Seeking Our Center: A Vision for Service
Presented by the Shared Ministry Task Force.
April 6, 2008
READINGS:
The first reading this morning, about the Fellowship movement within UUA, is taken from the most recent UU World magazine and a new book, The Fellowship Movement: A growth strategy and its legacy.
The story of the growth of Unitarian Universalism in the last sixty years is largely the story of the fellowship movement and its aftermath. Between 1948 and 1967 the main growth strategy . . . was to plant small, autonomous, lay-led congregation just about everywhere ten or more religious liberals could be brought together. (For those of you who wonder, HUU was founded in 1991.) 30% of the UUA’s current congregations started as fellowships during those two decades. Some are still small and lay-led, (such as ours). Others have evolved into full-service congregations.
Judgments about the success of the fellowship movement run the spectrum from wildly positive to extremely negative. The positive views are that along with growing the denomination, fellowships brought innovation, vitality and lay leadership into a religious community greatly in need of fresh air. At the other end of the spectrum is the view that the fellowship movement spawned small, introverted . . . groups that did not want to grow or welcome newcomers and did not identify with the larger denomination.
Fellowships brought freedom. The shadow side of this freedom is anarchy-a lack of order and structure, and the inability to create and sustain a center. When each person is free to create his or her own religion, there is no grounding, no common core.
The second readings are quotes from the Unitarian Universalist Association’s website about shared ministry:
Unitarian Universalism, as a democratic faith, affirms the “priesthood of all believers;” we are all lay ministers, whether or not we choose to be professional religious leaders. This belief in the “priesthood of all believers” is central to who we are as a religious movement.
The task before us is to foster and develop a ministering congregation. A ministering congregation … has an intentional and ongoing “shared ministry program,” a process for helping lay people discover their gifts and live out their ministries in the church and in their daily lives.
When Unitarian Universalists speak of ministry, we are describing what we all do together as members of our faith communities. We have ordained ministers in our tradition, of course, but those who serve their world in the name of the church extend far beyond the clergy. Though we are a diverse population, a common truth for Unitarian Universalist communities remains: regardless of the size or constellation of the congregation, the ministry in our faith communities is mutual. … As people of faith, our ministry involves taking care of one another, maintaining an emotional and spiritual connection throughout life’s changes. As we engage in mutual ministry, we feed one another. And in so doing, we are able in turn to lend our succor to the world. Our pastoral presence, our religious education, and our social action are all grounded in the ministry we give to and receive from one another.
Our Spiritual Center
by David Lane
The spiritual center of our community.
Think about that phrase for a moment: The spiritual center of our community.
My guess is that a Methodist or a Catholic might well be able to respond to that phrase in an instant. And probably for good reason. What centers their religious communities is as clear and exact as the creeds and confessions they affirm every Sunday morning. Statements of belief, declarations of faith, these are the things that in large measure define what Methodists or Catholics have in common, what defines the meaning of membership in these (and many other) faith communities.
And that’s the main reason I think that UUs have trouble with the concept of a spiritual center. It’s not that we don’t have a spiritual center. But we know deep down that whatever it is that we truly most sincerely, most authentically believe, that belief is not, and could not be, and in fact should not be, the spiritual center of a community of seekers, of those for whom there is indeed ONE LIGHT, but MANY WINDOWS.
So if it’s not belief, what is it that draws us together on Sunday mornings like this one? Can something other than belief be the basis of a religious community?
Rabbi Jesus told a marvelous story two thousand years ago. About a Samaritan. You know the story well. A religious heretic whose views and values were at odds with the religious establishment in Jerusalem. A man attacked by thieves and left for dead by the roadside. An act of compassion and generosity entirely outside the controlling stereotypes and ideologies of the day.
Clearer than any creed or confession, this parable may well illustrate the nature of true religion. Not in the apparent learning or wisdom of the priest and the Levite who never stopped to help. But in the decency and direct action of a fellow human being, the true “neighbor,” the true exponent in this parable of the Torah’s injunction to love neighbor as self.
So perhaps the spiritual center of a religious community is not just or even mainly to be found in the words we may use to define it. But in the deeds of compassion that connect us as neighbors, in the acts of service and support through which we discover our better selves.
Another way of saying this is to use the word MINISTRY. Another difficult word, I admit. A word many UUs have trouble with (like prayer, and worship, and faith). But a word worth reclaiming perhaps.
For ministry means to serve and support. And that is exactly what the Samaritan did. He didn’t teach or preach except by example. He recognized simple human need and acted.
In the same way as the parable does, I submit that what our mission statement calls us to do (both for each other and for the larger communities around us) is ministry.
That mission statement doesn’t ask as to believe the same things. Instead it asks us to act for a common purpose, to serve and support each other in work we can best do together:
- the work of sense-making, of finding meaning in a world of change and uncertainty,
- the work of care-giving, of connecting with compassion to the needs of others,
- the work of justice-seeking, of building a better world for the whole human family.
This is the work of every religious community, ours included. And supporting that work, serving the community that does that work, is what ministry is.
And that’s what I’m proposing this morning: that we recognize our spiritual center at HUU as the ministry of common tasks we covenant to do when we join the HUU community. In the opportunities for service we encounter here, we minister to each other in small and large ways, and in that ministry (just as the Samaritan did) we may find the spiritual center that connects us and binds us together.
And we do see it in small and large ways right here on Sunday morning, don’t we?
