Commentary from your Southern Region Staff

So, a new year unfolds. The annual rite of making of resolutions is in process. This notion has its origins in ancient cultures, notably setting people free from literal or spiritual enslavements.

 

There is something appealing about putting old habits to rest and think of a new year as a “fresh start,” a “new page,” or a “blank slate” upon which to write a new chapter. But we all know that power of the status quo to get in the way. We can anticipate news articles early next month about how few people were able to sustain their resolve for even a month. Ah, yes, the more things change the more they stay the same.

 

Even so, marking time’s passing helps one focus: what have we learned? What does that suggest for our next steps?

 

The last three years have been a period of trying new things for our Region, even as we coped with sustaining what is already in place. Your staff and Boards have embraced the notion of “experi-fail” to indicate the vulnerability we feel as we seek to create something very new to serve our Unitarian Universalist future and our existing congregations.

 

Premised on the idea of encouraging innovation, we’ve sought to risk new approaches to the larger ministry across four unique Districts and to collaborate in forming a unified Southern Region.

 

Two joint meetings since 2010 (see the website uuasouthernregion.org for The Orlando Platform and the Mountain View documents) have led to these outcomes:

 

Routine and frequent collaboration between the four boards;

The launch of a twice-monthly regional newsletter and consolidation of four websites into one;

The addition of (SUULE) the Southern Unitarian Universalist Leadership Experience to (DBLE) the Dwight Brown Leadership Experience as annual events;

The establishment of Convocations of Congregational Presidents each spring, in addition to local and District-based trainings such as Fall Harvest, the Congregational Toolbox, and Spring Training;

The transformation of 6 ½ District-based staff to 7 Regional positions called Congregational Life Staff. Each has a direct 1st-call relationship with roughly 30 to 35 congregations in addition to being available to the entire region;

The merger of four administrative offices into two;

The creation of a unified budget for the whole region;

 

All of this, however, is mere re-arranging of the chairs unless we use the efficiencies and combined talents better to serve our congregations and their leaders, as well as create new inter-congregational connections and partner with like-hearted groups beyond the congregation.

 

The new pages turning as we enter this new year include:

 

Rolling out the new approach to Regional funding, called (GIFT) Generously Investing for Tomorrow — a unified, single Ask for both our UUA’s Annual Program Fund and“dues” to support the Districts. See details at: http://www.uuasouthernregion.org/stewardshipgiftprogram/giftprogram.html.

Redefining the role of our Boards as at-large advisors or “Elders” to our congregations;

Holding our first simultaneous District Assemblies/Annual Meetings April 25-27, with UUA Moderator Jim Keyproviding a live-stream keynote to all four gatherings;

Fully integrating the four District finances while establishing protocols for the management of District-specific assets (e.g., endowments, Chalice Lighter funds);

Developing strategies for strengthening existing and creating new cluster arrangements, including the establishment of new “affinity” clusters (such as, adding to the current three state-wide legislative ministries or linking congregations with campus ministries, etc.).

 

It is that last item that generates great excitement. The philosophic idea that we are better together than apart — including the notion of shared nurture, support, and accountability — challenges our congregations no longer to view themselves as separate, do it yourself communities. We need each other to succeed. The challenges of our time call us to reclaim the second half of our polity, that the “autonomous” congregation is also a “connected” congregation. Clusters, geographic or affinity, are one way to do that. Congregational coaching by one congregation with one or two others is another.

 

As we move into this new year, we look back eager to retain what is solid and of value in our Districts. We also look forward to what a larger, collaborative ministry across the Southern Region might yet make possible — all to ensure the voices of the Free Church, our liberal religious outlook, and our commitment to love and justice are heard more clearly, more often.

 

Let’s resolve to make this a year of great and shared ministry.

 

Kenn

 

The Reverend Kenneth Gordon Hurto

Congregational Life Staff member

and Lead Executive for the Southern Region

khurto@uua.org or 239.560.5628

 

The Smart Church: The Season of Light

By Connie Goodbread, Congregational Life Staff

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. - Peter Benenson

The reason for the season is the human fear that the sun will leave and never return. In the northern hemisphere the sun, the giver of life, light, warmth and sustenance spends less and less time with us as we approach the Winter Solstice. In the Northern hemisphere the dwindling days reach their climax between Dec 20 and 22. In the southern hemisphere it happens between June 20 - 22. The days grow shorter and shorter and colder and colder. Darkness is scary! All humans are afraid of the dark. If  the sun does not return to the sky our children starve. Can you even begin to imagine how it must have seemed to our ancestors, the dwindling days, the long nights and the cold. There are more holidays that happen around solstice than any other time of year. Our ancestors built monuments to count the days and watched the sun, I am sure with great fear, hope and anticipation. Some of these monuments were built in hopes of  trapping the sun - tethering it to the Earth. Some were built as temples but all seem to watch and mark the days. All seem to try to help us to control the uncontrollable. 

