|
In this month of pluralism: the practice of honoring many sacred truths, I thought I’d tell you why I, personally, value this… value.
Growing up evangelical/fundamentalist Christian gave me many gifts: a sense of something greater than myself, an idea of what community looks like, an example of unconditional love in the form of the radical Jesus of the Bible, the sense that we have a responsibility to the rest of humanity, an appreciation for spiritual song and ritual.
And, of course, it gave me some mindsets and ideas that I’ve spent a long time (and many hours in therapy) undoing: the idea that a “loving” God would punish me forever for minor transgressions, the mindset that there are some people God favors more than others (thanks, Calvinism!), the conviction that we were the One True Religion and nonbelievers would burn for eternity.
This last was firmly impressed upon me from the time I was a preschooler. It was our job as Christians, I was taught, to go forth, preaching the gospel to the nations and baptizing people - what is called the Great Commission, given by Jesus to His disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). The denomination I grew up in was called the Christian & Missionary Alliance, and this was at the heart of all that they did. As is common in many UU congregations, I was taught about other world religions in a middle school Sunday school class. Unlike what we do in UU congregations, I was also taught why each and every one of them was wrong.
Pluralism of theology was not on the table.
We’re now in a cultural and historical moment in this country where the consequences of this way of thinking are pretty obvious. As we know, the intolerance, the fear of anyone or anything different, is having grave and lethal implications for people the Christian right deems to be “against God.”
But our UU communities are different. Our communities allow for a multitude of beliefs. And for me, the ability to explore them and to hold more than one of them is basic to who I am and how I perceive the world. Because, while I don’t consider myself a Christian, I do appreciate the theology of our Unitarian and Universalist Christian ancestors: theology that has allowed me to reframe my first spiritual language in ways that are life-giving, rather than life-limiting. That’s no small gift. And while I am not yet a full practitioner of the Yoruba religion, my exploration and beginning practice of it have become part of a foundation of spiritual resilience for me.
From our Christian ancestors, I get an understanding of sin (missing the mark we set for ourselves), faith (holding out hope for love and humanity, even when it seems ill-advised), and grace (we mess up, and it’s okay; it doesn’t make us BAD people) that is lifegiving and guides me in how to be in community with other people. From my beginning forays into the Yoruba religion, I get a deep connection to my ancestors, biological and spiritual. I get an understanding of what it means to be in community and conversation with them, and with my descendants, future and existing. Through the gods and goddesses, I gain a different understanding of the earth and our relationship with her. And I draw on the traditions and ways of being that have sustained African diaspora people through the disconnection of colonization and the horrors of slavery.
Of course, I need to be careful of the pitfalls of syncretism, namely, that combining spiritual traditions in less than intentional ways often results in loss of meaning from one or both (or all). While it’s true that many paths may lead to spiritual growth, it’s important to understand that the cultures, histories, and ethics that have shaped each are very different, and each deserves to be understood within those contexts. But one of the reasons I am so grateful for Unitarian Universalist spaces is because I don’t always have to separate my spiritual or cultural self. A UU congregation is a place where I can hold both sets of beliefs and practices, weigh which ones feel authentic to my experience and who I want to be, without having to leave a large part of my spiritual self at the door. For me, this means nurturing a kind of spiritual wholeness that I rarely find in communities outside of Unitarian Universalism.
So this month, I ask you: what traditionally “opposing” beliefs or practices might you feel emboldened to hold in our pluralistic community?
| |
| |
This month, our theme of pluralism invites us into the sacred practice of honoring many truths, not as competing ideas, but as voices in a larger, living harmony. In many ways, this is work that music teaches us how to do. Each week in our choir, we move between traditions: spirituals and gospel, classical choral works from the Western canon, contemporary pieces, folk music, and music of the global majority. Each carries its own history, its own theology, its own way of naming what is holy. To sing them is to listen across difference, and to honor the lived experiences, struggles, and wisdom of those who came before us.
There is deep joy in this kind of musical life. It stretches us. It asks us to sing in languages and styles that may not be our own. It invites us to approach each piece with humility and curiosity, to ask not only “how does this sound?” but also “whose story is this, and how do we honor it well?” In doing so, we begin to experience pluralism not just as an idea, but as a practice, one that forms us into a more attentive, more compassionate, more connected community.
