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Anniversay of the
Ordination of Jared Sparks 
May 5 is an important date in UU history and UU theology. The Reverend William Ellery Channing, serving the Federal Street Church (now the Arlington Street Church) in Boston, had become a strong spokesperson on the liberal side of the Unitarian Controversy about ten years into the debate. Before that time, the colonial churches of New England were united in fellowship with one another under "the Standing Order." This meant frequent pulpit exchanges, clergy participation in Acts of Ordination and, in times of conflict, lay leaders from neighboring congregations would assemble to hear all sides and offer guidance. While each congregation was independently governed, they took responsibility for one another's welfare and were mutually accountable to one another. But, by the beginning of the 19th century, clear theological differences were interfering with that historic relationship. The liberal theology had developed gradually, and was not seen as something revolutionary, but rather the natural result of increased study and appreciation for the true meaning of sacred texts. At the same time, few were interested in debating this emerging theology with their more orthodox neighbors. But in 1805 a strong competition came about between Calvinist and liberal candidates for the Hollis Chair of Divinity at Harvard and, when the liberal Henry Ware was awarded the seat, the Calvinists left to form their own Theological Seminary (Andover). Three years later, the Calvinist minister of a church in Dorchester, MA announced he would no longer exchange pulpits with liberal ministers. The practice quickly spread. It took the liberal clergy some time to publicly acknowledge this rift. Finally, in 1819, William Ellery Channing used the occasion of the ordination of Jared Sparks, in Baltimore, Maryland, to officially declare the now distinct community of liberal churches and specify how their theology differed from the conservative churches. At least 20 New England ministers made the trip with Channing, to assure that the nature of this occasion would be clearly understood by all. Copies of the sermon, Unitarian Christianity, became a best seller of the time, with more than 10,000 copies sold. And just six years later, the American Unitarian Association was formed. Most congregations went either to the left or the right, usually in accord with whether their minister was a graduate of Harvard or Andover, though the debate often returned at times of clergy turnover. The Calvinist churches would require members to be in agreement with doctrines about human nature, the nature of God (the trinity), and of salvation; the Unitarian churches insisted that their covenant embraces all who wanted to practice a Christian life in community. A few congregations fell apart due to the schism, while others remained united with dual loyalties. Today these are our federated congregations, with membership in both the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the UUA. Today would be a good day to read
that famous sermon which outlines five specific beliefs that
set Unitarian Christians apart from others. It ends with the charge to the
minister, followed with a charge to us all: "To all who hear me, I would say, with the Apostle, Prove all things, hold fast that which is good. Do not, brethren, shrink from the duty of searching God's Word for yourselves, through fear of human censure and denunciation." | ||||||
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The annual Honor Awards presentation is a favorite part of District Assembly. The nominations this year were very strong ones, and we are pleased to announce the winners to those who were not able to be at the event.
In addition we were pleased to award the Growth Awards to our Fresno congregation (with a net gain of 27 members), and Petaluma congregation (who increased its membership by 15.7%), and our Sermon Award to the Reverend Amy Zucker Morgernstern for her sermon, How to Be a Great Ally. Congratulations to all! | ||||||
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The evaluations of DA 2008 were as enthusiastic about the keynote and featured presentations of the Reverend Robert Latham and the Reverend Victoria Safford as were the ovations that each received. Now you can read these presentations on our website (click the names above), and see the text of the Resolution on Marriage Equality that was passed unanimously by our Delegates. Knowing we have a national readership, I encourage everyone to read these addresses-you won't be sorry. Henry Mollicone, Music Director for our Palo Alto congregation, will be awarded a 2008 Arts Council Silicon Valley Artist Fellowship at the end of this month. Henry's work is also on YouTube where the San Francisco Choral Artists sing his "National Weather Forecast," a playful creation performed at a meeting of the American Choral Directors' Association. Click the sidebar on the right ("more information" under "From: VideoBuck") to see the lyrics. Women & Religion will meet on Saturday, May 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at our Livermore congregation. All are welcome to the potluck lunch and program, Art Reflects Life. Bring an object of art that is meaningful to you, and stay for the business meeting in the afternoon. For more information contact Jeane Orjas. Congratulations to the Reverend Barbara Meyers, whose cable TV show, Mental Health Matters, has received the Alameda County Mental Health Board's Media Award for 2008. PCD Currents covered this show in our January 28 issue, now available on our website, and we can now listen to episodes of this show on the website of our Mission Peak congregation! Let's go to the prom - on Saturday, May 31, 5 to 10 p.m., at our Berkeley Church. Dancing to the sounds of the Jambalaya Jazztet playing favorites from the 30s, 40s, and 50s, a Moroccan inspired meal, fortune telling by Madame Leila, and more. For more information, contact Catherine McDonald at (510) 965-1646. Make your voice heard at Interfaith Lobby Day - join our UU Legislative Ministry and the California Interfaith Coalition for an informative, fun, and powerful day of training and speaking to legislators in Sacramento, on Tuesday, May 13. Early bird registration is available before May 6. The May 12 issue of TIME magazine is on newsstands now. It contains the second of two ads running in Phase II of the national marketing campaign, on page 48, by the article on the "100 Most Influential People in the World." The Reverend John Thomas, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, has posted a pastoral letter on the controversy surrounding the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the church's call for a sacred conversation on race. | ||||||
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