The Many Facets of Ministry
To be a Unitarian Universalist minister is to assume the multi-faceted offices of liberal religious leadership: preacher, pastor, prophet, scholar, counselor, theologian, and teacher. Many of these roles overlap, but the “offices” themselves suggest the distinct ways a minister and congregation relate to each other.
Minister as Preacher
Designing worship, crafting and preaching sermons and conducting liturgy are, for me, key components of ministry. My sermon-writing weaves together ideas, questions and personal reflection, and the themes presented are related to and supported or inspired by other parts of the Service (readings, music, reflections, etc.). The sermon is not the answer, but to my mind is a carefully posed question or wondering that invites deeper understanding.
Minister as Pastor
The “pastoral” responsibilities of ministry are vital to our congregations: and includes three areas: Administration - “Shared ministry” is a hallmark of Unitarian Universalist congregations. As a minister I support the life of the religious community by encouraging and nurturing lay leadership. Leadership - And the minister is an essential member of the “leadership team” in supporting volunteers, empowering the congregation as a whole and helping prevent burnout. Community-Building - The community is founded on the span of generations that come together to worship, learn and grow together. Rites of passage (weddings; dedication and naming ceremonies; “coming of age” services; funeral and memorial services) are the traditions of community. These ceremonies mark our way through life's journey. Even when faced with a starkly tragic situation, this is the most sacred and awesome responsibilities I undertake as a minister.
Minister as Prophet
The Unitarian Universalist minister as Prophet offers an invitation to take on life fully. In preaching and working with committees and groups, the prophetic voice is sometimes heard in ideas heightened by exclamation points, and at other times it is a gentle whisper of encouragement or inspiration.
Minister as Counselor
Often called Pastoral Care, this is ministry at its most intimate, where stories and worries are shared. As confidant and counselor, I feel privileged to be allowed into a person's life, to be entrusted with his or her concerns or questions.
Minister as Theologian
Given our eclectic and diverse beliefs and attitudes with respect to the “God question”, the minister as Theologian is sometimes expected to be the arbiter of such disagreements. I believe that this “debate” puts our theological energy in the wrong place. So in my role as theologian, I seek to change the conversation and help people become confident in their own faith even as we deeply respect our theological differences and let the diversity enrich not only our conversations but our appreciation of life. It matters less what you believe about god, or Christianity or the soul or angels or heaven and more that we practice what our Principles preach, affirming both the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and the encouragement to spiritual growth.
Minister as Scholar
As a “scholar”, a minister honors the traditions of our Unitarian forbears, exemplified in the work and writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said the preacher should deal “out to the people his (sic) life, – life passed through the fire of thought."
Minister as Teacher
The Unitarian Universalist minister as Teacher is not one who instructs, but rather is one who seeks to educate – to lead out what is harbored inside. In religious education, we encourage people – children, youth and adults -- to name and test their beliefs. And the old saying is true: we never graduate from "Sunday School". Liberal religious growth and learning is a life-long process.
To be a Unitarian Universalist minister is to assume the multi-faceted offices of liberal religious leadership: preacher, pastor, prophet, scholar, counselor, theologian, and teacher. Many of these roles overlap, but the “offices” themselves suggest the distinct ways a minister and congregation relate to each other.
Minister as Preacher
Designing worship, crafting and preaching sermons and conducting liturgy are, for me, key components of ministry. My sermon-writing weaves together ideas, questions and personal reflection, and the themes presented are related to and supported or inspired by other parts of the Service (readings, music, reflections, etc.). The sermon is not the answer, but to my mind is a carefully posed question or wondering that invites deeper understanding.
Minister as Pastor
The “pastoral” responsibilities of ministry are vital to our congregations: and includes three areas: Administration - “Shared ministry” is a hallmark of Unitarian Universalist congregations. As a minister I support the life of the religious community by encouraging and nurturing lay leadership. Leadership - And the minister is an essential member of the “leadership team” in supporting volunteers, empowering the congregation as a whole and helping prevent burnout. Community-Building - The community is founded on the span of generations that come together to worship, learn and grow together. Rites of passage (weddings; dedication and naming ceremonies; “coming of age” services; funeral and memorial services) are the traditions of community. These ceremonies mark our way through life's journey. Even when faced with a starkly tragic situation, this is the most sacred and awesome responsibilities I undertake as a minister.
Minister as Prophet
The Unitarian Universalist minister as Prophet offers an invitation to take on life fully. In preaching and working with committees and groups, the prophetic voice is sometimes heard in ideas heightened by exclamation points, and at other times it is a gentle whisper of encouragement or inspiration.
Minister as Counselor
Often called Pastoral Care, this is ministry at its most intimate, where stories and worries are shared. As confidant and counselor, I feel privileged to be allowed into a person's life, to be entrusted with his or her concerns or questions.
Minister as Theologian
Given our eclectic and diverse beliefs and attitudes with respect to the “God question”, the minister as Theologian is sometimes expected to be the arbiter of such disagreements. I believe that this “debate” puts our theological energy in the wrong place. So in my role as theologian, I seek to change the conversation and help people become confident in their own faith even as we deeply respect our theological differences and let the diversity enrich not only our conversations but our appreciation of life. It matters less what you believe about god, or Christianity or the soul or angels or heaven and more that we practice what our Principles preach, affirming both the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and the encouragement to spiritual growth.
Minister as Scholar
As a “scholar”, a minister honors the traditions of our Unitarian forbears, exemplified in the work and writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said the preacher should deal “out to the people his (sic) life, – life passed through the fire of thought."
Minister as Teacher
The Unitarian Universalist minister as Teacher is not one who instructs, but rather is one who seeks to educate – to lead out what is harbored inside. In religious education, we encourage people – children, youth and adults -- to name and test their beliefs. And the old saying is true: we never graduate from "Sunday School". Liberal religious growth and learning is a life-long process.
