May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, help to transform us into a community of love, which will continuously reach out and touch our world in surprising and refreshing ways.
I was recently talking with someone who raised a question which I would like to address here today.... why are we here? When asked what Unitarian Universalists are, responses often take the form of what Unitarian Universalists are not, rather than what they are. For example, there is no particular creed in Unitarian Universalist churches; Unitarian Universalists hold a variety of different beliefs. It is really difficult to nail it down, so it can be easier to say we are a creedless church. As a result, some people claim that we can believe whatever we want. It’s not quite that simple... actually, it’s not simple at all.
One of my favorite readings in the back of our grey hymnals was written by Sophia Lyon Fahs, an early Unitarian religious educator. It’s
called It Matters What We Believe, #657, and I’d like to have you read it with me, responsively, #657. When we are finished with this reading, please keep your hymnals handy, as we will be referring to them again

Some beliefs are like walled gardens. They encourage exclusiveness, and the feeling of being especially privileged.
Other beliefs are expansive and lead the way into wider and deeper
sympathies.
Some beliefs are like shadows, clouding children’s days with fears of unknown calamities.
Other beliefs are like sunshine, blessing children with the warmth of
happiness.
Some beliefs are divisive, separating the saved from the unsaved, friends from enemies.
Other beliefs are bonds in a world community, where sincere
differences beautify the pattern.
Some beliefs are like blinders, shutting off the power to choose one’s own direction.
Other beliefs are like gateways opening wide vistas for exploration.
Some beliefs weaken a person’s selfhood. They blight the growth of resourcefulness.
Other beliefs nurture self-confidence and enrich the feeling of
personal worth.
Some beliefs are rigid, like the body of death, impotent in a changing world.
Other beliefs are pliable, like the young sapling, ever growing with
the upward thrust of life.
So, you see, it does matter what we believe. It matters to us, to our children, and to our world. While there is a lot of latitude in beliefs within Unitarian Universalist churches, we do have a set of principles to guide us. Principles are guidelines, somethings to which we can aspire but which are difficult, even impossible, to attain. If you look in the front of your grey hymnals, just after the Preface, you’ll see the principles printed... let’s take a look, and I’ll read them aloud as a reminder of our covenant, our agreement as to why we are together as Unitarian Universalists. As I read them, see how they resonate inside of you:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth
in our congregations;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
within our congregations and in society at large.

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence
of which we are a part.
Our living tradition also draws from many sources, which are listed right below the principles. Please continue to follow along as I read them:
Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder,
affirmed in all cutures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit
and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life;

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us
to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion,
and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us
in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love
by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason
and the results of science, and warn us against
idolatries of the mind and spirit;

Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate
the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony
with the rhythms of nature.