The discovery of how to make fire must have seemed like a great human triumph. With this discovery we could at least fight off the encroaching cold and darkness. Gas lamps lit our homes and villages - that also must have been a great leap out of the darkness.

The very first town in the United States to be lit by electric lights was Wabash, Indiana on March 31, 1880. People came from miles around to watch. What must that experience have been like? To have moved from the dark into the light in one moment.  It must have been miraculous. I am sure people prayed and cried and were moved to tears.

More than a century later as we move into the time of the Winter Solstice we should take some time to pray, meditate and think about just how lucky we are. Yes, things move too fast and it is hard to keep up with all the changes. Yes, there is great struggle in the world and so there is a great temptation to think that ours is the only generation to struggle. We are still not feeding all the children. We are still mongering hate and cursing one another. We are still at war. But we join the ranks of our ancestors – there has always been great struggle in the world.

If we were watching from a distance - would we see the struggle that is going on now all that differently from what humans have always struggled with forever? Susan Smith and I often say that we appreciate the struggle. We say this about the struggle that happens for Unitarian Universalists as we struggle with our individual faith development. But human struggle, of all kinds, is important. The struggle to be born. The struggle to become as fully human and as alive and aware as possible. Then finally the struggle to let go of this life and move on. Struggle is what life is all about.

We may fool ourselves once in a while, like our ancestors - thinking we can tether the sun and control the universe but it is just us fooling ourselves so that we won’t be afraid of the dark. The only thing we have control over is our own behavior. Luckily we have companions in the struggle - we are all in this together and that is what should give us great comfort.

In this season of love and light - be a light unto the world. Happy Holidays.

We need to be more generous with Unitarian Universalism.

by Kathy McGowan, Congregational Life Staff

I am in love with Unitarian Universalism. It makes me very sad to think that we are such a small denomination. I believe that the world needs us.  If there were more UUs living out our faith in our lives every day, the world would be a better place.  I truly believe this.

What do you say?  Are you ready to get generous with UUism?  I mean really generous.  It might mean giving up something that is dear to you personally.  It might mean giving up something that is important to your friends. You might become uncomfortable during worship on Sunday mornings because it has changed. You might have to get to know people that you are not sure you want to know.

What if we cared more about changing the world than we did about having “our wonderful church” for ourselves each week?  What if we started to be known as that church that uses American Sign Language interpreters all the time, or the one that pipes in the service to the local homeless shelter.  But perhaps that is not thinking big enough.

What if our Unitarian Universalist congregations were the ones called when the local community needed to hold a real dialogue on difficult issues.  We might be the ones called because deep listening is one of the values that we hold so dear that we have trained compassionate communicators, mediators and facilitators to help our communities.

We might value hope so much that our congregations become the think tanks for alternate ways of living.  If we lived out the value of joy, we could be the congregations where people drop by in the evenings because “it seems like there is always something fun happening at that place”. Maybe our commitment to compassion has been so strong that we have become the place where lower, middle and upper classes now gather to strategize on how to work together to battle the common enemies of poverty and racism.

I am probably not thinking big enough yet.  I am not being generous enough with Unitarian Universalism.  I need you in order to think bigger. How generous can we be with our faith to truly make the world a better place?

An Attitude of Gratitude

By Natalie Briscoe, Congregational Life Staff of the Southern Region

 

Fall is my favorite time of year! The holidays are just starting to get into swing. The weather turns colder and colder. Our thoughts turn to memories of autumns long past.

 

While it seems that time would slow down, that our home and church lives would draw inward and enter a time of hibernation, we know that the opposite is true. Holiday parties, fundraisers, family obligations, and the possibility of guests and travel can be, while exciting, exceedingly stressful as well.

