On May 6 after services we will be having a Town Hall Meeting. We’ve had them before, as they are vital to the transparency and democracy of our Congregational tradition within our Free Faith movement spanning hundreds of years. Town Hall meetings always excite me because they represent the very freedom of religion which our forbearers fought for.
Living in a democratic society, we might be tempted to take all our freedoms for granted, and especially our religious freedoms, but I would offer us a caveat to not take any of our freedoms for granted. Long ago, in one of my parish towns there was this wildly popular ‘non-denominational’ Christian church simply called ‘Hope Community Church’. They had a dynamic preacher, and a great staff, and grew in leaps and bounds because the worship was apparently very fulfilling and ‘progressive’ for members. Like so many non-denominational churches of today, it is the worship experience which draws people in, and what keeps them coming back – until – ah yes, until the meaning of real membership is truly tested.
I once counseled and welcomed a former member of that ‘Hope Community Church’ into our UU fold because that person was seeking religious freedom more than just a great worship experience. She told me that many members wanted to have ‘open meetings’ so that they could share their ideas and enthusiasms about how the church could express and grow itself. They wanted just basic input – yet they were told by the heads ‘That’s our role, you don’t need to be involved in that’. It’s one thing to be a child and be told to sit at the children’s table; it’s quite another when you are a full-formed adult and still told to sit at the children’s table! When that happens, you know in your gut that something is just not right.
The Town Hall Meeting, along with our Congregational Meetings where we vote on our religion, are the two most potent expressions of our Free Faith Tradition. What a tremendous gift we have upheld for ourselves! At our Town Hall meeting on May 6 we will discuss and share our thoughts on many issues as we see fit, and also focus on two issues where your input is vitally needed. We are long overdue in creating a Congregational Covenant (different from our MUUF Mission Statement); and we need everyone’s input on how we might proceed in shaping the identity of our ministry, and how our current building or future buildings will play a role in fitting us for the years to come.
Without your input, nothing of any great value happens. Things will still get done, but they will be devoid of the very thing which makes us free – your democratic and transparent input – the heartbeat of our Free Tradition. So I hope to see you all at our Town Hall meeting on May 6 and bring with you ideas and inspirations for how we may become a stronger, more vibrant congregation.
Peace and Blessings to us all, Bonnie
