Commitment – Rev. Fred Muir
Last week, I had a delightfully deep conversation with a long time member of the congregation. He hasn’t been around a lot and he wanted to make sure I knew he was still committed to UUCA, which had seen him through some personal challenges, turmoil, transitions and now “finding himself”. He was thankful for our support – our ministry to and with him – during several stages of his commitment.
“Stages of commitment”? Interesting that he popped into my office at this time of the year when there has been quite a bit of talk and reflection about commitment (as we bring closure to the 2015 fiscal year and plan for a new annual budget). By the way, part of his commitment to sustaining the ministry of UUCA is a generous financial pledge.
I’d never given much thought to “stages of commitment;” I’ve been more dualistic about it, as in you are either committed or not. Using the word “stages” gives a recognition to the complexity of commitment that I’d never fully acknowledged. This phrase urged me to see that while commitment doesn’t change and while the level of investment might not either, what can and often is altered is one’s perspective on commitment. It so happened that this conversation occurred the morning before the monthly Worship Lay Ministers meeting and another deepening conversation that gave further depth to this idea of stages.
My evening meeting’s focus was on spiritual identity (as described in an article by P. Alice Rogers at https://alban.org/archive/spiritual-identity-and-worship-planning/). She writes about the commitment church members make to a particular style of Sunday worship based on their personal 
spiritual identity. She says that there are four types of spiritual identity: mystic/contemplative, feeling/charismatic, thinking/intellectual, visionary/crusader. My experience tells me that on most Sundays, all four types are represented in the UUCA sanctuary. If you think that this poses challenges, you’re right! And here’s one of the reasons why:
While Unitarian Universalists talk about how diverse and accepting we can be and that this is a wonderful thing, just the opposite can happen too – and it occurs around spiritual identity and worship. Each member of our church could identify with at least one, maybe two, of the identities described by Rogers. And then to carry it further, some over-identify their spiritual identity with a minister, music, liturgy, theme – all of the variables of any Sunday 
morning. For example, someone might think that their spiritual identity is “this,” therefore they will only go to church when Rev. “Whoever” leads the service and they know – based on their preferences and projections – what all the other variables of worship will be. Hmmm. That doesn’t sound very accepting and diverse to me. Does it to you? While it might affirm a person’s dominant spiritual type, it does little to nurture the less dominant (and to show support for the whole congregation).
This is unfortunate, at least from where I sit. Unitarian Universalism has long preached – and I have too – that difference, diversity and variety are what can deepen us and ultimately contribute to making us complete persons. When someone narrows their relationships (that is, what/who they accept or reject as good or affirming for their spiritual ID) they are imposing limitations on themselves, tightening and shrinking their circle and who/what they let in.
At UUCA, we are blessed with three ministers (and an intern) who bring very different perspectives to our ministries based on age, sex, culture and 
experience. We’re lucky to have a diverse group of musicians who on any Sunday morning share their love of what they hear and do. Our congregation keeps changing in age and background – one Sunday can vary from the next. The opportunities to deepen as we walk together through the stages of commitment are many. Yet, I hope, the commitment to UUCA remains the same.
What a wonderful church we share. Let’s honor and sustain what we have created by naming and celebrating all the gifts and stages we bring.
Take care and see you soon,
Fred
