Author: Nick Laux

Reverend Christine is on a much needed vacation this and next week, and her column will return later this month.

After 39 years, the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly of Member Congregations voted Saturday with 80% of the Gathered Delegates (including my vote) to adopt Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Inclusion and Generosity–with Love in the Center as our Statement of Values.  This is the “Article 2” that we’ve been discussing for the last two years.   

The Seven Principles and Six Sources that they replace were adopted in 1985. These are the statements that helped me see that Unitarian Universalism was my faith home. It has been a delight to watch our denomination the last four years go through this process of discernment, building, refinement and adoption. I have so much gratitude for the Article II Commission who drafted the original statement, took in the opinions, edits, debate, edits, votes and other input of over 10,000 Unitarian Universalists.  

In truth, this change doesn’t affect UUCP drastically, but it is a sign and a metaphor for how our denomination and faith is evolving. With more of a focus on justice and accountability, it is representative of how we have grown and changed.  

If you want to read more about it, you can find a UU World article about it here:  https://www.uuworld.org/articles/uua-article-ii-passes-general-assembly-result-unitarian-universalism-bylaws-vote-values-statement

I’ll be out the next three weeks on vacation and then serving as minister at our UU High School camp. I’ll return to these columns when I return. 

This week, I am attending the UU Ministers Association’s Ministry Days–four days of worship, recognition, discussion, fun and collegiality between UU Ministers. Like the General Assembly this year, it is all online, and It immediately takes me back to the pandemic, watching my friends and colleagues online on a small screen while I sit alone in my office. This year, I am getting the benefit of all of the excellent content of Ministry Days, but with the company of some of my favorite Arizona ministers at an AirBnb in Tucson. Yesterday, after worship and the recognition of our colleagues who are celebrating 25 and 50 years of Ministry, I hosted an online dance party with 9 of my colleagues from across the country. It felt good to just dance with each other, as we held our party from the pool out back.

Today, we will be recognizing those who are new to ministry as well as those who are retiring. We are also dedicating babies, knowing that children who grow up with pastors as parents have a different experience in our denomination. This afternoon we will be having discussion groups on specific topics–I’m facilitating a group of ministers who are exploring Spiritual Direction along with their ministries.

Later this week, we have seven delegates attending a virtual General Assembly. While there will be more “business” at that, I hope they also find it invigorating and thought-provoking.

Last week’s service on the “Question Box” was a first for me–I wasn’t sure how it was to respond on-the-spot to your deep questions. But I loved it! And I got a lot of feedback that you enjoyed it too (especially the Yodeling Pickle!)

Of course, there were a lot of questions we didn’t get to, so I thought I’d share some of them with you here. Some of these I may answer in future Dance Partner columns and some may deserve their own service.

• Several years ago, I read that the hardest issue for ministers in sermon writing is balancing social issues and spirituality issues. Is that something you think about when you plan your services? Is that hard for you?  
• I think it’s hard to be who we say we are. As a minister, how do you balance the needs of meeting such a diverse congregation?  
• Some people find that it is hard to fit in at a Unitarian Universalist congregation if you are not educated. Any advice? 
• How has Howard Thurman influenced your thinking?  
• Why have so many generations developed the need to scapegoat a different segment of society?
• Unitarians are all about inclusion. Yet, how does a UU congregation navigate with faiths who believe in vengeance and justice by those wronged?
• Do you think the biggest hurdle we face is ignorance or apathy? Answer: I don’t know and I don’t care. ????
• Are UUs pacifists? Is pacifism in our principles?
• Can we call ourselves a congregation (and NOT a church) while we still support people’s spiritual lives? How?  
• What is the difference between a Christian and a good person?
• Is everyone really worthy of our love? How do we reconcile that principle with people who knowingly cause harm? 
• Do we have to tolerate the intolerant?
• How does Spirituality differ from Religion/Religiosity?
• What is the most wise writer to read?
• UUs have stopped honoring Thomas Jefferson because we we perceive as hypocrisy in regard to slavery. Why are we not as critical of some 19th Century Unitarian abolitionists such as Theodore Parker who was biased against Irish immigrants because “they practice an inferior religion?”
• What is Breeze?
• Could “turn and greet your neighbor” be put back into the service? I miss that. To me, interaction with other people is what going to church is all about.
• Do you believe in a higher power and if not, how are we all connected?  
• I have already communicated with my Dad, who died in 2001 (via a seer, who is also dead now). What does UU believe about our souls after we die? Does UU believe in an afterlife?  
• What do YOU find helpful in maintaining a balance in the chaos of change–acceptance, anger, equanimity, action and moving forward?  
• Are there techniques to bring out the spirit of love during our lowest moments?

Thank you to everyone who participated! I can’t wait to do it again next year!

As I am writing this, HCR 2060 just passed the Arizona House of Representatives. This is the bill that several members of our congregation went to the Senate to protest. It is now on the ballot for Arizonans to decide in November. This is something that we need to be worried about for political reasons, as I believe that they are trying to get a border initiative to combat the abortion ballot initiative as conservatives know it will be something that will drive people to the polls.  

There are many in our congregation who know the political machinations better than I. As someone who listened to the hateful rhetoric in the Senate, we will have our work cut out for us from a moral standpoint. This initiative is dangerously close to SB1070 which this congregation actively fought in 2010. It too can allow police authorities to check people’s papers and also arrest people and put them in our state prisons.  

As a Unitarian Universalist Minister, my moral imperative is to remind us that no human is illegal. While I understand that the country needs healthy and responsible border protections (although I ideally wish for a world where we could all be human citizens), when we respond to situations like this by targeting, detaining, and prisoning people because of their race or ethnicity, we are going against our values.  

I’m sure we will hear more. I am ready to show up and be counted when and where I can.  

This election season is going to be a doozie. Rest up and care for ourselves so we can show up in meaningful ways.