A(Trinity(of(Unitarian(Universalist(Errors (

Transcription

1 Covenant 1

2 Qualities of 4th Great Awakening are: Insistence on connection Imagination and Experimentation Spiritual Depth Practices ATrinityofUnitarianUniversalistErrors 1.We are stymied by a pervasive, disturbing, and disruptive commitment to individualism that misguides our ability to engage the changing times. 2. We cling to UU exceptionalism that is often insulting to others and undermines our good news 3. We refuse to acknowledge and treat our allergy to authority and power which comprises a more healthy future. Rev.FredMuir,From%iChurch%to%Beloved%Community:%Ecclesiology%and%Jus9ce%%% 2

3 COVENANT, Mind humbly and with a teachable heart we speak our own understandings. Dedham, MA

4 Contracts are self-interested transactions enforced by threat of penalty if broken. Covenants are about relationship and repaired if broken Pennies 4

5 What is your favorite song or hymn to sing during worship? Why? What was the difference in your experience? 5

6 Behavioral covenants work like flight attendants on the plane What Our Faith is calling us to 6

7 The Importance of Covenant Reason Experience Self Interruption Rev.ReneeRuchotzke The Importance of Covenant Reason Experience Reason Experience Self Free & Open Discernment Other s self Rev.ReneeRuchotzke 7

8 The Importance of Covenant Reason Experience Reason Experience Self Free & Open Discernment Other s self Open Heart Forbearance Rev.ReneeRuchotzke The Importance of Covenant Reason Experience Reason Experience Self Free & Open Discernment Other s self Open Heart Covenant Forbearance Rev.ReneeRuchotzke 8

9 The Importance of Covenant Reason Self Experience Purpose of Religion Relationship & Accountability Open Heart Free & Open Discernment Covenant Core Religious Liberal Values Reason Associational Power Forbearance Experience Other s self Rev.ReneeRuchotzke The Importance of Covenant Promises & Commitment Reason Self Experience Free & Open Discourse & Discernment Relationship & Accountability Purpose of Religion Open Heart Covenant Core Religious Liberal Values Reason Associational Power Forbearance Experience Other s self Rev.ReneeRuchotzke 9

10 The Importance of Covenant Promise & Commitment Transformation within and beyond congregations Reason Experience Open Heart Reason Forbearance Experience Free & Open Self Other s Discourse & self Discernment Purpose of Religion Relationship & Accountability Core Religious Liberal Values Associational Power Covenant Rev.ReneeRuchotzke The Importance of Covenant as Spiritual Practice Reason self Experience Purpose of Religion Relationship & Accountability Open Heart Mission & Vision Beloved Community Free & Open Discernment Core Religious Liberal Values Reason Forbearance Transformation within and beyond congregations Associational Power Experience Other s self Covenant Rev.Renee$Ruchotzke$ 10

11 theheartiswhereeverythingbegins: thatgroundedplaceineachofuswherewecan overcomefear,rediscoverthatwearemembers ofoneanother,andembracetheconflictsthat threatendemocracyasopeningstonewlifeforus andforournaion. ParkerJ.Palmer,Healing%the%Heart%of%Democracy% 11

12 BELOVEDCOMMUNITY: Whatisthat? TheBelovedCommunityisnotanorganizaIon ofindividualsseekingprivateandselfishsecurity fortheirsouls.itisanewadventure,a spontaneousfellowshipofconsecratedmenand womenseekinganewworld. Itisthecomradeshipofthosewhoforget themselvesintheirpassiontofindthecommon lifewherethegoodofallisthequestofeach. ClarenceSkinner,Worship%and%Well%Ordered%Life% 12

13 The Beloved Community Is an outcome of faithfully living the covenant, pursuing the mission, and always keeping the vision in sight. Is a microcosm the congregation) out of which a macrocosm can emerge: the world as beloved community. Dr.King svisionofthe BelovedCommunity A radicalredefiniionofour relaionships theend isthecreaionofthe BelovedCommunity a typeoflovethatcan transformopponentsinto friends. 13