And what a joyful moment it is for us to be doing this work. As a community, we have stepped into a fresh expression of who we are, an expression that reflects both our roots and our aspirations. We will become Common Flame: a Unitarian Universalist Congregation. This is more than a change in language; it is an invitation. We are being called to actively shape this new identity together, weaving it from the many sacred truths we honor and the many voices we hold.
As we carry this spirit into our life beyond these walls, may our music continue to lead us: helping us listen more deeply, sing more courageously, and embody a community where difference is not just welcomed, but celebrated as essential to the harmony we create together.
And a special invitation: If you feel this call to share music with our community, we will be launching a Spiritual SongLeaders cohort this Summer. Similar to our Spiritual Companions, this small group of talented singers and spiritually resonant leaders will have the opportunity to partner with our congregation by leading hymn-singing in worship throughout the year. This is more than just singing, it is connecting the hymn texts to our values, our faith, and the broader world at any given moment. Participants must have strong singing voices and a willingness to work with myself and each other to learn the art of hymn leading in worship. Interested? E-mail me: baker@jeffersonunitarian.org.
| | |
by Steve DeCaluwe
I want to start off this month’s letter by saying how very proud I am to be part of this community. The choice to leave behind a comfortable and well-known name and journey to something that might better serve our mission was not an easy one. Even more impressive was how we made that journey: together, with compassion, care, creativity, and yes, a good bit of patience. We listened to one another. We let go of our own agendas to consider new viewpoints. We considered the impact of our current and future names, both on our current members and on those yet to walk through our church doors. We ignored the drumbeat of a modern culture telling us that everything needs to be done as quickly as possible. And together, we made it. Common Flame. What does it mean to you?
To me, it speaks to the shared bonds, to one another and to the sacred, that bring us together and keep us together. It speaks to the power of putting love at the center. It speaks to the responsibility we all hold for tending this shared flame, for continually bringing our time, talents, and treasure to help serve as its fuel. And it speaks to the magic that occurs as those contributions are transformed into something new: a light and warmth that we share with each other and with the world around us.
In each of us there is a spark; together we kindle one flame. I want to thank you all for joining us on this path. For sharing your suggestions, your feedback, your hopes, and your fears. Your contributions made this so much more than it ever could have been without you. For those who participated throughout the “Power of Our Name” process, I hope you felt the joy that I did, coming together to lift up those things about our spiritual home that we want to celebrate and share with the world. For those who merely tolerated the process or who remain opposed to this change, thank you for staying in Covenant with us. Just as we did under “Jefferson Unitarian Church,” I know we will continue doing amazing things together as “Common Flame.”
So, what’s next? As eager as I am to start using our new name, we want the name’s rollout to be as thoughtful and intentional as the process to choose it was. Please watch for those details from the church staff. In the meantime, the Board is working on ways to appropriately celebrate our new name and the journey we took to get here, as well as our former name and all that we did together as Jefferson Unitarian Church. All the while, we are considering the next phase of our journey, asking “How can the Board help our congregation come together and shape the work that we do as Common
Flame?” As always, your input is both welcome and valued. I can’t wait to see what we do next.
Warmly,
Steve DeCaluwe
|
 | | Pluralism allows us freedom to choose what is right for ourselves, and freedom to accept that the right thing for others might be entirely different. Without pluralism, the gender binary is justified, and trans and gender non-conforming (GNC) people are subject to erasure. So, it’s fitting that the last day before our month of pluralism is March 31: Trans Day of Visibility! Tomorrow, if you can, reach out to the trans/GNC people in your life and let them know that you see them and love them. If you want to go a step further, you can attend one of our Bill Breakdown sessions. These sessions provide information about legislation at the state and federal levels, including anti-trans bills to look out for on your ballot this year. There will even be a time to reach out to your elected representatives about proposed legislation. These sessions are held on third Sundays after the second service. The next meeting is on Sunday, April 19. We hope to see y’all there! In the meantime, here is a poem about pluralism:
In religion, philosophy, language, and gender
In smoothie ingredients we put in our blender
In flags that we hang from our porch that declare:
“Go Broncos!” or “Go Buckeyes!” or "Sports? I don’t care!”
There's a piece of us in each idea we proclaim
It’s our difference that kindles our Common Flame
With the value of pluralism comes crucial clarity:
There's no joy in a world of singularity!
| | | | |
