EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY

Ours is a shared ministry.  The word ministry, in its most ancient form, simply meant to serve.  The Universalist minister Gordon McKeeman claims that ministry is a quality of relationship between and among human beings that beckons forth hidden possibilities and that it is inviting people into deeper, more constant, more reverent relationship with the world and one another.  If we hold his words and the original definition of ministry to be true, ministry is to serve and bring forth the best in each other.

Defining ministry is easy; at least when we compare it with defining excellence.  In December 2008 the UUA convened a summit on Excellence in Ministry.  Ministers, educators, denominational and lay leaders were invited to reflect on the issues and challenges we face in achieving excellence in ministry.  The keynote speaker, Daniel Aleshire, Executive Director of the Association of Theological Schools, told the group that excellence was a hot topic among religious denominations and seminaries representing every theological perspective.  He said in his keynote address, titled The Tyranny of Excellence, “Being committed to excellence doesn’t make excellence into tyranny, of course. But if these many different schools, with their very different capacities, visions of the world, and strategies for theological education, can all use “excellence” as the descriptor of their identity, then it must have a very plastic definition. That is the tyranny. I have decided that “excellence” is one of those terms that everybody affirms because nobody knows what it means.”

We all know what mediocrity in ministry means.  Hopefully we have not experienced it very often.  But excellence, excellence is a little bit harder to define.   We known it when we see it.  Or in the case of ministry, we know it when we experience it.  When we connect with something greater than ourselves, when we are transformed by serving others, when we find meaning and purpose and when we create a world with more compassion and love.

The first lesson I have learned is that the mission and health of the congregation is the most important work and ministry that ministers and congregation members must be about. –.  One of your important tasks during this interim time is to reflect on and maybe even reimagine your mission.  Too often our congregations, ministers and religious professionals forget the mission of the congregation and focus too much on individuals and not enough on the health and well-being of the congregation’s mission.  This is one of the reasons that we have not grown as a religious movement and is one of our greatest causes of conflict in our congregations.  Ministers need the freedom and courage to challenge congregations into growing into living the mission of the congregation and congregations must expect their ministers and their members to pay attention to the mission of the congregation more than their own personal satisfaction. 

My colleague Julie Ann Silberman-Bunn says this well.  “A church is not a place where you are catered to and pampered.  Our congregations are religious communities, sanctuaries for those in need, safe heavens, and respites from the chaos of the world.  Churches neither expect nor guarantee satisfaction.”  Excellence in ministry and mission are not about satisfaction but they are about transformation - in ourselves, in our congregations, in our communities. 

Lesson #2 – A congregation must always remember they are both a sanctuary from the world and a sanctuary for the world.  Every congregation is first a place for people to come to heal, to rest, to connect with something greater than themselves.  The world is often a difficult place and we all need a place to come home to where we are known and loved for who we are and not what we do.  But once we find a religious community like this we must remember that we are not simply a sanctuary from the world but we are a sanctuary for the world as well.  Congregations spend far too much time dealing with internal challenges and issues and far too little time reaching out to the world.  A healthy congregation will not only have a care team for its members but will have a care team for the members of its community; a vibrant congregation will not only have a membership team to assist and integrate new people into the life of the congregation, they will also have a team and strategy for how to serve more people outside the doors of the congregation. 

Lesson #3– Congregational polity does not equal congregational isolation.  Too many of our congregations are isolated from connecting with our larger Association.   We are fortunate to inherit the free church tradition which put the locus of power and decision making in the hands of the congregation and not a denominational hierarchy.  Congregations ordain ministers, congregations set their budgets and raise the money to meet those budgets, congregations are their own organizations that are not required to be in relationship with anyone outside their doors.  Or are they?  Reaching out to another is at the core of the religious life.  Being in community with other congregations, other faith traditions does not only add new perspectives and learning to the congregation, it gives congregations the joy of serving and teaching someone else.  We did a lot of connecting and sharing with other congregations and faith traditions during my time here.  But there have been many transitions in this congregation and the other congregations in the area in the last five years and connecting with others is a difficult practice to maintain during transition.   I am hoping that I will see many of you at our 50^th anniversary celebration at General Assembly in Charlotte this June where you will experience the importance of connecting with others.