14 Thandeka$ WhatMovesUs? WeLoveBeyondBelief! Thecentraltaskof religiouscommunityistounveilthe bondsthatbindeachtoall.oncefelt,it inspiresustoactforjusice. James$Luther$Adams$ ChurchiswherewepracIce becomingmorehuman.the groundofourbeing togetheriscovenant. Clarence$Skinner$Loveisthemost revoluionarydoctrineeverproclaimed,the mostexpansivehopeeverdreamed. The Beloved Community Keeps evolving. The church is transforming and being transformed, a change agent and the beneficiary of change. We know that more is possible, more meaning, more purpose, more love. We are on a journey toward wholeness, which we understand as salvation in this life. Adapted from Tom Owen-Towle 14

15 Grace$Lee$Boggs,$$ Chinese^AmericanacIvist 1915^ ithasbecomeincreasingly cleartomethatking spropheic vision[ofthebeloved Community]isnowthe indispensablestaringpointfor 21 st^centuryrevoluionaries. Authorof The%Next%American%Revolu9on:% Sustainable%Ac9vism%for%the%TwentyIFirst%Century% THE$REVOLUTION$IS$LOVE$ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$Occupylove.org$$ $$$$$$ 15

16 FIVEBOLDASSERTIONS 1. Thepurposeofthechurchistogrow ourcapacitytolovethedivine, ourselves,andeachotherandtogrow ourabilitytoworktogetherforajust world. 16

17 FIVEBOLDASSERTIONS 2.UnitarianUniversalismisacallto individuallyandcollecivelyhealthe consequencesoflovelessnessand injusice beginninginour congregaionsandworkingout. 3.TomakesocialjusIceworksustainable takesspiritualpraciceandcommunity. FIVEBOLDASSERTIONS 17

18 4.ReligiouscommuniIeshaveunique contribuionstomaketo movementsforjusice. FIVEBOLDASSERTIONS SO?... 5.Aparadigmshifisunderway! UnitarianUniversalistsareapartofit. OurcongregaIonsarebeginningtoactona longingtoconnectsocialchangeandspiritual integrity. 18

19 WHATISAPARADIGM? WHATISAPARADIGMSHIFT? 19

20 DOMINANTJUSTICE PARADIGM BELOVEDCOMMUNITY PARADIGM DOMINANTPARADIGM Limitsitselfto poliicalviewsand realiies 20

21 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM Rootsitselfinareligious/spiritualviewthat recognizespoliicalrealiies DOMINANTPARADIGM Dividesthe worldinto us and them andthe purposeof poweristo control them. 21

22 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM Thereisonlyus ALLofus andthe purposeof poweristo restoreright relaionship. DOMINANTPARADIGM Rights as thebasis forsocial jusice HumanRightsCampaignLogo 22

23 mostpeopleformostofimehaverelied andsillrelyonrightrelaionshipsratherthan rightsastheprimarybasisof socialjusice. JohnA.Humbach DOMINANTPARADIGM plans tasks analysis Putsthingsatthe center. resources 23

24 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM KeepsrelaIonshipsatthecenter. DOMINANTPARADIGM Seesissuesasproblems tobesolved. 24

25 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM Seeissuesasawayoflifetobetransformed. DOMINANTPARADIGM OPPRESSORS ALLIES VICTIMS ReducesidenItytostatusorrole. 25

26 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM Recognizes thatsocial idenity shapes,but doesnotlimit, whoweare. Thegoalis everybody being interculturally competent. DOMINANTPARADIGM ReacIve: moivates andis moivated byangeror fear. 26

27 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM ProacIve:moIvatedbyhope&creaIvity DOMINANTPARADIGM Ofen engagesfor other* people *needy,poor,wounded, broken,vicimized 27

28 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM "Ifyouhavecomehere tohelpmeyouare wasingyourime,butif youhavecomehere becauseyourliberaion isboundupwithmine, thenletuswork together." LillaWatson,Aboriginaleducator, Brisbane,Australia Engagesforone sownsake,too. DOMINANTPARADIGM Focusesonchangingtheworldoutthere 28

