PeaceBang

Enchantment By Local Congregation: Why Would Christians Be Interested In UUism?

David asks a question about why Christians would choose to come to a UU congregation. My answer is simple: Why not?

But I know that will not satisfy my readers, so let me expound!!

First, I am a non-sectarian at heart who believes in Enchantment By Local Congregation. Every individual congregation –of any denomination –has its own energy, its own spirit, and its own mojo made up in part by its current membership and in part by its past. This energy is apparent at first visit to most even moderately sensitive people, which is to say that theology is only part of the reason people come to, and come back to, any church or fellowship.

I always say to seekers, “We hope you find a spiritual home here –that would be wonderful — but even more than that I hope you find a spiritual home somewhere because you clearly want one, and that desire is dear to God’s heart. If we don’t feel right for you, don’t give up until you find your home.”

Why do Christians come to a UU church? Maybe they dig our social justice commitments. Maybe they saw our rainbow flag. Maybe they’re inspired by the minister’s sermons. Maybe the community is just so loving that it doesn’t matter whether or not the congregation is populated by Bible-reading, Jesus followin’ Christians. (What assumptions are we making about “Christians” in the first place?) Maybe the religious education programs are awesome. Maybe the building is gorgeous and the music program inspiring. Maybe they have fabulous potlucks and show fascinating movies and have great conversations. Maybe they have the best Christmas Eve service in town, or the most consistently emotionally moving funerals. Maybe someone was friendly and caring to them when they called for directions to the autumn fair, or maybe their youth group rocks.

I think it’s fair to say that seekers look first for loving community and inspiring worship and don’t really learn about the specificity of theological tradition until quite a bit later. Does the average unchurched or garden-variety Christian really even notice right away that we’re not “exactly” Christian? We meet at the customary hour of worship, we sing hymns, we maintain a Protestant liturgical tradition, we have rituals like candles of sharing and chalice lightings, we hear a sermon, we receive the benediction, we have coffee hour. A seeker might notice, gee, they don’t talk about God a lot here, and I didn’t notice any Bible readings. But that would be secondary to “But wow, everyone welcomed me, I loved the music, the building is beautiful and obviously well-cared for, the minister’s message was thought-provoking, the prayers spoke to my soul, and I love that they include the children in worship.”

This is Enchantment by Local Congregation. It happens when we are living our values of love and inclusion, sharing our joys and sorrows as one people, walking by a covenant of compassion and faithfulness, and creating a beautiful ministry together. Unless a seeker is specifically avoiding Christianity or has been terribly wounded by some other denomination and has heard that the UUs “aren’t like that,” they’re quite likely to be a cultural Christian who was drawn to us because we were nearby, we had a nice ad in the paper or a good website, or someone they trust said we were a good church.

In my experience, this describes the vast majority of our visitors and new members. They aren’t specifically looking for the church of non-believers or the “religion for the non-religious.” In fact, the inherent contradiction of that position just confuses them (”Why would non-religious people come to church at all?” is the question I get all the time).

If we assume that Unitarian Universalism should primarily concern itself with providing a haven for wounded atheists or religion rejectors, then it certainly bears asking why Christians would affiliate with the UUs. If we assume that Unitarian Universalism is one of many rich religious options for thinking people who are reverent and hungry for community, yet skeptical of traditional doctrines, we’re describing the majority of American society today — many of whom are nominally Christian even if theologically Undecided, and millions more of whom should be finding a spiritual home among us.