A friend of mine sent me an e-mail with a link to the below video:
Betty Butterfield visits a Unitarian Church.
Of course this is meant to be a sarcastic and humorous (of which it is, I had tears in my eyes). But it has caused me to think, and to think a lot about aspirations towards UU ministry. What do Unitarian Universalists believe? What do Unitarian Universalist ministers do?
I know, I know. There are the UU Principles, which I think most liberal minded people subscribe to regardless of whether or not they claim to be a Unitarian Universalist. There is also the "Living Tradition," which looks good on paper but is that really a "universal" within Unitarian Universalism? I've met too many Unitarian Universalists who are damaged goods when it comes to these Living Traditions, preferring only one aspect of the Living Tradition and discarding the rest. For example, when I was at UU "Leadership School" I wanted to do a guided meditation for the worship service our group was leading. I was asked by the chaplain of school to "be careful of my language" and perhaps "tone it down." I toned nothing down, and did it exactly as I had intended and it went just fine, but the point is that he was more sensitive to the atheists at the school than to the theists, again "preaching to the lowest theological denominator." Recently in my congregation a woman was highly offended because we had a speaker who said the word Jesus either once or twice, and that made the woman a "fundamentalists" (because she said Jesus). The woman was a United Methodist.
So I understand correctly. I'll need to get a Master of Divinity to preach officially within a Unitarian Universalist context. I've already conducted marriage ceremonies, funerals, and other rites of passage. I need that M.Div to be able to preach, since it doesn't seem Unitarian Universalists are prone to many rites of passage other than weddings and funerals -- which I have been doing for at least six years now. Instead of a Master of Divinity I wonder why the UUA the MFC doesn't simply require potential ministers to join Toastmasters and learn public speaking. I already have a decent understanding of theology, history, etc...
I'm a little frustrated right now, if thats not already evident.
I cannot think of doing anything else other than ministry or teaching, or both. Yet I find myself reading about how debt is a problem, internships unrealistic, more debt issues, and poor formation! Is this just a Unitarian Universalist problem, or do other denominations have this problem? I enjoy leading worship services/liturgy, I really like facilitating rites of passage, and I like teaching and conducting workshops/study groups.
I am digging really deep right now. I know I want to attend graduate school to pursue theological studies. What I am not sure about is whether I want to pursue ministry in the Unitarian Universalist Association. I need to ask myself, "Is it worth it." The Unitarian Universalist congregation I belong to is "lay lead" and I'm not sure they are going to be able to provide the support and guidance that I will need as I explore the possibilities of ministry within a Unitarian Universalist context. This is very frustrating to me.
I find myself moving closer and closer towards a more Christian-identified mindset, but I don't want to abandon my roots and I feel isolated spiritually. I know my wife would probably divorce me if I said I wanted to attend a Christian Church, not that there is even one out there that I feel comfortable with theologically. I am very happy in the "Independent Sacramental Movement," but that will not pay off my student dept or put food on the table. This sort of thinking forces me to think, "Is it about vocation and calling or about getting paid?" I don't want to be about money, but with my debt I need to be mindful of how I am going to pay back what I have borrowed.
In a couple of weeks I'll be attending Between the Worlds, an Alternative Spiritual Gathering for Gay and Bi men. I'm facilitating a workshop on Gnosticism and Freemasonry. Hopefully, BTW can be a time of prayer and reflection for me and I try to ascertain my place in the universe.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
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12 comments:
You’ve said so much in this posting it’s hard to know where to start. I sympathize with your frustration, and can relate to every worry you’ve expressed. I hadn’t realized that UU ministerial school was so pricey. It’s a shame that training should cost so much that ministers start out their career with massive debt, and not terribly good prospects of paying it off. Does one have to be independently wealthy to serve in this way? It seems wrong that it has to come down to the question of "Is it about vocation and calling or about getting paid?” But, ultimately, it does. Bills have to get paid; food has to be purchased. If one is constantly worrying about such things, how can one effectively minister to the flock?
>>What do Unitarian Universalists believe? What do Unitarian Universalist ministers do? <<
These words really struck me. My family and I belonged to a UU fellowship for close to three years. I met some wonderful people, and was very much at home with their liberal values and inclusiveness. But something was always missing for me. My teenaged son was the one to give voice to it. Raised pagan, he realized quickly that the fellowship lacked a meaningful mystical-spiritual spark. It felt dead to him. He appreciated the social values, thought the people were nice, but after a while refused to attend, as it was not fulfilling his religious needs. He said it was more like a club than a church; he wasn't into pulling himself out of bed on a Sunday morning for a social club.
Shortly after this we moved several miles away from the church, and the longer drive made it easier to justify staying in bed on Sunday morning. After a while we stopped attending altogether, and I found I really didn’t miss it much. I realize it’s different for everyone, but my son was right – it wasn’t fulfilling my religious needs either.
>>I find myself moving closer and closer towards a more Christian-identified mindset, but I don't want to abandon my roots and I feel isolated spiritually. I know my wife would probably divorce me if I said I wanted to attend a Christian Church, not that there is even one out there that I feel comfortable with theologically. <<
Aside from the divorce aspect, I can relate to this too, for a variety of reasons too lengthy to go into here. :(
I hope that the Gathering in a few weeks helps you gain clarity on your next steps.
