[printprofilepic]Unitarian Universalism is the sort of religion where it is easy to become isolated. Our congregations are so independent, we can be forgiven if we forget there are others out there. This phenomenon is especially common in a state like New Mexico where the distance between UU congregations only adds to the sense of being a “lone ranger.” We are, however, thankfully not alone in the world. The current directory of the Unitarian Universalist Association lists 1102 member congregations (and this includes fellowships in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, and the Philippines!). There are around 157,000 congregational members nationwide (and even more friends, visitors, and self-identified UUs who name “Unitarian” as their household religion on the census and in other surveys). There aren’t many of us, but we’re certainly not alone.
One of the questions I’m exploring this month is that of “whose are we?” Namely, who does this congregation exist to serve? Our own members, surely, but is that the end of our responsibility? Hundreds of years ago, as our pilgrim and Puritan forebears were organizing the congregations out of which our tradition would grow, they acknowledged that each congregation, though autonomous, was responsible to other congregations — leading one another by the examples of their best practices and holding one another accountable when they strayed from basic principles and reasons for being.
Today, we nod to that notion at least in name by naming our national organization an “association of congregations” — acknowledging that each congregation is autonomous, but still in relationship with one another. Congregations still learn from one another, and still benefit from one another’s best work. Truthfully, I didn’t come to appreciate my own nascent Unitarian Universalist faith until I began coming into contact with UUs from other congregations outside of my own. When I began attending district conferences and our own national General Assembly, I gained a much deeper appreciation for what it meant to be UU and for that fact that, though small in numbers, we were none of us small in spirit or, for that matter, alone.
All of this is just a roundabout way of inviting you to get involved in the wider workings of Unitarian Universalism. Our next General Assembly will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina from Wednesday June 22nd through Sunday the 26th. Thousands of Unitarian Universalists from around the country will gather to worship, learn, celebrate, and do the business of the Association. This year features a lecture from noted theologian Karen Armstrong, and commemorates the 50th anniversary of the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. Worship services include the Service of the Living Tradition, which celebrates the professional ministry, and features a sermon by Rev. Michael Schuler of the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin.
Our congregation is entitled to four official delegates to the Assembly. The congregation has funds in place this year to help with registration costs for our delegates. Delegates to the Assembly represent the congregation for votes on various by-law changes and statements of conscience from the national Association, as well as electing candidates to various national committees (full disclosure: I am a candidate for the national Commission on Appraisal this year). There is also plenty of opportunity for delegates to attend workshops and other events to learn the best of what is going on in Unitarian Universalism around the country and around the world to bring back to the home congregation.
Registration for General Assembly opens this month. Information and online registration can be found at uua.org/ga. If you are interested in serving as one of our delegates this year, or have other questions, please feel free to contact me or Mike McNaughton, the chair of our denominational affairs committee. My video report from last year’s General Assembly can be found on the church’s YouTube channel: <youtube.com/user/uulosalamos>.
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March 1st marks the unveiling of our new website. Our webmaster, Mike Begnaud, has done a fantastic job of making the new site both good-looking and easier to use. If you have compliments, comments or suggestions for continuing improvement to the site, please get in touch with Mike directly at <webmaster@uulosalamos.org>.
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The annual pledge canvass is now underway. I encourage you all to schedule some time to meet with your visiting steward when they call (and have your completed member survey ready to give to them). If you can’t make time to meet, please have your pledge forms turned in to the church office by March 31st or earlier. The Board has much work ahead of it finalizing the budget for the next fiscal year, and early returns make for easier work for everyone involved.
Rev. John Cullinan
