As we start the new church-year, I want you to know about something we're going to be trying over the next several months.
In the last few years, ORUUC has found ways to open its doors, to include more people, and to offer more choices for how to be part of this thriving community. Church-members now can choose from an array of adult religious education opportunities; there are small groups who meet on a regular basis for connection and growth; and, of course, we now enjoy the choice between worship at a Traditional service or a Celebration service. The diversity of opportunities has allowed us to grow, not only in numbers but in diversity of membership. But a focus on diversity, without the counterbalance of unity, can lead to dissolution of what binds us together. So, this year, I'm hoping we'll wonder together about what--amidst our diversity--keeps us united.
In the last few years, one source of unity has been the "Stories to Live By" booklet, which means that both worship services and the adult and children's religious education programs are aligned, every week, with the same story. We have also rallied together for all-congregation efforts toward becoming a Welcoming Congregation, toward figuring out the financial pressures of two years ago, and toward your "let's-all-pull-together" support of my sabbatical last year.
Still, there is more we can do to bring a sense of unity and coherence to our community.
When I returned in May from the sabbatical, a book was making the rounds among the church leadership. This book was called Simple Church. Written by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger, Simple Church observes that, in an effort to appeal to many different people, churches can become a confusion of frantic activity, in which different ministries and groups compete with each other for space, time, and attention. People who lead busy lives at work and at home find, when they come to church, that the busyness is matched by their church, where they'd hoped to find peace.
Rainer and Geiger propose that churches can find a sense of coherence by clarifying their purpose. More to the point, they suggest that the central business of every church is to help members evolve and grow deeper (I'm translating, of course, from the book's exclusively Christian language!). Rather than a mission statement someone can tack on the wall, only to later ignore, Rainer and Geiger suggest that churches identify the process by which churches help people grow, and make that their mission. In other words, the purpose of the church could be also described as the process of the church--what it does to affect people's lives.
For some, I'm aware, a church intending to affect their lives could very well sound intrusive. Many come to Unitarian Universalism to experience freedom, and don't want their church prescribing personal change. I don't think that, by clarifying an intention to help people grow deeper, ORUUC coerces anyone to do anything--in fact, by being clear about the notion behind what it offers, ORUUC allows people to choose more clearly how they will participate. There will be some for whom participation in ORUUC is not a means toward personal growth; it is, instead, a place to belong and be affirmed.
Starting before I returned from sabbatical, and continuing today, the conversation about how ORUUC might clarify its purpose has led to a sweet realization: we already have a clear purpose, right before our eyes. Our mission statement--"We Inspire. We Care. We Act."--has been on our letterhead and in our long-range plan for some time now. But, until now, we haven't used it to guide our decisions or to name our priorities. But, as Church Administrator Kimberly Oliver observed in early June, our mission statement could also be seen as a deepening path. We already had what we needed. Listen to this.
We Inspire: people come to the church, experience worship and enjoy fellowship.
We Care: growing deeper, people connect in relationship and learn how to live in community, how to give and receive care.
We Act: from this basis in loving relationship, people are empowered to act, to serve, and to give back to their community.
This is a three-part process around which we can imagine and understand all that we do.
explore these ideas, over the summer, I've shared with various church leaders a plan to organize our church year by three-month themes. From September to November, we'll focus on "We Inspire." From December to February, we'll consider "We Care." And from March to May, we'll look at how "We Act." Within each three-month theme will be related monthly themes. For instance, under "We Inspire" are the themes "Relax" (September), "Release" (October), and "Receive" (November). You can find the whole schematic here.
s is just an experiment. The themes will guide how I plan and prepare worship. Other groups in the church are considering how they might align what they do with these themes, as well. It's my belief that, amidst our diversity, the more we can find common themes and one over-arching direction, the better able we will be able to maintain the sense of unity and coherence which will give our ministry direction and power.
you'd like a one-page summary of the book, Simple Church, please contact the church office. If you'd like to talk to me about this idea--or about anything, really--I'm always happy to find the opportunity to talk.
With Spirit,
Jake
Last Updated Thursday, October 15 2009 @ 12:24 PM EDT
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