It’s been nearly 15 years now, but I vividly remember my first visit to UUCP. It was a time when our teenager (then named Laura) was exploring her sexuality and receiving lots of harsh push-back from other teens at the suburban high school that he attended, particularly from kids who viewed themselves as religious. Understandably, Laura had become withdrawn and convinced that religious people were unwelcoming to people like her. One day, sitting around the dinner table, our whole family took the “belief net” quiz. The results showed that we shared beliefs with Unitarian Universalism, a faith tradition we knew almost nothing about.
Not long after, I convinced our reluctant teenager to join me at UUCP for a Sunday service. Unbeknownst to us, the youth of the congregation just happened to be leading the service that week. What a stroke of luck! And the theme that October Sunday? The youth were celebrating National Coming Out Day. Seriously. How perfect was that? I sat mesmerized as these brave teenagers shared deeply personal stories of coming out in myriad ways.
The self-described “jock” who wanted us to know that he was also a “theater geek”. The young girl from a working-class family, who admitted feeling intimidated by the wealth of her high school friends. The seemingly extroverted young man who told us he enjoyed nothing more than staying at home to read quietly in his room. The youth leader who “fessed up” to being straight, much to the surprise of her queer friends. And yes, several kids who shared that they were trying to figure out where they fit in the continuum of human sexuality.
I wept that day (much to the cringing embarrassment of my own teenager!). I cried tears of relief, realizing that my kid would finally have a safe and welcoming spiritual home. And I cried tears of joy knowing that my own long and winding spiritual journey had finally brought me to a community I could believe in.
About 18 months later our child left home for college and a journey of self-discovery that would eventually allow Laura to become Lucas. Lucas is now a mature, kind, and deeply grounded adult. But those 18 months as a member of the UUCP youth community made all the difference for him. It gave him the confidence to be himself; the deep comfort of knowing that wherever life might take him, he would always be welcome at Unitarian Universalist congregation.
And that is why I love UUCP.
~ Vincent Waldron
Editor’s Note:
Our regularly scheduled column, Notes From Your Dance Partner, will be on pause during Reverend Christine’s sabbatical. In its place, we’re excited to have a series of guest speakers who will be sharing their experiences at UUCP. NFYDP will return in August.