Lesson #4 – Remember that we are Universalists too.  In 1961 two religious traditions came together as one.  Our new name put the Unitarians in front of the Universalists and for most of our congregations Unitarianism is the primary theology and the main identity they carry.  We call ourselves Unitarians far more than Universalists.  In many of our congregations we seem to value the intellectual stimulation and rational debate of our Unitarian heritage far more than the heart centered passion and love of our Universalist faith.  But excellence in ministry, especially in the multi-cultural world of the 21st century, must speak to the body, mind and spirit.  Marlin Lavenhaur of All Souls in Tulsa Oklahoma, Senior Minister of one of the largest and most diverse congregations in the country, says he is not sure if Unitarian Universalism will survive the 21^st century - but he knows Universalism will.  If we truly want to be more diverse and reach out to more people with the saving message of our faith, Universalism will be far more attractive than Unitarianism.  Embrace mystery, redefine God, reimagine language and worship that unites and moves the heart and the head.

Lesson #5 – Covenant is not optional.  To build the beloved community and practice excellent ministry, we must make promises to each other about what we value and how we wish to be with each other.  We are a covenantal and not a creedal faith.  If we are to grow in our spiritual and emotional maturity we must agree on how we will be together.  Every thing does not go.  Being part of something larger than ourselves means that sometimes we must sacrifice something for the greater good. Covenants are not rules of behavior; they are promises about how we will be in relationship with another and how we wish to be challenged and comforted into being better selves and a better community.

Covenants – when done right – create and nurture trust; and trust, or rather lack of trust – is one of the shadow sides of Unitarian Universalism that quietly destroys the morale and connections of a congregation. We do not trust our leaders and our leaders are cautious to trust us.  Instead of assuming best intentions, too often we fear and criticize those who are paid and volunteer to lead us.

When we speak about the benefits of building and taking part in a religious community it is easy to get carried away with the ideals of what a community can be and forget the realities of how difficult building, and taking part, in a community is.  Nobody said that congregational life - or excellence in ministry would be easy.  But it is worth it.

Lesson #6 – Be more religious and be more spiritual.  To be religious - by definition - is to be bound together.  It is to be aware of the sacred and to be willing to manifest the holy more fully in our lives.  It means participating in a community and learning how to be guided and how to teach on the path of life.  Spirituality is a commitment to embracing and enhancing spirit – the breath of life.  Religion without spirituality is community, rules and tradition that become meaningless and even lifeless.  Spirituality without religion can become self-centered and bereft of connection and caring for the world around us.  

Lesson #7 – Spiritual practice is foundational to Unitarian Universalism and congregational life.  Spiritual practice is the regular act of doing something - hopefully every day - that connects us with the spirit, the sacredness, the joy, the depth that lives within and outside of us.  Ministry - and especially excellent ministry - demands we have a deep well to draw from.  Spiritual practice, drinking from the springs that quench our thirst, is essential.  Two fundamental spiritual practices are gratitude and generosity.  There are many ways to acknowledge and celebrate these two both in our lives and our congregations. People who are able to cultivate regular spiritual practice - whether that is singing, praying, meditating, writing, painting, exercising or hundreds more - seem to experience more peace, more joy.  Regular spiritual practice and sharing the fruits and techniques of that practice with others in your congregation should be an expectation of membership and if it happened would transform not only every life but every congregation as well.

Lesson #8 – Cultivate and develop leaders.  To practice excellent ministry, to create the beloved community, the congregation that transforms lives, that makes a difference in the lives of those in the larger community demands strong, compassionate, competent leadership.  Leadership development, training and support is not an optional practice it must be a fundamental priority of any congregation.  To serve in leadership, to assist and support your leaders, paid and unpaid, to spend money to make sure people get the best training they can is what every member and every minister needs to be committed to. It is not okay for nominating committees to have to ask 20 people to find one who will serve, it is not okay for congregations to elect members to serve on boards and not give them the skills and tools to be effective, it is not okay for religious professionals to not be held accountable to leadership and spiritual development plans and/or not being given the budget to do them right.

Lesson #9– Ministers are not your friends so treat them better than that.    The congregant/minister relationship is a unique one.  Intimate without being very close; formed in large part by past experiences and projections that have nothing much to do with who the minister really is.  Whoever you call next year to be your new minister, they will have some of the stuff that delivers excellence in ministry and so will you.   The challenge will be what will you do with and for each other to  bring out the best in both of you.  Shower your minister with gratitude and generosity and most importantly the gift of telling him or her your truth.  Don’t expect him to be your friend – do expect her to tell you the truth – as they see it – and not only the truth that will make you feel comforted all the time. Take a risk.  Give cards and presents even when it is not a holiday or birthday.  Be more generous and give more money so that your minister - and all your paid religious professionals - know you are as serious about this place as they are.  Expect him or her to want to be here for a long time because you believe in yourselves and because you are committed to creating a congregation that enables and supports excellent ministry in all its glorious forms. 

Good luck in your work.  I continue to be grateful that I had the chance to serve and love you and I continue to watch how you are doing.  May you know the peace, joy and transformation that ministry, especially excellent ministry, can bring.  May it be so.  Amen.