- The flowers one member brings for us, week in and week out
- The coffee one member brews for us after every service
- The music that choir and soloists regularly offer
- The new kitchen floor, sanctuary lighting, and podium sound system all member-installed
- The child care and children’s religious education members regularly provide
- The monthly potluck dishes prepared in dozens of kitchens
- The services themselves presented by members and friends 52 Sundays a year
And that’s only the most visible part of the story. Think of the decision-making, the money-raising, the forward planning, the personal investment of time, energy, and talent, in short, the huge labor that goes into support of the life and well-being of this congregation. And for the most part all of it done quietly, behind the scenes.
This is real ministry. And it is clearly shared ministry. We do it together because our size and needs require it. But we also share ministry because our principles demand it.
- “Inherent worth and dignity of every person” (our first principle) suggests that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the work of our community.
- “Encouragement to spiritual growth” (our third principle) suggests that everyone has something valuable to gain from contributing to that work.
- “Use of the democratic process” (our fifth principle) reminds us that in ministry the opportunity to serve and contribute is open to all.
Thus, ministry excludes no one – it belongs to everyone by virtue of membership in the community. This means all members are ministers, distinguished only by their abilities and gifts. What other denominations have called the Priesthood of All Believers or the Ministry of Gifts, is just precisely what UUs have come to call Shared Ministry. Listen to what our association leaders have to say about it:
- From Our Professional Ministry: Structure, Support and Renewal (1992):
Unitarian Universalism, as a democratic faith, affirms the “priesthood of all believers;” we are all lay ministers, whether or not we choose to be professional religious leaders. This belief in the “priesthood of all believers” is central to who we are as a religious movement.
- From “Our Ministry,” in The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide (2004):
When Unitarian Universalists speak of ministry, we are describing what we all do together as members of our faith communities. . . As we engage in mutual ministry, we feed one another. And in so doing, we are able to turn to lend our succor to the world. Our pastoral presence, our religious education, and our social action are all grounded in the ministry we give to and receive from one another.
- From “Sharing Ministry” (www.uua.org > Home > Congregational Life):
Where formerly people may have thought of themselves as “just a volunteer” or one of a nameless group of people performing a task, now, more and more, members of Unitarian Universalist congregations understand that ministry is something shared by all who are part of a spiritual community; a way to put faith into action for the benefit of the church and the wider community.
In that new understanding, our spiritual center becomes clear. Ministry is the work we do together as a religious community. And in that work we find “truth and meaning,” reflections of the One Light we all see, but see differently through the Many Windows of our hearts and minds.
Our Vision
by Bernie Mathes
Last spring the HUU Board created the Lay Ministry Task Force to explore ways to provide ministerial support to the congregation while we are financially unable to hire a minister. I want to be sure to acknowledge the valuable input from Carol Quintero, who was initially on the Task Force, but had to withdraw this fall. The Task Force wants to thank the HUU Board for their support as we developed the vision for the Shared Ministry Team. We expect that team will carry forth this vision that our task force has created and the board has endorsed.
Our task force spoke with numerous ministers, both within and beyond Unitarian Universalism, read much from the Unitarian Universalist Association, and spoke with HUU committee chairs. We soon moved from “lay ministry” to “shared ministry,” a phrase, as we understand it, that applies to all who do the work of religious community, both to lay members and to ministry professionals. UUA documents that explain the term are very clear in identifying ministry not just as the work of specialized individuals, but as the work of every congregation member, seminary-trained or not.
We discussed the roles that ministers traditionally play in a congregation. We looked at the existing structures and strengths of HUU. We tried to imagine a Shared Ministry Team that would build on those structures and strengths. We consulted with the board, using them as a sounding board and seeking their guidance. The result of our 10 months of meetings and conversations is before you now.
The mission statement for the Shared Ministry Team that will be established is in your order of service. Allow me to read it:
The mission of the HUU Shared Ministry Team will be to increase coherence, consistency, and communication in the on-going work of our congregation:
- By building on our congregation’s past achievements and current strengths
- By supporting the efforts of members and friends to address our congregation’s key religious tasks (sense-making, care-giving, and justice-seeking)
- By strengthening connections between HUU and the larger social and religious communities in which it exists.
We imagine a team of three congregation members who will take on this mission. They will serve three-year terms. During the start up years we will add a fourth and fifth member to allow each member a full three year term.
The shared ministry team will be a TEAM, meeting regularly and working collaboratively to further the spiritual growth of our fellowship. They will support committees in their work, looking for synergy and collaboration among congregational organizations; they will help congregants coordinate life passage events; they will maintain connections to our UU district and the UUA; they will ensure that HUU is represented at interfaith meetings and will keep the well-being of the entire congregation foremost in their priorities. Other responsibilities are listed in the handout.
We have also indicated what they will not do-they will not share in the governance of the congregation or direct activities of the committees, they will not routinely serve as Sunday speakers; they will not provide psychological counseling, nor will they be salaried.
I want to take a moment to discuss how the Shared Ministry team will be selected. We have listed the qualifications in the handout. We invite all who are interested to submit an application in May. The Task Force will interview applicants and refer qualified candidates to the Board. We hope to have these three individuals in place by the fall, so they can plan their structure and working relationships before they formally begin their duties in January.
We in no way propose or endorse the idea that by creating a Shared Ministry Team the ongoing collective ministry of this amazing congregation will be diminished. In fact, we hope that with the shared ministry team’s support, this collective ministry will grow and thrive.
We are sure there will be many questions about our proposal. We have scheduled a community dialogue session for April 20, two weeks from today, after the service. That will give everyone time to read the proposal and formulate your questions and comments. If you chose, you can email your questions and comments to the task force prior to the dialogue and we will answer them on the 20th. Our email address is
This has been an exciting and exhausting process for us. We went from exquisite breakfasts to basic bagels and coffee as we moved from task force members to friends. In our search we did not find a comparable program. HUU will be forging new ground and our new Shared Ministry Team will help create this new vision.