Clarifying the
Vision
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By John T. Crestwell, Jr. Start with the story of MARRIAGE EQUALITY RIGHTS and going to the press conference Came with script but had to be extemporaneous Then at Lobby Day –jam packed. Saw some really BIG BIBLES!!! Learned there is so much hate… I continuously say that my church stands on the side love! Now mention lunch with Fred Muir (He knew about what I had done already. A colleague called him and told him that he heard me and I did a “fine job”. Got home and received supportive emails from several Davies members… ALL OF THIS SHOWED ME THAT I WAS NOT ALONE. I HAD SUPPORT. I APPRECIATE THAT. Even more than that, I learned that ones' belief—their vision really does guide them… I talked about that last week-- how your vision can also lead to another’s dark age but if it is carefully constructed with compassion, there can be much good that comes from our vision. Just a few months ago, we decided we would have a “Many Hearts” campaign to raise money to further the vision/mission of our church… BUT the question arises… What is the Davies vision? IF you’ve looked at a church newspaper, we have directly and indirectly accepted (I HOPE) the 3-fold vision that was laid out several years ago... That vision said essentially: VISION:
In a nutshell: WE WANT TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM & we want to continuing growing and strengthening our faith. Of course we are keeping in mind the history of various movements that begin sincere and end up oppressive. We want to talk about our message—but we do not want to become too obnoxious and dogmatic about it. Amen. There are several bullets in the church newspaper (Freedom Xpress) that give clarification to the 3-fold vision… I’d like to briefly discuss a few…
You may have noticed in the vision the word Diversity was not used . This is a word we’ve probably overused over the last three years… We are already a diverse church and will become more and more diverse… But it’s not just because of our neighborhood, rather because of our desire to spread our life affirming message. The word is out around town in UU circles at least, that we want folk to know about our work here. And we will continue to share that message. But my focus today in this ministry---I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME—is not just multicultural diversity that’s too limited. I would love to see even more socio/economic diversity, political diversity and diversity in sexual orientation… I want to model the work of the UUA, our denomination, by intentionally welcoming the GBLT community. And I will be doing a sermon on this in the coming weeks.. But, the Unitarian Universalist Association has a program called WELCOMING CONGREGATIONS which is training in learning how to share a truly open and affirming message that welcomes all no matter their sexual orientation. And of course we are doing the UUA sponsored Jubilee training in March to look at how we can create a world free from cultural prejudice and bias. My belief is that we will have more and more people coming to Davies because it truly it is a “shelter in the time of storm”; a place where folk say their “yoke is easy and their burden is light”. “They accept me for who I am at that church!” I see a church that is a place where members want to come because they find something here they cannot find in life—the freedom to be who and what they are! OUTREACH Of course we are advertising to get new people to notice us... We hope “our sheep know our voice.” The messages you will see in the next few weeks, thanks to our Growth and Public Relations Committee will express what we are in a few words. They will be mini elevator pitches. I expect that we will be getting lots of response from this ad campaign which will run in local newspapers in Prince George’s and Charles County. Also, Freedom Xpress is hot on the trail… (TELL STORY OF CHINESE REST. AND HOW I THOUGHT THE NEWSPAPERS WERE THROWN AWAY)… Just another way to let folk know we are here. The word is getting out slowly but surely. INTERNAL –Community Within BUT—WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE? That’s the question… My hope is that you want to enjoy this ride; that you will find a way to take pleasure in growth and change and see it as an opportunity for you to extend your hospitality. You know, last year we signed 26 new members which were the most signed in 25 years. And this was a year of financial uncertainty, transition and some confusion. I know that if we are together, we can do so much more! To our seasoned adults, you have a wonderful gift of being able to pass on your wisdom on; to share the history of what this faith means to you; you hold the power of the past in your heart. I ask you to share that message. As a middle-aged adult you can ad your professional expertise—you are at the peak of your career use your knowledge to help us do our jobs better. Like Race Dowling who has taken some heat but he runs a good meeting. He is now putting together all of these diagrams and charts and all kinds of stuff with his team of computer geeks, you know… And you look at Race and he’s like a kid in Toys R Us. He loves the details of church polity or governance. He also runs a company professionally and is using his experience here… This is what I mean use your professional expertise to make Davies even better. And as a young adult you can provide the energy and freshness that’s needed to give the vision continue hope and vitality. But the biggest issue is we must remind ourselves to be CHEERFUL GIVERS. If we cannot find joy in sharing and giving of our time, talents and tokens, then it is no sense in sharing at all. Social Action Additionally, we have reignited our social action committee and this is your opportunity to get hands on locally and in the state. The committee plans on finding three issues for the congregation to vote on and choose, yea or nea, to support… From there this committee gets moving… Now, this is your opportunity to participate and get hands on. We have Christmas in April, Adopt a Road, The Food Pantry, already but we are also looking at other plans. For example, tutoring (Bonnie Gill used to do) (Ron Verdonk); public school book giveaways where we give books and read to students, and letter writing campaigns to voice our concerns over specific issues, among other things being explored. We want this community to know that Davies here, that we care, and that we are serious about being a voice crying in the wilderness for justice wherever it is needed. Along with this I plan on continuing to find my place as a community leader. And being a cheerleader about my church, my faith. |
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Copyright by Rev. John T. Crestwell. All rights reserved. Please contact him for permission to use. |
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