Message from our Minister

January 2003

"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage -- pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically -- to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'"
-- Stephen Covey

What ‘yes’ is “burning” inside you? I believe that God is calling us to let go of our “good” for our “better” - calling us into greater demonstration of the love energy, that God-stuff that we are all made of. What does that look like, sound like and feel like for you?

This month we are working on several avenues at the same time. We’re developing a Vision, Mission, and Values statement, gathering information from the congregation as we develop our Church Vacancy Packet and setting our 2003 Intentions - all of which will be affirmed by the members during our Annual Meeting, January 26th. During our Sunday morning celebrations we will be exploring Unity Beliefs and Practices and discussing “Unity Alternatives” during the week. And after the potluck luncheon on the 19th, I will offer “Getting to Know Unity”, an orientation to history and development of the Unity Movement and this local church.

All of this is part of the exciting process of deciding Who We Are and Who We Are Not - attempting to clarify for ourselves how we desire to do - what we do. One of the questions that seems to be surfacing is what is membership and why would anyone desire to be a member.

When I think of membership in Unity - I remember a line from the Membership ceremony, “Membership is an outward symbol of an inward process, a commitment to your spiritual growth using the principles taught by Unity.” Yes, there are agreements and some requests and privileges that go along with that level of affiliation. And for some, there may be some concerns, expectations and fears that get triggered as well because of previous experiences with other churches.

I believe there is great value in becoming a member, it strengthens all of us. And at the same time, I respect your choice on how you choose to show up. During a recent Board of Trustees meeting, we talked around the table what membership meant and why we would, at times, request that only those who are members to be involved with some levels of service within the organization. Two powerful statements (for me) came out of that session Membership is:

• First about making a conscious choice to become committed to your own spiritual growth as demonstrated by others who have gone before us in the Unity Way.
• Secondly, it’s about making a long-term commitment to support this organization as we explore and develop.

Now, membership isn’t the only way to show commitment or a conscious choice. But it is the way that we within the organization have already decided that we will use to measure commitment, intention and willingness to integrate Unity Principles before we ask people to be involved in the leadership of our church.

Does that mean we don’t want people to be involved who choose not to become members? No, we respect your choice and value the time, energy, and support (financial and every other way) you give by showing up at Unity and in fact: Unity would not be the same without you! You are vitally important to us! We want to inspire, model and empower you to get your own spiritual needs met through the strategies of your choice. And when and if you are ready - we’d love for you to choose to step up to membership. And at the same time we’re a membership organization and will reserve some areas of service, responsibility and leadership to those who choose to participate through membership.

I hope that sharing my thoughts will contribute clarity to this discussion and I look forward over the next few weeks to the opportunity to dialogue more about this and other Unity topics with you! Let’s talk and explore who we are and who we are not!

Blessings, dear one,
Reverend Marylou Palmer