PeaceBang

Like-Minded?

Over the years I’ve heard various Unitarian Universalists say that they appreciate our congregations for the opportunity to be with “like-minded” people. There’s nothing wrong with that; it’s only human to want to share community with people whose values we share.

But lately I’ve been thinking that I’m not sure that we’re necessarily as “like-minded” as we assume. I think, in fact, that we’re just as prone to enforced conformity as the next community, and that there’s a whole lot more diversity of perspective, opinion and belief than most of us are aware of. What I mean is, while we wring our hands about the lack of racial and “class” diversity in our congregations (I’m using quotes there because I’m not exactly sure what I mean by class, but I know it’s a huge and real issue among us), there are many other kinds of genuine diversity among us that have yet to be plumbed and brought out.

Theology. Class. Values. Economic realities beyond the surface (”everyone has a big house” — “everyone has a nice car” — no they don’t, and some who do are using credit cards to buy groceries and prescriptions. Some who drive old beaters and are wearing moth-eaten sweaters are living in beautiful homes they own free and clear and have no debt — you can’t necessarily tell who is “of means” by exteriors). Politics. Thoughts on the market economy. Parenting practices. The gender wars. Our experience of various “isms.” My curiosity about the way individuals in the faith community think about these things — and I mean really think– their unvarnished thoughts– increases all the time. Because my expectations for the faith community are shifting a bit. Where I used to think we should be doing deep inner work that would equip us to go out and save the world, I am now starting to think that maybe just learning how to abide with others in a spirit of appreciative inquiry and even love is the best training ground for all the challenges of the world. I’ve been fussing with myself about how to offer more opportunities for spiritual practices at our church and it’s dawning on me that just learning how to be in community in this contentious world IS a spiritual practice.

I suspect that small group ministries are doing the best job in our UU congregations in providing the space and time for the sharing of those deeper diversities I just referenced. Am I right? Does anyone want to testify for small group ministries here?