Put WHICH Christ back in Christmas?

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the contemporary progressive theologian Richard Rohr, but I've referenced him several times in addresses. His book Falling Upward is one of the best things I've read on the problem of suffering in years, and has been widely touted as a modern spiritual classic. 

He's Christian, of course. Well, nobody's perfect...

Actually, his progressive Christology is the truest Christology, and one UUs could get behind if they wanted to--namely, that there is a place at the Divine table for everyone, Jew, Roman, Gentile, Greek, saint, sinner, leper, thief,...you name it. The only type of person Jesus didn't have time for were..…(dramatic pause) hypocrites. Those who espouse high ideals or religious wisdom that they do not put in practice, or indeed even try. 

That radically inclusive ethos is, of course, a political statement, for it stands in stark contrast to the familiar political expedience of "othering", which should be all too familiar in the 21st century to anyone paying any attention. Greenies. Boomers. Inner-city elites. Bogans. Socialists. Fascists. Refugees. "The Gays". Pick your demonizing label, and kick'em to the curb. Or out. This is the opposite to a true following of Jesus--pretty ironic in what they keep reminding us is a "Christian country".

If we UUs are to be a church, rather than a cozy social club of like-minded folks, we are going to need to focus on embodying our progressive principles rather than merely espousing them.  Living our principles in the world, not just in church, will therefore have a political dimension. 

…and at the word 'political' some of you reading this will have begun to see red. Well, that's tough.

A wiser, better known, and more respected theologian than me, Richard Rohr writes:

 "But you know what? There is no such thing as being non-political. Everything we say or do either affirms or critiques the status quo. To say nothing is to say something: The status quo—even if it is massively unjust and deceitful—is apparently okay. From a contemplative stance we will know what action is ours to do, which words we are called to say, and how our spirituality must be fully embodied in our political choices."

Our recent CHS oration had a political dimension. Was it necessary? Yes, in that humanity has not YET murdered the planet we all inhabit, but the status quo is apparently okay. Certain governments and billionaires seem determined to smother it in the quest for their personal profit and therefore the power to escape the worst consequences of smothering it. It is impossible to uphold our 7th principle and be utterly 'non-political'.

Federal Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young giving this year's Catherine Helen Spence Oration on Climate Change

Our recent Feast and ITDoR services had a political dimension. Were they necessary? Yes, in that the non-heteronormative are STILL systemically marginalised, demonised, and disappeared in our culture. In reflexively conflating homosexuality with paedophilia, for example, or in not teaching about the nuanced differences between gender and sex, we still live in a world where sexual binaries are the status quo--you're either gay or straight, man or woman. It is impossible to uphold the 1st principle and be utterly non-political.

Adelaide QWIRE making a joyful noise at our recent FEAST service

And I'm sorry to say it, but Christmas too is political. Muslim, Jew, Atheist, Hindu and Pastafarian--you name it--are required by the status quo to reinforce the privileged cultural hegemony of Christianity, by having to bow in reverence to the annual telling of this elaborate fairy tale of shepherds, angels, wise men, knowing animals, and a magical baby. I'm not sure what principle this violates, but if we uphold Jesus as actual God, we are probably in the wrong church. 

Political too is this: that if Jesus' politically charged teachings of radically inclusive love were good, then it doesn't matter whether he lived or not, let alone what the circumstances of his birth MIGHT have been. Let's put THAT Christ, the progressive, political Christ, back in Christmas.

Is church done? Or has the world become church?

Getting out more beyond the walls of the UCSA community this year as a part-time school chaplain has confirmed something I’ve been suspecting for years now. 


A key reason church-going is declining as a cultural practice is that church no longer exclusively provides a platform for people’s faith development or faith engagement (if you don’t like the word ‘faith’, read: ‘values’). The world is now church, and so you no longer need a church for things like these that are out there in the world everywhere you look:

• ·       If you want to learn theology, or consider it more deeply or widely, you can find more free material online than any Minister could offer in a thousand carefully-wrought sermons.
• ·       If you want to work for social justice, you join Amnesty or XR, and organise and get out on the streets.
• ·       If you want to comfort those afflicted by age, infirmity, poverty, etc., you volunteer to help any of the many charitable organisations that do so.
• ·       If you are struggling and want spiritual support, you call Beyond Blue or get a mental health plan from your GP and go see a professional counsellor.
• ·       If you want to get buried, married, or have your new bambino welcomed into the world, there are 3,000 civil celebrants in SA alone who would be happy to provide the service at reasonable fees.
• ·       If you want to ‘make a joyful noise unto the Lord’, there are any number of choirs or PubSings you can join.
• ·       If you want lively intellectual debate, you can audit a philosophy course at a local Uni, who’ll do it better.
• ·       And it goes without saying that if all you want are new friends, taking part in any of the above intentional communities will put you in touch with plenty of like-minded people. 