 

Thank Goodness for Thanksgiving! One of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving – and the entire season of November, if you are observing the 30 Days of Gratitude on Social Media this month – is more than an opportunity to gather loved ones, eat a big meal, watch some football, and fall asleep on the couch. It is a chance to contemplate and cultivate an attitude of gratitude in our daily lives and our work in congregations. It is an opportunity to turn our thoughts to the abundance around us and be grateful for the work of others, for how far we have already come, and for the wonderful resources, both human and divine, that sustain us.

 

How would we go about cultivating an attitude of gratitude in our lives? We could start by focusing on the positive, by giving voice to what we have instead of what we are always lacking. We could find ways to express gratitude to those around us and whom we often take for granted. We could write thank you notes to those closest to us, or tell them each evening one thing that they did that we appreciate.

 

In our congregational lives, it is particularly important to foster an attitude of gratitude. As we deal with what appears to be limited resources, we often forget how abundant our joys really are. We can begin by voicing our gratitude about our community to one another, having time to do so in the worship service, making gratitude the focus of check-ins in small groups or religious education classes, and making it the subject of our newsletters.

 

The benefits of intentionally practicing gratitude are endless. Taking on gratitude as a spiritual practice has been linked to longer life, a greater sense of well-being, longer-lasting happiness, and a greater sense of optimism in general. As a community, a focus on gratitude can increase connections to that community and a greater sense of belonging. And of course, an attitude of gratitude increases instances of altruism and generosity.

 

To kick off the season, some of your Southern Region Staff would like to express our own gratitude:

 

Maggie Lovins says she is particularly grateful for the way in which the Southern Region Staff has come together as a tight knit Team! The level of support the Staff is now able to give to congregations is directly informed by this kind of teamwork. She is also grateful for the evolution of our Faith and Association, the future looks healthy and bright and she feels blessed to be a part of it.

 

Glenn Johnson says, among the many things he has to be grateful for, that he is particularly thankful for his sweet and loving wife of 30 years, and his good health.

 

Susan Smith is grateful for leaders who show up on Sunday to be nurtured and inspired rather than hold impromptu business meetings or skip worship altogether.

 

And I am thankful for a career that lets me serve my Faith alongside so many other amazing leaders and for a family who is infinitely supportive in my calling to this career.

 

Thank you all for your leadership and all you do for Unitarian Universalism. You inspire me!

Together into the Unknown by Maggie Lovins

Sitting down to write this blog a few things came to mind like - Introduce yourself, you are only known to a small percentage of the Southern Region! And Tell your story, after all it is through our stories that we practice our Faith. I then thought, those things are important to convey, but why you are serving the Southern Region's members, and why this is the shape your ministry has taken at this time...?

I serve North Florida and the state of Georgia as first contact staff representative, along with anyone in the Southern Region (SR) who calls and needs assistance. My partner Chad and I live in Pensacola, FL with my beloved service animal, Daisy Dog. I attend Starr King School of Ministry and plan to continue my call to ministry working with lay leaders, congregations and helping to build collaborative bridges wherever they are needed. Speaking of collaboration, I want to share one of my favorite quotes with you,

"What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."  Mother Teresa

With that quote in mind I offer you four words of peace; you are not alone. Short, sweet and to the point - you are not alone!  In your committee, on your Board, in your congregation, in our Region and in our Association, we are never alone! How fantastic to know you are knee deep in joys and struggles with people of all colors, identities and spiritual beliefs. Unitarian Universalists are such independent thinkers and doers, all having special projects that set their hearts ablaze, making their eyes that particular shade of shiny, so that together our actions are working towards realizing the dream of Beloved Community. Yes, the struggle still stinks, but it's better when we have partners with us, and truth be told, the only real growth is in the struggle.

With all this talk of Regional Collaboration, the four District Boards moving towards a new leadership model and all of the changes at the UUA, I can understand how someone could say, "Hey pull this bus over- I'm not sure where it's going- or if I want to go!" To this I reply, "You are not alone!" Change is inevitable, it can be scary and anxiety triggering to some, but to others it is an adventure, an expedition into unknown territory where wondrous things can and do happen! I will openly admit being in that second category, but I fully understand the other as well. I guess most of my 'worries' are soothed knowing I am doing this work with SO many others aspiring for a better tomorrow. More allies mean a greater chance of success when doing the hard work, plus many hands make light work, right?

