I have such respect for the friends and colleagues who continue to invest energy and love in our United Church of Christ. It's a strange and difficult time for denominations and institutions: the earth beneath us is shifting all the time, and the crevices created intimidate us all. How grateful I am for the servants who recognize the urgency of congregational life and denominational mission! In an era of shrinking budgets, it can seem that our vision is diminished and our capacity limited. But the remarkable leaders in our UCC see so much more than this: they see God's hand moving among us, and they hear the breaking of hearts near and far, and they perceive the dynamic call God is singing and whispering through our churches and leaders. I'm so amazed by them all.That group is leading our people into this week's General Synod, innovative and online for the first time ever.
As tonight's opening worship evolved, I was so moved to see and hear the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis bring the word and deliver the good news to the church. Dr. Chavis' story--grounded in the Civil Rights Movement, and shaped by commitment to the intersection of race and ecology--is a celebration of the UCC's values. Even more, it's a testimony to UCC leaders--real, embodied women and men who mentored Dr. Chavis and inspired him and brought out his courage and creativity in social justice movements across decades.