So why come to a church? Has church devolved into a mere identity marker, just a way of labelling yourself with a religious association (and you can always take your pick of them)?


What can OUR church offer that is both broadly appealing, needed, and unique to church itself? Trying to be all the above to all people probably can’t work for lack of resources, and would yield a watered-down product even if you succeeded. An inadequate version of all the above engagements won’t do, will it? 

In what can we SPECIALIZE and offer QUALITY?

Answers on a postcard, please.

How do you think this ally went?

Recently, I received an out-of-the-blue email from a Year 12 student. I might have legitimately said: "Get lost, I'm busy". But it seemed strangely urgent to answer their questions...er, straight.

Dear Minister of the SA Unitarians,

I am a year 12 student at Nazareth Catholic College, and I am currently undertaking my Religious Studies external task, in which I have decided to focus on the acceptance of transgenderism in the church. I believe your church would be a great source for me and was wondering if you would be able to answer a few questions in this area of focus to help with my research.

Below I have attached some questions in hopes to gather some feedback for my studies, by which I am hoping I can reference in my research.

1. Could you outline for me, your church teaching on transgender individuals?
2. Do you believe one’s gender, in particular, transgenderism, affects a person’s relationship with God?
3. From your experience, how accepted have transgender individuals been in their religious community?
4. What does the Bible allude to in terms of instructing transgender individuals, and how does this reflect on the dignity of the human person?

I hope to hear back from you soon. Thank you for your time.

Kind regards

XXXX

Obviously, I was going to need to 'speak their language' somewhat. So here's what I said:

Hi XXX,

Thanks for getting in touch. You've chosen a very interesting and important topic contemporary religions need to deal with. I'll try to deal with these succinctly here, but am open to further questions/discussion on them. Don't hesitate to get back in touch if anything needs clarifying or more info. Well done, you. And good luck!

Could you outline for me, your church teaching on transgender individuals? 

First, that transgender individuals, like all God's children, are evidence of the diversity of his creation and are individuals with inherent worth and dignity, just as anyone else is. Second, that transgender people are systemically socially and politically marginalised, demonised, and misunderstood, so we are called as people of faith to welcome, affirm, and support them. This is entirely consistent with the ministry of Jesus and the Christian tradition.

Do you believe one’s gender, in particular, transgenderism, affects a person’s relationship with God?

In the transcendent reality of God's eternal and unbounded love, gender is irrelevant. From a transgender person's point of view, they may FEEL as though they are less worthy (or sinful or whatever), and it is that socially-learned misperception that church community exists to challenge, confront, and dissolve.

From your experience, how accepted have transgender individuals been in their religious community? 

They are fully accepted in ours, and ours is the only community I can speak with any first-hand authority about. We have had two transgender individuals 'come out' in our worship services in the past couple years, and they have found a warm and welcoming home here.

What does the Bible allude to in terms of instructing transgender individuals, and how does this reflect on the dignity of the human person?

I'm not sure I understand this question, as I'm not sure the Bible addresses the issue explicitly. In general, we do not see the Bible as divine dictation, and therefore not the one single, infallible source of every answer for every question. We believe those who think of it as such are confusing the wine with the wine bottle. This may be hard for Christians to hear, but Unitarians are in fact a post-Christian faith tradition, interested in getting to the essence of faith beneath the dogma of text and tradition, and we use many sources of wisdom to do so.

Yours in faith and service,

Even as a hetero-normative cis white male, I like to think of myself as a good ally to the LGBTQi+ community, but seldom feel sufficiently 'woke' to address why in terms of religious faith. I wonder if any of you could suggest how I might have answered these questions better from our UU principles?

It's about time everybody watched this one again.

Fighting a full-on dose of Influenza, I managed to croak out the last ANZUUA worship service in October 2017. As the Ministry of our church enters a period of transition, it is time to revisit its main points again.

You can't see the screen in the video, but these are the questions referred to at a certain point:

1.Will small and struggling church be the new default?

2.What would churches that buck the trend look like?

3.Can online engagement replace/supplement physical co-presence?

4.To what degree will online engagement encourage consumerism, ‘iChurch’ of personal preferences? What of community-building?

5.What happens to U-vangelism, discipleship, pastoral care, RE, and  mission with decreasing attendance/affiliation?

6.What is the future of professional ministry and leadership?

(Readings by the excellent Barbara Willow.)