Hey Amanda,

 

I loved the articles in the UUWorld this month, "Before Words" and especially ""The Unfulfilled Dream". 

 

"The Unfulfilled Dream", in itself, is a wonderful history lesson of the merging of Unitarians and Universalists.  But the point that really hit me was the three questions we must ask and answer as UU's to find our identity:  What do we believe?  Whom do we serve?  To whom or what are we responsible?  I believe, as Rev Bumbaugh does, that this is why we don't grow, why we seem to flounder around like fish with no water to swim in, and why we don't say what we believe because we can't offend anyone.  I think it is time for UU's to take a stand somewhere.

 

I would submit, that next year, as a theme for your year of sermons, you address these questions.  By this I don't mean tell us your answers or the UUA's answers but make us think about what our answers would be.  It may lead us to a place where some feel uncomfortable but that is the point, we either find common ground, change our thinking or figure out that UU is not for us. 

 

I have tried for years to answer the question, "What does UU have for us in times of crisis, pain, personal spiritual need, and loss."  I have not found a limb of our religious tree that is strong enough to support us in these times because the tree is diverse and the strength too diffused and bush-lick.  Many find lacking this spiritual strength in our beliefs.  I think a head on look would be exciting and enlightening.

 

Thanks for listening,

Tom