A Call to Sacred Resistance: Our Role in Troubled Times
Dear Friends,
Across the country, my colleagues have been discussing how best to lead our congregations through these perilous times. We all agreed that, without a doubt, our first responsibility is to provide a safe and inclusive sanctuary for our people and those who need hope. We will continue to provide a sacred space where we can connect, be inspired, and find comfort.
Beyond that, our outward ministry is as critical as it has ever been. Given recent failings in our political process, it will be up to religious institutions and other not-for-profit organizations to stand for justice.
Last spring we invited Rev. Peggy Clarke, the senior minister of the Community Church of NYC, to speak to us about "disrupting church," a strategy for helping us meet the challenges of changing populations and values. Some of her ideas are now in the early stages here at MLUC. But Rev. Clarke has offered a prophetic voice to our urgent ministry as UUs. Here is what she had to say just recently:
"Our moral authority to draw attention to the failings of government achieves our primary reason for being—to care for the people. It is our role in society to hold up a vision for what’s possible, grounded in mercy, generosity, and compassion. . . . One of the ways fascism succeeds is to ensure an isolated population. When people are afraid to talk with each other, when they are afraid of being targeted or treated like those who have been marked as 'them,' their worlds get very small. With the elimination of DEI initiatives, and the charge to 'turn in' any business that seeks to continue them, we are already seeing this strategy in action. Paired with the firing of independent inspectors and anyone in the justice system who sought to uphold the laws our current president broke, and the declaration that these are now 'enemies of the state,' in addition to the national anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ wave, speaking truth is already feeling dangerous.
"Joining and being actively engaged in a religious community is one way to create and uphold strong social networks. Being with like-minded people, celebrating our shared values, demonstrating and embodying diversity, equity and inclusion in our faith lives, vocally and visibly protecting those who are being targeted, are critical in fending off the push to separate us from each other.
"[We are] committed to defending our democracy, our people, and our neighborhoods. We will speak Truth as we know it. We will sing and pray and preach in spite of and because of all that’s happening. We hope you’ll join us to claim your space in the work of our shared freedom."
Tell your friends, invite them to church; we are part of the solution.
Take care,
Rev. John
Across the country, my colleagues have been discussing how best to lead our congregations through these perilous times. We all agreed that, without a doubt, our first responsibility is to provide a safe and inclusive sanctuary for our people and those who need hope. We will continue to provide a sacred space where we can connect, be inspired, and find comfort.
Beyond that, our outward ministry is as critical as it has ever been. Given recent failings in our political process, it will be up to religious institutions and other not-for-profit organizations to stand for justice.
Last spring we invited Rev. Peggy Clarke, the senior minister of the Community Church of NYC, to speak to us about "disrupting church," a strategy for helping us meet the challenges of changing populations and values. Some of her ideas are now in the early stages here at MLUC. But Rev. Clarke has offered a prophetic voice to our urgent ministry as UUs. Here is what she had to say just recently:
"Our moral authority to draw attention to the failings of government achieves our primary reason for being—to care for the people. It is our role in society to hold up a vision for what’s possible, grounded in mercy, generosity, and compassion. . . . One of the ways fascism succeeds is to ensure an isolated population. When people are afraid to talk with each other, when they are afraid of being targeted or treated like those who have been marked as 'them,' their worlds get very small. With the elimination of DEI initiatives, and the charge to 'turn in' any business that seeks to continue them, we are already seeing this strategy in action. Paired with the firing of independent inspectors and anyone in the justice system who sought to uphold the laws our current president broke, and the declaration that these are now 'enemies of the state,' in addition to the national anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ wave, speaking truth is already feeling dangerous.
"Joining and being actively engaged in a religious community is one way to create and uphold strong social networks. Being with like-minded people, celebrating our shared values, demonstrating and embodying diversity, equity and inclusion in our faith lives, vocally and visibly protecting those who are being targeted, are critical in fending off the push to separate us from each other.
"[We are] committed to defending our democracy, our people, and our neighborhoods. We will speak Truth as we know it. We will sing and pray and preach in spite of and because of all that’s happening. We hope you’ll join us to claim your space in the work of our shared freedom."
Tell your friends, invite them to church; we are part of the solution.
Take care,
Rev. John
Posted in Minister\'s Minute