How do we inspire love?
Relationships move at the speed of trust. Relationships thrive and deepen when trust is high. When trust is low, relationships falter or stall out. These important observations from author and educator Stephen R. Covey were shared in the recent UUA webinar on “Being the Beloved Community.” In his writings, Covey asserts that fostering and safeguarding trust are essential in all types of relationships, including those in a congregation such as UUCP.
Trust is contingent on honesty and reliability. That means we must be trustworthy with one another, individually and in groups such as our congregation and our ministry teams. We also must show up and follow through with our commitments — or take responsibility when we cannot. Commitments could include participating in the life of the congregation, making a financial pledge, volunteering on a ministry team, and joining our social justice efforts through JUST Pensacola.
The congregational covenant that we recite together during each New Member Welcome Ceremony includes details for building trust for healthy congregational relations. The covenant states, in part, “We value honesty, direct speaking and courtesy in our conflict, courage in our speech, and integrity in our action.” Covenants such as this are aspirational — meaning we aspire to fulfill all the promises we make in the covenant but often fall short since we are human. Still, we are encouraged to affirm and reaffirm our promises and continue working at relationships, as exemplified by our ceremony on February 16. That day, we welcomed seven new members into covenant along with four children who attend with their family.
The webinar on “Being the Beloved Community” concluded the monthly Smaller Congregations series that began in October. Congregants and Board members have been attending to learn more about being our best as a small congregation. The “Beloved Community” webinar was affirming as we realized that UUCP practices many of the habits suggested for building community. For instance, our church helps families feel comfortable by providing a kids’ corner, step stools in the bathrooms, and activity baskets for children during Services for All Ages. Hearing assistance devices and ramps increase the accessibility of our space for differently abled folks. We offer opportunities to engage in small groups such as Coffee & Conversation, the Theme Circles that Rev. Alice has introduced, and rotating meals in members’ homes (Circle Dinners). And, of course, established covenants guide how we interact with one another and how we live in the world.
Where we can improve is in welcoming and involving historically marginalized groups, such as African-Americans and Latinx folks, LGBTQIA folks, and the working class and working poor. From the words and music in our Sunday Services, to the artwork and images displayed in our building, to the people we greet and speak to during coffee time, we can demonstrate radical inclusion, acceptance, and love.
Part of the practice of inclusion, love, and justice involves educating ourselves about the stories and experiences of those who are different from us. We at UUCP have at least two upcoming opportunities to do this.
1. Justice Rally on Monday, March 30, at 6:30pm, location TBA. The rally is part of the build-up for the Nehemiah Action to demand justice in education and criminal justice in the Greater Pensacola area through the JUST Pensacola coalition.
Study of the UUA Common Read “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. Book discussions begin Sunday, March 29 after the Sunday Service.
I hope you will join us for these important gatherings, which promise to be powerful. In the words of our congregational covenant, may these events and others help us to be “true to the vision of the beloved community we are ever becoming.”
Until next time,
Lauren Anzaldo, Board President