All of this might seem like heady stuff.. it is pretty demanding if one wants to live it fully. . . especially if one tries to live it in the world as the world exists today. Ours is a revolutionary religion. A recent piece of news comes to mind, in which an Episcopal church in California is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service over a pre-election sermon which spoke against the war. I thought I was pretty clear about freedom of the pulpit and being able to speak freely about issues, just not about political candidates. But this situation seems to raise the concern to another level. This questioning of the freedom of the pulpit seems to me to be at the very heart of our responsibility and commitment to “confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.” In addition to this concern, one of the people defending freedom of the pulpit from government intrusion was someone from the Christian right, who was defending his right to preach politics from the pulpit. I see an important distinction which I think needs to be made and defended, that all churches should be free to be prophetic in speaking about issues, but should not become involved in partisan politics from the pulpit. The separation of church and state protects both the church and the state. It protects all of us. This is a freedom I will be glad to defend. I hope you will, too.
In our hymnals, right below the princples and sources, there is a short paragraph which I feel speaks directly to the question of why we are here in a Unitarian Universalist congregation. I’d like to have you read it aloud with me:
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and respect.
If we don’t have a hard and fast belief system to which we adhere as they do in many churches... if we don’t have a clear threat of hell or the enticement of heaven, what is it that motivates us to be good, rather than doing that which is easy? I once read a story- I think it was about Hosea Ballou, an early Universalist preacher. Ballou was riding horseback with a preacher from a different denomination, who said to him: “If you don’t believe in hell, what keeps you from hitting me over the head and stealing my horse?” Father Ballou responded: “The thought to do so would never enter my head!” Universalists may not believe in hell, but they do believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and the goodness and loving kindness of God.
On another occasion, Hosea Ballou warned: “Be cautious of any system of divinity. The moment we fancy ourselves infallible, every one must come to our peculiaries or we cast them away. Even the truth may be held in unrighteousness... The cause of truth wants nothing in its service but the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance... Attend to the exhortation, ‘Let brotherly love continue.’ If we agree in brotherly love, there is no disagreement that can do us any injury, but if we do not, no other agreement can do us any good... Let us endeavor to ‘keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’” (The Larger Faith, Charles A. Howe, 28).
As I thought about Hosea Ballou and other early Universalist preachers, many of whom were circuit-riders who traveled about sharing the good news of a loving God and of eternal salvation for all, I realized that the Unitarian Universalist principles and sources had not yet been codified. And yet, there was a strong impetus for sharing the good news and gathering in Universalist churches, which were much more numerous and larger than they are today.... and that impetus was love and mercy.
As I contemplated Why are we here? I realized that while the principles and sources of Unitarian Universalism are important, even necessary, they are not sufficient. We also need that essential ingredient which the early Universalists celebrated... we need love. We need to feel known by others, that our view-point is considered, and that our presence here makes a difference.
I have noticed certain dynamics within this church, which are not too different from those in other groups in which I have found myself. There is a certain unspoken way of doing things... the way things have always been done. When there is a need for decision-making, usually a committee is formed in which the decision is discussed. Members of the larger group may or may not know who is on the committee, what the time-frame and other parameters of the decision-making are, or how to give input to the process.
This dynamic may come into play on a wide variety of issues- from having an annual Chistmas Day dinner, to getting a new piano, to changing the use of rooms. People often have great ideas, but there are two dangers I have seen when it comes to process. One is when something is just done, without consulting all the stake-holders- that is, those who will be impacted by the decision to go ahead with a project. Some people have the style of working spontaneously- having a good idea and implementing it. If they are willing to take responsibiity for the implementation, they may not think they need to consult with other people... it would just slow them down and maybe prevent implementation. I had a co-worker whose theory was; “It’s sometimes easier to get forgiveness than permission.” And yet, when one is a stake-holder on the outside of such decisions, one can feel left out and not considered. One may have good ideas and energies which might have helped with implementation, but will not be forth-coming once one feels “dissed” (disregarded). Or one may have objections or negative feelings which, if expressed in a timely way, could either influence the decision or be allayed through having the opportunity to air and recognize them. When feelings and ideas are not given adequate recognition, they can fester and become obstacles to future communication and involvement.
Another danger can arise from the opposite tendency - the desire to involve everyone in talking at length about all possible issues and ideas- this is sometimes referred to as the paralysis of analysis. Unitarian Universalists are sometimes famous, or should I say infamous, for forming committees to discuss issues. We try to see the whole picture, and the need for possible systems-changes. This can be helpful, but it can also stymy our need to get something done.
I would suggest that there are dangers in extremes, and that there is usually a middle-ground that is tenable. We are a growing church. Things that used to be done in a way that everyone knew, are changing. Most of those who knew are not here making the decisions. People who are here want to know how decisions are being made, and to be involved in making them. I am becoming aware of the need for greater clarity and transparency in decision-making, so that all people know who the decion-makers are in different areas, what the parameters of those decisions are, and how any one of us can have timely input. When decisions are made, we can have plans for implementation, with timelines and responsible persons. When we know our voices will be heard, and our ideas and feelings truly considered, we will feel more like speaking up. We will be invested in this people and this place. We will know this is really our church. May we strive to be present to, and respectful of, ourselves and each other.
When we light the chalice, as we do at the beginning of each of our services, may it serve as a symbol of hope and freedom in a world too often consumed by fear and despair... may it serve to remind us of why we are here. We are here to share love and hope with each other, and with the world. May we know that it makes a difference that we are here.