Monthly Archives: March 2011

Notes from Rev. Kenn – March 8, 2011

Love wins … Still? Again?

Christianity Today, “a magazine of evangelical conviction,” reports a huge storm arising over a book not yet even published on the topic of Christian Universalism!

Baptist Pastor, Rob Bell’s forthcoming book, Love Wins, has stirred up a Twitter backlash regarding heaven and hell. This will seem weird to us, but many still have a need to damn people to eternal torment at the core of their faith. The idea that a loving God could redeem even the worst among us offends such a belief.

As I read about this, I muttered, “Oh, that we could evoke such a conversation among ourselves!” Universalism is the far more challenging part of “Unitarian Universalist.” While arguments over the Trinity might be the gate through which many come to us, it is the conviction that “love wins” that makes staying worth the while. And it is the hard part!

Even if we’re more sophisticated than thinking of justice as an “eye for an eye,” you don’t have to be orthodox to find the notion of an ultimate forgiveness, well, unfair. Tell survivors of the Nazi holocaust or the 500 year legacy of African American slavery that God will forgive “the master,” and you’re in for an argument that goes to the very core of spiritual reflection.

Years ago, I spent several spiritually painful hours with a parishioner who was among the Dachau liberators. He said, “I cannot stay in this church if I have to believe in Nazi salvation.” My heart was with him. I finally confessed, “I have no ability in me to understand how it could be so, but, my faith is in ultimate love. Any God worth considering cannot be one that creates us frail and then torments us forever for our sins, however grievous.”

In the 1840′s, our Universalist ancestors argued at length about this. The “Restorationists” (I’d put myself among them) argued for a period of purgation, in which atonement for earthly failing had to happen for salvation to be granted. There is something profoundly offensive, as the Ultra-Universalists averred, in a free-and-clear pass to heaven!

Well, that metaphysical argument may seem quaint, but we suffer still it’s impact: Many today yet argue the justice of a society divided into the righteous (my tribe) and the damned (everyone else). The twitter-blasts around Bell’s book suggest it’s not so quaint yet to many.

What say you? Does love win in the end?

To check out the debate, click here.  Rob Bell’s video is really quite compelling.

May your ministry balance justice with mercy, mercy with justice. Somehow, love must win!

Rev. Kenn

P.S.: A colleague sends this along, also worth your time: http://www.emergentvillage.com/weblog/Chad-Holtz-What-I-Lost-Losing-Hell.

Notes from Rev. Randy – March 8, 2011

The last chapter of our journey around my title:

Acting Lifespan Program Consultant

Consultant? What is that?

A wag once wrote that a Consultant is someone from at least 50 miles away.

I remember a professor of mine in Sociology at New York University who challenged us to try to define what a “professional” is. As we offered ideas such as attributes of specializations, documentation of licensure, appropriate educational preparation, collegial recognition, and the like, he would just shake his head. At long last he said, “Try this on for size . . . a professional is someone who can tell you what you don’t want to hear.”

Taking that as a starting point, I want to suggest that a consultant is someone who helps you say and do what you may not want to say or do but which you know you should say or do.

A consultant does not come with an agenda for you to fulfill, but helps you to fulfill your agenda. This may mean that the consultant helps you uncover the deeper levels of your agenda and explore the ways in which your role requires certain words or actions.

A consultant brings in a larger world of understanding, expertise, resources, and experience to help your vision, potential, and goals become real and realized.

A consultant is contrasted with a manufacturer’s representative, who has something to sell, even if you are not in the position to buy.

So, if you are interacting with me as your Program Consultant (yes, I serve your congregation!), you will find me asking lots of questions. I do this because I believe that, in most cases, our local leaders already have the answers they are seeking within them. This is so consistent with our theology, our belief that our greatest wisdom arises from us and is not imposed upon us.

Through that process of inquiry, the need for additional resources will become evident if we are going to take the questioning conversation to deeper and more fulfilling levels. That is my other role, to provide a wider range of support, information, models, and solutions than might be apparent to a local volunteer leader, or to a professional leader mainly focused on other areas of congregational life.

As your consultant, I go away from any interaction feeling good if you have been empowered to be the leader you want to be, the one your congregation asked you to be.

And it all begins with you saying to me, “Randy, I was wondering about . . .” and then let my questioning and supporting begin.

Rev. Randy
(Got a question for Rev Randy? Send it along to him at rbecker@uua.org )

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