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The United Methodist Church has just affirmed their “Traditional Plan,” which refuses to allow same sex marriage or the ordination of queer ministers. Extensive child sexual abuse was recently exposed in the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the world. Long patterns of abuse of nuns by Catholic priests have come to light.

This has been another tough season for institutional religion.

As Unitarian Universalists, how should we respond? How should we feel? How do we feel?

As a denomination, we have been leaders in affirming and celebrating marriage equality. AND our support for trans and genderqueer UU’s is still a work in process. Just look at the awkward language of our restroom signage (“Women, and Those Who Identify”).

Few UU ministers have been accused of sexual misconduct, but enough have to make righteousness impossible to claim. One UU minister was convicted of child sexual abuse just a few years ago. Only one, but still…

Even on the issue of marriage equality, some of you may not know that the Hungarian Unitarian Church (in Hungary and Transylvania) continues to hold the doctrine that marriage is a sacrament possible only between one man and one woman. We need to remember that disappointing fact before we condemn the United Methodists.

I find myself sad and disheartened by the failures of organized religion. I believe, with Dr. King, that when the church is doing its job it should serve as a moral beacon for society. He called on the church to be a headlight pointing toward Beloved Community, not a taillight pointing to past shortcomings.

I find myself sad, understanding why so many refuse to identify with any church, why so many describe themselves as spiritual but not religious.

I find myself sad and frustrated that human sexuality, the lived truth that all humans share, is immobilizing the voice of faith when the oppressions of racism and poverty and the reality of climate change cry out to be addressed.

I find myself sad and frustrated but I try not to allow myself to remain in those places.

I find myself hoping…and praying…that more of organized religion will claim a moral voice, not in defense of old patterns, but to support the development of new hope in this hurting world.

I find myself resisting the urge to righteousness that would pretend our faith is without blemish. There is too much work to do for us to allow ourselves to engage in false pride.

Perhaps this short poem will speak to you, as it spoke to me, this morning as I read the reports of the United Methodist decision:

The Place Where We Are Right by Yehuda Amichai (trans. By Stephen Mitchell, Adapted)

From the place where we are right
Flowers will never grow
In the spring.

The place where we are right
Is hard and trampled
Like a yard.

But doubts and loves
Dig up the world
Like a mole, a plow.

And a whisper will be heard in the place
Where the ruined
House once stood.

Blessings,

Bill