So, why am I serving the Southern Region members? Because I believe - I believe in the work, I believe in the people! Why has my ministry taken this form at this time? Because collaboration, teamwork and cooperation are needed right now and I am a firm instigator of them all! We don't just have 4 District Executives and a few other UUA staff members to support our congregations; we now have a whole team to assist your congregation serve its members! We have 7 Congregational Life Staff, 2 full time administrators, a part time event coordinator and a part time IT person! Wow! Our district lines are now more like the dotted lines on the highway, allowing us to move in and out of whatever area needs us and it allows the SR Staff to operate as a fully functional collaborative team. This is the adventure I was talking about; it is the same adventure Connie Goodbread wrote about not too long ago, to boldly go where the Southern Region has not gone before!

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together..." African Proverb.

I wish to go far and the need is great. This is your personal invitation for us to go together; are you ready?

Being Unitarian Universalist in the South

Until a few months ago, I had only been a Unitarian Universalist in parts of the country where there were several UU congregations within an hour's drive. Whether in Metro New York, the suburbs of D.C., the San Francisco Bay Area or Boston and environs, I knew there were faith communities nearby where people embraced liberal religious values.

Then, after being gone from living in the South all my adult life, I joined the UUA Southern Region staff and returned to live in my hometown -- Holly Springs, Mississippi. Now I'm part of an inspired team that travels to congregations and meets with ministers and lay leaders, all in service of our Unitarian Universalist values. I am the 'first UUA contact' for all the congregations in Mississippi and Alabama, for most of the congregations in Louisiana and Tennessee, and for Pensacola, Florida. However, I am available as needed on behalf of the UUA across our region and beyond, especially in matters regarding our shared social justice work and building UU communities beyond congregations.

I am inspired by the ways you have sustained liberal religious community in this religiously conservative part of the country. I share your commitment to vibrant, meaningful relationships within congregations, and to powerful witness for our faith in the public realm.

The Unitarian Universalist journey in the South is different from other places I've lived. Its deep racism gave rise to courageous nonviolent action during the Civil Rights Era. In the 21st century, as in generations past, Unitarian Universalists are answering the call to engagement regarding the issues of our day, including immigrant advocacy, LGBTQ justice and economic disparity.

Thank you for your partnership. I'm looking forward to working with you in the days that lie ahead!

In faith,
Carlton

Rev. Carlton Elliott Smith
csmith@uua.org

Raising the Orlando Platform on The Mountain

by The Reverend Kenneth Gordon Hurto

Congregational Life Consultant, Southern Region UUA

 

Most congregation members have modest interest in how our larger Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations or the Southern Region or Districts work. That's quite understandable; ministry begins at home.

 

Yet, you might be interested to know that later this month, the Board members of all four Southern Region UUA Districts (Florida, Mid-South, Southeast & Southwest) and the Congregational Life field staff will meet for a "next step" meeting at which we build on the remarkable break-through of a similar meeting that took place 2 1/2 years ago in Orlando. That meeting, echoing our history, promulgated a Platform (found here: http://www.uuasouthernregion.org/resources/orlandoplatform.html) that called for a broadening of collaboration among congregations and the Districts.

 

Your Boards and Congregational Life field staff took a leap of faith that, by working collaboratively, these four Districts would create something genuinely new to better serve our people, our congregations, our times. Since then, we've been working diligently, learning as we go, to implement a cross-district ministry. We've consolidated budgets and office operations for greater efficiency; we've added staff and established a roster of field staff "1st go-to" assignments (look for this on the Regional website very soon). With a common communications network, we are more agile in our responed to urgent needs (the Regional appeal for last spring's tornado relief in Oklahoma raised more than $70,000!) as well as more accessible for any given congregation. Nonetheless, it's time to take stock.

 

The core idea of the Orlando Platform draws on our founding document, the 1648 Cambridge Platform of congregational governance and discipline. That document gave us our understanding  that congregations were where ministry takes place and that each congregation is free to do its work autonomously. The self-determining congregation is readily understood. However, the Cambridge Platform also called for congregations to provide moral support, even succor, and at times admonishment. The Orlando Platform picked up on this "2nd half" of polity. It challenged our leaders to re-vitalize that notion of congregational inter-dependence.

 

For instance, at a workshop on Stewardship, I asked whether any there knew of a neighboring congregation that was having financial difficulties. Nearly all said they did. Then, I asked: "Did you reach out to offer any help?" No one did. One participant remarked, "It never occurred to me that we could, let alone should." This is the promise of Regional collaboration: Not only that we can but that we ought to be deeply connected, celebrating success and helping out in times of sorrow. It calls us to go from "my congregation" to "our ministry."