Blessings to you....
I know a lot of graduate students with a lot of debt who are in fields that didn't guarantee a large income much less employment. Many go to grad school anyway because they love their particular field of study so much and are so driven to pursue it that they'll take the risk. A question I've found useful is: Would walking away from this path lead me to feel that something about my life is incomplete or missing? This question also helps when one is questioning completing one's degree, which is something all grad students think about at some point in the process.
You'll always be able to do ministry. The larger questions seem to be where, with who, and whether it will be your main source of income. As someone who serves in the ISM, there are advantages to not having my ministry be tied to my income. There are also disadvantages, but for me the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Hi David - Very interesting reflections as always. I'm sure you will post about the gathering, and I look forward to hearing about that. I'm in the same boat with Gabriel - for me, the benefits of not having ministry tied to my income significantly outweigh the problems and frustrations. But each person has to sort that out for her/himself, depending on the circumstances of life. I really appreciate you sharing your journey through these questions. Take care - John
Gabriel wrote: "You'll always be able to do ministry. The larger questions seem to be where, with who, and whether it will be your main source of income."
This is a very good insight, thank you. The main questions ARE where, with who, and how much. I'm not sure I like those questions, it doesn't seem honest or at least it doesn't seem genuine. Much to ponder.
John wrote: "... for me, the benefits of not having ministry tied to my income significantly outweigh the problems and frustrations."
In reflection, I cannot disagree. I found myself the "most" happy when I was doing "unpaid" ministry and serving a community or leading a ritual or facilitating a workshop. I guess I'm at a point where I wonder WHAT sort of job am I going to be able to get with religion degrees!
Well, with 3 degrees in religion, I've had several different jobs over the last 10+ years for non-profits and universities. It's all worked out well, thankfully.
Well, with 3 degrees in religion, I've had several different jobs over the last 10+ years for non-profits and universities. It's all worked out well, thankfully.
I thought about you right after I sent my comment. You've been inspirational to me in many aspects, perhaps I need to pay more attention to this. It does seem to have worked out well for you, makes me hopeful! Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting!
I think Gabriel is wise in pointing to the question of whether one would be leaving something undone in life, if a program of education was not undertaken or finished. This was very much a part of my decision to finish my PhD after a 7 year hiatus - even though I had no intention of pursuing a teaching job or academic career. I also had no intention of ever publishing anything - and then I met a small publisher by chance at a friend's house and he asked if he could read my dissertation.... So one never really knows where anything will lead. I just try to put one foot in front of the other, and see where it goes.
In terms of getting jobs - while I have not worked directly in the religious field, most of my employers have found my background interesting, and seem to be under the impression that it will make me "good with people." Not sure if that is really true!
Oh Dan, I really am sorry for your frustration and sense of church homelessness. At present American UU does seem to have excised its spiritual heart... But that doesn't mean it has never had one, or couldn't grow one again...
Or maybe we are here in all our frustration and longing to "envision the new church" in glorious diversity... grin
But on school dept and anti-lucrative degrees: When I finished my Ph.D. in the 80s, lifestyle acronym jokes abounded. In some article a writer referred to an "OINK" as "zero income no kids." So I began to call myself a "POINK": "Ph.D. zero income no kids."
But I don't regret the time or $ for my degree - even though I NEVER had a paying job in the field in which I got my degree. I had a one year post-doc @ the Smithsonian and then fled.
‘Course, every time I do get a decent paying job some whim or vision or what-have-you entices me off on a hare-brained new journey… And I don’t have a wife. So I'm not exactly a good role model.
Still, if your heart really calls you to seminary - UU or otherwise - follow. Let it be up to the spirit to then show why. Cool stuff really does happen when you live that way.
Cheers, Elena
opps, David, I am really in a fog on names today.
chagrinned, Elena
You know me very well and know who i am. All denominations are the same: high education costs, no money. I was at Methodist Seminary. No openings. The UCC wanted me. No tuition help. No openings. But, having said that, there is a Call to ministry. Preaching and ministering do come from the Spirit and if one doesn't follow that Spirit, one will always have a gnawing inside. The question is where can one explore the ocean that is theology. UU may be changing. I don't know.
You know me very well and know who i am.
I know exactly who you are :) Hopefully, I see you tomorrow!
UU may be changing. I don't know.
I think it might be changing. The future is a scary place. I'm sure I'll be frustrated, and worried many more times on my journey!
David,
You said, "I guess I'm at a point where I wonder WHAT sort of job am I going to be able to get with religion degrees!"
I've got a BA in biology and religion, an MA in Buddhist studies, and am ABD in Asian religion and philosophy. I occasionally think about UU seminary, though blogs such as yours remind me why I've yet to pursue that.
As for work, I'm a civil servant for a state university. I also teach a few classes at the local community college. I owe way too much in student loan debt, but after a while those big numbers just become a BIG NUMB. :)
Good luck to you through all these big decisions.
Cheers,
Jason the Typing Monkey
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