Our vision statement at First United tells us
that we are creating an open and welcoming community, led by the Love of
God. I wonder what people think that
means. I wonder what you think it means.
I know we approved and adopted a new, equal
marriage policy just about 12 months ago, but as significant a step as that was,
I wonder if people think we've fulfilled our vision. Do you?
I've got this feeling that as a faith community, we will always be
working to make our vision a reality.
It's the sort of endeavour that, just when I think I've reached the top
of the mountain, I look up and see another higher peak to climb.
I'm certain that given the opportunity to
think about it, each of us would come up with a different mental picture of
what "open and welcoming" looks like.
You might see things that need to be done that no one else does when it
comes to living into our vision as a faith community. I came across a bit of a "road map"
for congregations that are moving ahead on the path towards becoming open and
welcoming.
Here are the directions for that journey:
(1) I must
question my biases. If I think I have no
biases, I need to look deeper - to look with a different perspective.
(2) I must
challenge my assumptions and judgements.
How well do I really know the person or people about whom I have made
assumptions? Not well enough - it's time
for a reset.
(3) I must
notice who is missing...when I gather with others in community - for worship,
for a meal, for music, who isn't present, and why aren't they there?
(4) I must
value all voices. This is hard - it's
easy to value the opinion of people I agree with...but what about someone who
holds a different view of things? What
about someone who doesn't believe in what I believe?
(5) I
must aim for equity. Equity is a fancy
term for a simple concept that we know as the Golden Rule. Treating others as we would like to be
treated.
It's not easy being an open and welcoming
community, led by the Love of God.
Living into such a vision means accepting the reality that our vision
will be the life-work of our church.
That's what it means to be disciples of Jesus.
As we start out on the Way of life each day,
may our footsteps be guided by love and hope.
Pat
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