29 BELOVEDCOMMUNITYPARADIGM Focusesonbeingthechangewewanttomake TheBelovedCommunityWantsYou! JUSTICEislove correcingthatwhichrevolts againstlove LOVEisthereadinesstogotoanylengthtorestore community. MLK) 29

30 CONVERSATIONWITHSELF WhatinwhatI veheardhereismost importanttomepersonally? WhatnewquesIonsdoIhavenow? SHARE WITH A PARTNER The$Answer$to$ HOW? $is$$ YES! 30

31 Ministry Aresponseto call throughtheuseofouruniquegeniusandgifs inservicetothewidercommunity. 31

32 Hotgoal:TOFEELALIVE! Hotgoal:DEEPERCOMMUNITYCONNECTION 32

33 HOTgoal:AUTHENTICCOMMUNITYENGAGEMENT HOTgoal:TRANSFORMATIONOFPAIN 33

34 HOTgoal:BECOMETHECHANGEWESEEK SMALLGROUPJUSTICEMINISTRY A PARADIGM SHIFT 34

35 SMALLGROUPMINISTRYasSpiritualPracIce! Operatesoutof Beloved$Community$Paradigm$! KeepsrelaIonshipscentral COVENANTascorepracIce^ nurturingleadership,emoional maturity,andspiritualdepth! IntenIonallearning$communiQes$ R$diverse,mulIgeneraIonal laboratoriesforfaithformaion andresponsiblecommunity partnerships 35

36 SMALLGROUPPROCESS! HOUR$1:$dedicatedtospiritual pracice;individualand colleciverefleciononacions Groundedingroupcovenant Focusedondirect$experience$of$ being$$companions. Sharingpersonalstories! HOUR$2:$aqendstoplanningand tasks GoingDeeperTogether:NextacIon asalearningcommunity WhoAreOurNeighbors? $ CriIcalElements1.Covenant covenant 36

37 SamplequesIons: CriIcalElements:2.ReflecIon Whataboutthepublic vigiloracionismost importanttome personally? HowdidI/Wedo companioningone another? Basedonourexperience, whatdoweneedto learn? Elements:3.StoryTelling CHALLENGECHOICE CONSEQUENCE insight) Group$Process:$ sharestoryofdirectexperience reflectonallthecomplexemoions namemetaphors,parablesor wriingsthatshowmeaning inthestory idenifyhowyougrew 37

38 Empathyis.. CriIcalElement4.Empathy Feelingwith Elements:5.Companioning Companioningis: beingtogetherfaceto face being$in$solidarity$with$ another$local$social$ change$group.$ being$presentbuildstrust RelaQonalisradical witness 38

39 IndividualSpiritualOutcomes The increasing ability to live in connection. The increasing ability to make commitments beyond one s self. The increasing ability to enjoy one s life. The increasing ability to live with integrity in the face of frustration, failure, and loss. CollecIveOutcome 39

40 YourTurn! CHALLENGECHOICE CONSEQUENCEinsight) Share$an$experience$of$the$first$Qme$you$stood$up$for$ jusqce$either$in$your$congregaqon$and/or$workplace,$ school,$etc Whatwerethechallengesyoufaced? Yourfeelings? Whatchoicesdidyouoryourgroupmake? Whatweretheconsequences?Whatdidyoulearn? We re in the midst of UU Great Awakening! The importance of Covenant Paradigm Shift: Beloved Community as re-frame of religious vision and mission Small Group Social Change Ministries 2014 Building Beloved Community: Who Are Our Neighbors? January in Albuquerque, NM. You re invited! 40

41 TheBelovedCommunityWantsYou! JUSTICEislovecorrecIngthatwhichrevoltsagainstLOVE LOVEisthereadinesstogotoanylengthtorestore community. MLK) To$learn$more$ $ Building$Beloved$Community$ $$Who$Are$Our$Neighbors?$ $ January$24R26,$2014$ Albuquerque$&$San$Francisco$Bay$Area$ ForthcomingregistraIonat:mdduua.org$ ForLayleaders&religiousprofessionals 41

42 QuesIons? Insights? 42