 

Without prejudging what will come of what I've come to call "Orlando Redux" next month, your Boards and staff are committed to administrative and program structures that will provide more support to our congregations. At The Mountain, we'll look at what's been learned. We'll develop further our understanding of volunteer "Elders" who will network among congregations. We are eager to build new networks of affinity-based clusters (e.g., consider 5 like-sized congregations committing to a peer-review relationship for a two year period) while strengthening the existing geographical ones. And we'll explore how else we may yet work together for our shared, common good.

 

"The world is too much with us, late and soon," penned Unitarian poet Wordsworth. Every day we are reminded how urgently the world needs our ministry of love, compassion, and justice. This, too, drives our meeting at The Mountain: We have no time to waste, let's get good at, let's get better at ministering together, growing souls and saving some part of our world. 

 

All blessings on your and our ministries, 

 

Rev. Kenn

The Smart Church: Love of Creation

by Connie Goodbread

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dwight Brown Leadership Experience (DBLE) was the best ever. No, really!  I know we say that every time, and for every class it is true.  I know that because the information is deep and in some ways challenging because it dredges up feelings.  It dredges up feelings in all of us.  For me, and I am not sure why, this particular DBLE was very moving.  Maybe the effect it had on me comes from this being my 12th Leadership Experience as staff.  Maybe it was because they have not all been so wonderful.  Maybe I see it differently now.  Maybe it is because I won’t be there next year.  I don’t know why I was so moved.  But I was moved.  I was moved to tears more times than I can count.  I don’t cry easily so I found myself pretty amazed. I was moved by stories I have heard, and even told, many times before.  I was moved by the willingness of the people to come into community.  I was moved by the struggles of others.  I was moved by my own struggle. 

So I am on the plane headed home.  The sun is setting.  The clouds begin to become that sky-blue/pink that only happens sometimes if we are lucky at sunrise and sunset.  The rays from the sun become more and more slanted, and, in no time at all, the clouds are on fire below the wings of the plane.  There were no flames or smoke like there would be with a forest fire, only billowing branches of cumulonimbus clouds mimicking tree tops, orange treetops.  It looked as though we were flying over a forest of peach, coral and orange trees.  Then in the top branches of one of the tallest cloud trees, a rain circle appears like a god’s eye hanging on a Christmas tree.  It forms and becomes solid.  I hold my breath and then slowly it fades as the sun sinks lower and the plane moves out of its exactly correct position.  Wow, I say out loud.  Tears begin to form in my eyes.  Then I think - What a pretty little planet.  What a miracle of creation.  How lucky am I to have witnessed this?  I am so in love.  I am in love with creation.  Faces of beloved people appeared in my mind - my family first and then the faces of the people I had just been with.  New faces.  Faces of dear friends.  Their eyes.  Their shining eyes.

People cannot spend their whole lives on the mountain top.  People must come down into the valleys and get their hands dirty in the soil and deal with the things of life - but for every moment that I spend on the mountain top, for every moment that is filled with possibility, for every time I get a small look at the magic all around us, I am profoundly grateful.

I would like to thank the staff of DBLE.  Thank you - we all worked really hard.  We work hard every time, that is not new.  But I think that all of the work we have put into the last 12 experiences are beginning make a difference.  I think next year’s DBLE and SUULE will be even better.  I would like to thank the participants who taught me more than they will ever know.  I am grateful to each of you for the time, thoughts and heart you poured into the experience.  I am grateful for the deep sharing we did.  The theme for this year seemed to be, “Why am I telling you this?”  We shared in a deep way and made ourselves vulnerable.  We were open to all the possibilities and each other and that was why we shared so much of ourselves.  Most of all I am grateful for the struggles.  Most came out okay, some are still up in the air and some will most likely go on for a long time.  I am so very grateful for having had shared struggles with you all.  Thank you for staying at the table.  BEST DBLE EVER!

It's EvolUUtion, Baby!

By Natalie Briscoe, Congregational Life Consultant for the Southern Region.

Growth. It is on most church leaders' minds. The mention of the word can either elicit excitement or groans depending on your particular perspective.

Usually when we are talking about growth, we are speaking about growing our numbers, usually by way of converting visitors into members. This type of growth, called Numeric Growth, is just one of four main kinds of development that we are aware of in the congregation. And while many congregations focus on this one type as an indicator of health and vitality, Numeric Growth is merely the result of the other three kinds.

