible act of compassion and faith. Clara Barton was a Universalist. Are we capable of facing the injustices of our day and bringing about positive change? Our track record indicates that we are. Unitarians and Universalists were leaders in speaking and protesting against the abomination of slavery. At the time, many Americans were convinced that the economic health of the nation depended on preserving the institution of slavery and even used Biblical passages to prove it was part of the natural order. Unitarians and Universalists with their steadfast faith in the goodness of God and humanity upheld the abolition of slavery as a moral issue until at last all people were free. Our history reminds us that even though we may be relatively small in numbers, Unitarian Universalists have great influence. We were on the forefront in securing women's right to vote, civil rights, the creation of the United Nations, humanitarian efforts, and education reform. The first same-gender couple legally married in Massachusetts was Unitarian Universalist and they were married by Bill Sinkford, the President of our Association. Our faith in the goodness of humanity, the use of reason, and the essential unity of all living beings, moves us to work for change. The more difficult the conditions of our world become, the more important it is for us as members of Channing Church to articulate a vision - to know exactly what we are working toward. It is not enough simply to be informed about current events, our faith calls upon us to speak to the issues of our times, uphold a positive vision, and take action. No matter how large the troubles of the world may seem, all great change is brought about from people like you and me articulating a common vision, and moving together in that direction. As Gandhi said, "We must be the change that we wish to see. " I have more good news. We are not alone. I was reminded of this recently at two events sponsored by our Social Justice Committee. On October 3rd, we joined 350 congregations in showing "An Inconvenient Truth", a powerful film exploring "The planetary emergency of global warming and what we can do about it" in the Parish Hall. On Wednesday, we sponsored, "Jerusalem Women Speak" at the Newport Library, a presentation by three women of three different faiths, Christian, Muslim and Jewish, with a shared vision for peace in their homeland: Israel and Palestine, part of a National Tour made possible by Partners for Peace. Special thanks to Channing member Eleanor Doumato for arranging their stop in Newport. The good news is that although both events were well attended by Channing members and friends, each one also drew people from our local community. We are not alone in caring about the state of our world. People are hungry to understand present conditions and long for a positive vision to bring about change. There is a growing appreciation that "the media" is not an unbiased source of information. People are looking to alternate sources to discover the truth and bring about positive change. The film and the presentation were educational but they also raised larger moral issues. Both climate change and peace require understanding and action based on a fundamental change of heart. "An Inconvenient Truth" and "Jerusalem Women Speak" were successful in that they powerfully spoke to the issues of our day. About the same numbers of people gathered for those events as regularly attend our Sunday services. It became clear to me that there is a real potential for Channing Church to be so much more. The Parish Hall was packed. Thanks to Don Mallinson, Holly Grosvenor, and Jim Asbel for providing a projector and screen that allowed so many to see the film. However, social psychology teaches that whenever a room is packed, many people are uncomfortable and vow never to return. The Community Room of the Library was more comfortable with better seating, lighting and equipment. However, the capacity of that room was 72 and after the chairs were filled, library staff turned some interested folks away. The moderator did a good job moving the presentation and discussion along but once the program ended, everyone was quickly shuttled out because the library was closing. The best networking usually follows a program so some valuable opportunities were lost. These two events are important illustrations that:
More good news! This is "The Year of Decision" at Channing Church. In the past seven years we have experienced real growth and change however, there are some significant areas in which we have remained stuck. At a Board Retreat, one member said that it was like being stuck in a rotary, going around and around, not really getting anywhere and not knowing which direction to take next. For any congregation to move forward it is essential to have consensus about our purpose. Quite simply, I believe the mission of our faith is to bring more love and understanding into the world. Channing Church must empower all ages to live with open minds, caring hearts and serving hands. We need to get serious, get organized, recognize what tremendous resources we have, and figure out what it is going to take for us to offer a positive vision that is informed by history, relevant to the issues of our times, and dedicated to the future. We already do a good job. Our services, programs, religious education, caregiving, fellowship events, small groups, rites of passage touch people's lives in ways that bring about positive change. Imagine for a moment that we built upon these assets to become more: more loving, more open, more accessible, more relevant, more challenging, more supportive, more beautiful, more dedicated, more compassionate. Imagine if we offered a more comprehensive program for lifespan learning. Imagine if all members were encouraged to develop their gifts and talents in service to the wider community. Imagine if we could have a rich variety of speakers, movies, music, theatre, dance, visual arts on a regular basis. Imagine what we could accomplish if church volunteers did not have to waste their time setting up tables and chairs; instead of administration being engaged with ministry. Imagine what would be possible if we had full-time staff devoted to religious education, music, facilities, ministry. Imagine how many lives would be changed by being a part of a vibrant Unitarian Universalist community. That is the kind of church I want to serve. "We must be the change that we wish to see." Join me. |