Pushy, arrogant, or just passionate? You decide. Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking at the Eureka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. I haven't attended in over 2 years for a number of personal reasons, but I have been in contact with them. I am the host for their Yahoo group, keep up their Facebook Fan Page, and answer other tech related questions. That isn't why I was speaking though, although I certainly have done that in the past.
Several months ago I sent an email to the then President of the Fellowship asking if they would be interested in hosting an Adult Faith Development course. I linked to the newest one by Dr. Thedanka for her to peruse. She politely said that she didn't think that the group would be interested.
I sat with that for several months.
Then I emailed the entire Fellowship using our Yahoo Group about the idea and was overwhelmed by the resounding YES to offering some kind or Adult RE. They were hungry for a 10:00 class or something that would fit their schedules, but they wanted something. That email then led to being asked to speak on Sunday morning.
I then did what I do when I am asked to speak - I thought about it for months, downloaded some information, bounced ideas off my Preacher Kid husband and then did nothing until the night before.
My goal for the talk was to share my passion, suggest some ideas to include an Adult Faith Development program, offer some tools, and offer my support.
I shared how as a UU I am passionate about my foundation - knowing where we came from and that although I no longer stand on the steps of either the beginnings of Unitarian or Universalist thought I am filled with pride that I have that as my history and can share my Atheist path within it's walls. Learning who we are and where we come from is a vital exercise in being able to articulate our own spiritual path and share it - not to mention that it puts us all on the same page.
I then shared some thoughts by some of our denominations greatest RE leaders, quotes from people who have done Adult programs in their congregations, and how you start a program - usually finding one really passionate person (hello, me!).
We moved into some specifics: where classes could meet, when, and how often.
I then shared how I thought it could work.
We could offer a Sunday Morning Reading with the UU's program where we take on a book each month (political, spiritual, ecology, etc.) and discuss the progressive chapters. This group would have no facilitator and just a passion of our beloved books and a schedule of what to read next.
Then we would - and don't gasp because it is what they want - use the new What Moves Us curriculum as a monthly Sunday service - bringing the entire congregation up to speed on our foundation as UU's. I know it will take some severe tweaking, but we have done this type of thing with other curriculum's (Welcoming Congregation & Building Our Own Theology) and it helps the entire congregation feel part of our movement. THis would be co-led by a team - and probably miss out on some of the deep benefits of small groups, but we could offer it again for that.
For small groups we would offer (during times that work for each group) the Spirit in Action program. This would be the life building skills and small group participation component. They would meet monthly in their small groups and be facilitated by the group.
I closed with a reading from a Small Group Ministry book - that our collective time together isn't just for us - but for the growth of our communities, fellowship, and those we touch in our lives.
After the service I was approached by many members who want all of it - on fire, they are! And one very touching moment when a member remembered a service he gave (remember we are lay led) where he asked the congregation who was a Unitarian Universalist and only my daughter and I raised our hands - he understood in that moment both our experience and why we are so passionate about our history. There will be more to come, but it looks like I am going back to My People (as I affectionately call them).
Photo Credit: Philocrites
