Tuesday, March 5, 2019

At church on Sunday - The future of Universalism

At church on 02/24/19, Rev. Lane Campbell and Rev. Michelle Yates presented some thoughts on the future of Universalism over the next 20 years.

What will Universalism be like in 20 years by 2039?

Rev. Lane and Rev. Yates discussed three questions. The first of which is What will Univeralist theology be like in 20 years?

Here is what Rev. Yates offered:

I think we spent most of our history as Universalist thinking about what happens after we die,  our universal salvation, but I think in the next 20 to 50 years we're going to be really focusing more on now.

If we are all loved, if we are all important, then what does that really mean in having a lived faith?

I certainly have seen this in the past 10 -  20 years. I feel like when I was young, as a universalist, you know, it's kind of like we did our own thing in our church but the the level of activism, and of looking inside, and seeing that we missed it on that one. You know, we need to do better on this.

We need to show up for that. We need to live this belief that everyone is important, and should be included, in better and better ways. It is really going to come to the forefront of our lives and of our faith communities and what we do.

This section runs from 01:40 - 02:58

3 comments:

  1. Is she saying that we have to be more inclusive and enhance our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all people? Universal salvation is not just for after we die, but needs to be recognized, acknlowledged, and acted upon now by widening the circle until it includes everyone. As the bumper sticker says, "God bless everyone. No exceptions."

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was taught as a Roamin Catholic that my body was the temple of the Holy Spirit. After 60 years, I learned that this is wrong. The temple of the Holy Spirit is relationships. UUs know this and they practice it with their covenant. Rev. Yates idea that the future of Universalism will be in strenthening the experience of the covenant in the here and now is right on the money.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is in joining with one another that holiness can be found. This was Jesus' promise when He said, "Where two or more are gathered together in my name, there I will be." Jesus was not being egotistical and insisting that people gather to praise him, but rather that they gather together to recognize and acknowledge the spirit of Loving one another that He taught and represented. It is this cosmic consciousness that we all are One that is the future of Universalism and this practice of the covenantal relationships affirming and promoting the seven principles which are the key to the future of UU.

    ReplyDelete

Print Friendly and PDF