Organic Growth refers to the infrastructure that we build in our congregations to support a growing membership. Organic Growth can take the form of a change in governance structure, adding staff, re-writing the by-laws, or adding physical space to the building. It is about developing practices and putting systems into place which support the acceptance of new members into the life of the congregation.

Maturational Growth refers to the depth of understanding of our shared Faith within the congregation. Opportunities for Maturational Growth may include small groups, listening circles, religious education classes for all ages, or a sermon series on aspects of Unitarian Universalism. It is about developing an inviting and engaging lifespan faith development program that is able to reach new and long-time members alike.

Incarnational Growth refers to the congregation's willingness and ability to live out their shared values. Incarnational Growth may take the form of a strong social justice program, being recognized as a Green Sanctuary or a Welcoming Congregation, partnering with the Red Cross to become a disaster relief shelter, offering addiction ministries, or providing an LGBT Prom for the community. It is about incarnating Unitarian Universalism in the world.

Focusing on Organic, Maturational, and Incarnational Growth leads to Numeric Growth. When we put structures in place that support membership and give every person an opportunity to deepen his or her faith and live that faith out in the world, membership grows. In reality, however, we can focus on all of these kinds of growth in all of the ways listed above, but the results will only be short-term unless the congregation that is gaining membership can also embrace change.

When membership in a congregation grows, the relationships between the members and their relationships to the called and hired staff changes dramatically. There will inevitably come a time when the membership is very economically, culturally, and theologically diverse.  A time will come when it is impossible to have a relationship with everyone in the church, as well. If a congregation is not prepared for these changes, it will continue to grow to a certain size and then lose membership again, as if it is hitting a glass ceiling.

These issues in a congregation can be complicated, and it may take a variety of different solutions and options before a congregation is ready to break through their plateau and create long-lasting, meaningful, and effective changes that leads to stable growth. Luckily, there is an opportunity to explore growth and change in your congregation in November in the Southern Region!

Please join us at Fall Harvest Training this year in Glen Rose, Texas from November 8th to November 10th where we will explore growth and change in the congregation through our theme of EvolUUtion! We will have seven tracks that delve deeply into all aspects of growth and change in church life.

For the third year, we will be offering the EvolUUtion Camp for children ages 5 to 13 where we will explore the Unitarian Universalist Creation Story, which is nothing short of the creation of the universe and evolution itself. Youth ages 14 to 18 are invited to participate in any track which will be beneficial to their ministry as youth leaders, including, but not limited to, the Youth Chaplaincy training. A full track listing with detailed descriptions and registration information can be found at http://www.uuasouthernregion.org/falltrain2013.html.

We recommend sending teams from congregations to get the full benefit of the program! Special housing rates are available for Youth and Advisors of Youth. We hope to see you there!

Aiming High by Kathy McGowan

Leaders Need to Aim High

I believe that we expect too little of our congregants and congregations.  People want to make a difference in this world and they want to work along side people who are “movers and shakers” -people who are putting their values into action.  

I see many congregations that collectively have a low sense of self worth.  It is no wonder that they are not thriving.  I do not think the answer is giving them small tasks so that they can achieve small goals in order to feel better about themselves.  I think that we need to have a big vision of the future; a vision big enough to rock the world with our Unitarian Universalist values.

We can create this vision by embracing leaders who challenge us to become our best selves and whom we challenge to ask the big questions.  It is through asking the important questions and challenging our assumptions that we can make the impossible, possible.  Our liberal religion demands of us nothing less for this hurting world.

Think about a time in your life when you felt good about something that you achieved. Was it easy?  Probably not.  Did you feel more capable once on the other side of that challenge?  Probably.  People actually get smarter by being challenged.

In their book, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smart, Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown wrote of a certain kind of leaders, “multipliers”.  They write, “Multipliers understand that people grow through challenge.  They  understand that intelligence grows by being stretched and tested.  So even if the leader has a clear vision of the direction, he or she doesn’t just give it to people.  Multipliers don’t just give answers.  They provide just enough information to provoke thinking and to help people discover and see the opportunity for themselves.  They begin a process of discovery.”

I believe that in our congregations we do not set the bar high enough.  There will always be solid reasons for not doing things in congregations.  Always.  But if the purpose is clear (mission), the good questions are asked, the assumptions shaken off, there is no telling where we might go.  

So I say raise the bar high.  Let’s create congregations where people are challenged, smarter, confident and making a difference.  Let’s rock the world with our wonderful UUness. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhTRhAX_QBA