Dear ones,
The snow is nearly gone from my part of northern Minnesota. Last night there was a little dusting from Mother Nature who remains decisively in charge of this nameless season between winter and spring. It seems likely that I will end my tenure as your Interim Minister without appearing again in person, but I am honored to think that my name will appear, for better, for worse, among the array of colleagues who have helped to shape the unfolding story of UCE. In my remaining newsletter offerings, I intend to reflect a bit on what I humbly hope might be a legacy.
This time, I am thinking about the challenging balance between the personal particular and the mission of the many.
My observation early in my time with UCE is that this was a congregation founded and sustained by kind, caring, competent, generous individuals, many of whom had formed solid and meaningful interpersonal connections. The motivation to participate had grown for many over decades as friendships, working on common projects that sprang up through the need to raise money, to support emerging social causes, to support members in times of crisis. And to supporting professional ministry- for better, for worse.
All of that is important beyond measure. And with all great pools of assets come liabilities. Untended, liabilities threaten assets. Some of the liabilities faced by UCE have resulted in lay leader burn-out, a perception among folks new to the congregation that getting involved is more complicated than it looks, unmanaged personal expectations that lead to disappointment and conflict. All of this is deeply human and certainly not confined to UCE.
There is a lot of good news here. Over the past 18 months, through good times and hard times, many of you have been willing to engage in conversations and meetings and Sunday services where these issues have been aired and considered. What has emerged is the beginning of a shared understanding that beyond the particular relationships and tasks and even the particular minister, you all are serving a common mission, “To nurture the human spirit for a world made whole.”
This is answer to the larger “Why?” in the question, “Why do I hang in when things get hard?” “Why does this conflict need to be resolved instead of being swept under the carpet?” “Why do I need to raise my pledge?” Why do I need to stay on a committee with people who bug me?””Why do I need to provide loving feedback to the minister or the staff when I am concerned about the direction that something is headed”.
It’s because, in addition to having friends and personal fulfillment, each of you is part of something that has a life of its own that is shaped by all of its parts.
I am confident that this unnamed season between winter and spring will resolve itself as the cycles that nature ordains. I am also confident that the you at UCE will sustain your growing momentum to the Shared Ministry that will make your shared Mission live in the world through many more seasons.
Blessings, all!
Karen