This is my last blog entry as President of First Unitarian Church of Wilmington. It's been a great ride. Thanks to all of you who have ventured into the blog world with me.
Below are my thoughts for the future, from my address at the Annual Meeting on Sunday.
Think about why you came to this church for the very first time. People show up at churches because something is happening in their lives that they want to change. What was happening in your life that brought you through our doors – and why did you stay? What if we were to lose everything that we think of as "our church"—the staff, the programs, this sanctuary, our building? Would you be motivated to start over with the people who are sitting beside you? Would you find another church? Would you choose not to go to church at all?
Answering “why?” to these questions will help bring clarity to our mission. Our reason to exist in this community must be compelling and full of purpose. What is so powerful and strong within our covenant to each other that we would go through pain and struggle to get there – even to rebuild? Who would we want by our side?
We must build a bridge from our faith to those people outside our four walls – what David Owen O’Quill describes as “who our heart breaks for”. When we can name these people we seek to reach, we will begin to understand our congregation’s unique, focused mission and priorities; a mission we can fail at – and one worth picking up the pieces to try again.
What about being welcoming to all? While we are sincere when we say we welcome all, we know that not all people embrace the Unitarian Universalist faith. And not all Unitarian Universalists will find First U their church home if our actions and programs don’t match their passions for church. Each UU church has a unique culture. There is nothing wrong with naming our culture. With becoming who we truly are.
This year I joined with other adults and youth on the Youth Adult Team, my commitment last year at the annual meeting. Our role is to help envision the youth experience here at First U and to carry it out, partnering with Catherine. My experience with these young people was nothing short of amazing. Why am I drawn to our youth? My children grew up in this church. They are each exceptionally bright, promising, articulate – some of them eccentric. AND each of them, like many, struggled to find their place in the world as teenagers. In this place, they were not just allowed – but encouraged – to be themselves and explore their beliefs; they had a voice – in their classroom, in the choir, in front of this congregation – a voice that mattered to you, that inspired you and expanded your own thinking. They were embraced by this community where they did not fear judgment for what they believed. It is the same today. Our youth have a strong need to explore their spirituality – and to stand side-by-side with you in fun and in service to our community. My heart breaks for those youth and young adults in our broader community who are in need of such an open and accepting religious community in a world of ever-expanding fundamentalist values. I would build my bridge to them and work to become relevant for their generation.
Your board believes that it’s time for all of us to participate in envisioning our mission. It’s something that will come from our hearts, not from a committee writing a statement. We will know it when we see it—and we will strive for it with our hearts, minds, and hands. So today, as I leave the presidency and the board, I’d like you to begin a new conversation with yourself and the people who are sitting around you every Sunday.
Who is it that your heart breaks for? Said another way, who would you build a bridge to and have sit side-by-side with you for worship and work side-by-side with you to fulfill First Unitarian Church’s mission? Be specific—and make it personal. What is the bridge you are called upon to build? What is it that you must do to be at peace with yourself? Who is it that your heart breaks for?
I hope you will contemplate these questions with the Board and let them know how you would answer.
It has been an honor to serve as a board member for the past six years and as your President for the past three. When I first joined the board, we were in the first of three interim years while we searched for a new settled Sr. Minister and we were a congregation in turmoil. We have come so far and are now a congregation in covenant with each other. The future is ours to create. Let’s honor our past and create a future that is relevant for the next generation of UU’s – full of life – focused with purpose – and from the words of Rev. Fred Muir, provides spiritual grounding so we can do the work of justice. I have loved the work of the Board – policy governance and all. Thank you all for your trust and your commitment to this church.
In faith,
Nancy
