Ready to be led and to lead
Reflections by Donna LaRue
June, 2014
As I write this final draft, describing my experiences while searching for a settled minister, it has been one week since our flower ceremony. As beautiful as the flowers were, they paled in comparison to the love we shared together in gratitude for Chris Parker. What a joy to see and feel so much true kindness, friendship, and love.
The search process
At first the Transition Team asked us about our history and uncovered the truth about our present. Then the Search Committee asked us to share together in cottage meetings, asking what we hoped for. Later we took a survey, getting at the data that backed up the hypotheses. Finally, the Search Committee asked us to look beyond categorical thinking.
For each of these, the seven Search Committee members were there. By the end of 2013, we were educated. Now the Search Committee was ready to see who was interested in us.
In January (2014), we were validated in our belief that we have something special here in Nashua. Something ministers will want. We chose those ministers who most aligned with your “wish list” and dove into the conversations.
Here is what I learned.
Faith
Unitarian Universalism is a religion of faith.
Each minister we read about, talked to, or met said the same thing. They believe.
As a religion, we offer peace to the overwhelmed, kindness to the weary, and acceptance to the oppressed.
As a religion, there is spirituality among us and within us, collectively.
This religion and our principals mean something.
There is a path toward progress here, and it heals us. It can heal all of us.
Whether you seek an intellectually stimulating sermon or a deeply pastoral and approachable presence, the minister will guide us. Some ministers ask us to choose to do good today. Some ministers ask us to actively seek to understand each others' differences more openly and fully. Some ministers ask us to work together, growing stronger with healthy comradery. Other ministers look to the sky, see the moon, and deeply believe in all of it.
All the ministers I met signed their emails with “blessings.” And now I understand why.
Every week for the last six months, I sat in the sanctuary, and I looked at the rainbow banners. They are marvelous. In the last decade, this congregation has been a part of progress in a fundamental, moving way.
After my experience this past year, I know we are not done. Our faith teaches us to stand and be recognized. There is inherent worth and dignity in all people.
Unitarian Universalism is a religion. It is a religion of faith. The world is filled with events that allow us, if we are willing, to give thanks or dig deep. But either way... lead.
Stand and be heard
As we search for a settled minister, the lessons and insights have already been steady and deep.
I have raised two children in this faith that I love. We discuss injustice in the world every night at dinner and give thanks for love in our hearts every evening. My boys are not afraid to stand and be heard. They are Unitarian Universalists.
The minister we seek is not afraid to stand and be heard. They all are Unitarian Universalists.
The minister we seek gives thanks for love in his or her heart and touches people… spiritually touches people with this love. This minister is pastoral.
The minister we seek builds good, strong, healthy bridges, so that we may be better, stronger, more healthy together.
The minister we seek spiritually leads us. This minister is a leader.
The minister we seek believes deeply in the inherent worth and dignity of each person walking through the door, in the community and in the world, accepting us spiritually. This minister is spiritually diverse.
The minister we seek is kind and gentle, with an approachable presence that comforts us both socially and spiritually. This minister is soothing to our soul.
The minister we seek is intelligent. With gifted words, she or he lead us. Not from behind, nor from the front, but within us and above us. This minister has a vision.
Ready to be led and to lead
The Nashua UU church is ready to be led and to lead.
We have spent almost thirty years growing and cultivating lay leaders in this family-style congregation. The natural order of growth is to move from a family-based church into a program church. This will require a gifted leader.
We seek a minister who will guide us around the corner as we stand up to be recognized on our progressive journey with faith. Faith in each other, faith in our religion, and faith in humanity.
All the work our congregation has done in the past three decades is culminating into a palatable UU movement that will rock this community. We are ready for this ministerial vision to align with ours and together offer the promises of this faith to our friends and neighbors within our community and beyond.
Blessings!
Donna LaRue
Updates and reflections from the Ministerial Search Committee