In this work, the church fosters relationships, keeps dialogue open, and finds and cultivates places of common ground and mutual growth. In my ministry, I seek to both create and maintain these relationships myself, and to help others in the congregation in establishing and building these relationships. I also believe strongly in our covenant across Unitarian Universalist congregations, and my ministry necessarily includes creating and/or strengthening these lateral relationships.
It is important to me that the life of the congregation speaks to and transforms the community it is in, whether through direct service, public witness, prayer, or other social action. To do this, we must create and strengthen partnerships, and form alliances with those in the immediate community who share our commitment to building Beloved Community.
In this work, the church fosters relationships, keeps dialogue open, and finds and cultivates places of common ground and mutual growth. In my ministry, I seek to both create and maintain these relationships myself, and to help others in the congregation in establishing and building these relationships. I also believe strongly in our covenant across Unitarian Universalist congregations, and my ministry necessarily includes creating and/or strengthening these lateral relationships.
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As with my relationship with lay leaders, I believe that the shared ministry of the church must be grounded in covenant. In professional leadership, this is tangibly expressed through a few key tactics. First, it is important that we commit ourselves to a covenant of right relations, refraining from unhealthy triangles and agreeing to lift up one another's work in our conversations within our own and other Unitarian Universalist congregations. Second, it is important that we have a clear sense of our respective roles and responsibilities, and that we each understand how our contributions contribute to fulfilling the mission of the congregation. Finally, the maintenance of these tools - covenants of right relations and clarity in role and responsibilities - must happen through routine trustful communication, through the business of staff meetings and phone calls, through sit downs and run-throughs. It is, as with everything, a practice.
We are partners in creating Beloved Community - which is not only the destination, but the path we walk in getting there. Our work together is grounded in covenant, and as a result, the health of our congregational relationships remain always the priority, more than achieving any particular outcome.
My ministry seeks to help each person imagine their service to the congregation as a part of their spiritual practice and faith development. There are not always clear problems or clear solutions, and so we must be creative and curious as we seek to understand and respond to the evolving and complex situations inherent to religious community. We must create space for questions, help imagine under-explored areas of inquiry, and hold space for what remains to be learned and examined as we move forward together as a religious community. This space is possible not only because of the relationships we hold within the congregation, but also because we are in relationship with other Unitarian Universalist congregations, and with the District staff. These partnerships ensure we remain aware of best practices and lessons learned from others, and remind us that none of us face these challenges on our own. |
"None of us alone can save the world, but together, that is another possibility, waiting." Author
Rev. Gretchen Haley is a Unitarian Universalist minister, mom, partner and friend, trying her best to love this beautiful, broken world. Archives
June 2015
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