Thank you for inviting me to share some of the thinking I have been going through over the past couple of months in regards to my religion and my politics. Today I hope to share a bit of my personal history, questions, and to let you all know there are members here that are quite special, encouraging me through this expedition to find a religious home here at Community Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio. A special thanks to Joan Bradshaw and Phyllis Katchik for having respectful and inspiring dialogues over these past couple of months and Henry Hallf for reminding me that in order for me to be understood and heard, I must get up and say what is on my mind. Hi, my name is Patty Gullick. As many of you know, I have three children-Michael 9, Micaela almost 8, and Maggie who is 3. We have been attending this church for almost 2 years.
My sermon is entitled, Can I be a conservative and be a member at CUUCSA? My sermon is not can I be a Unitarian Universalist. I am a UU. I have considered myself a UU for many years. However, I have not signed the membership book. As of late, I have been asking myself why this is important to me. . .signing the membership book. What does it change? Why haven't I done it before?
Let me start from the beginning. I grew up in a liberal home. My mom was Catholic and my dad, agnostic. I was raised Catholic. At around 13, I began attending John Carroll, a catholic high school. I learned there what it means to be Catholic--the dogma, the rules, the meaning behind Catholicism, and the belief in the trinity. It was an eye opener. Every day I dreaded but at the same time looked forward to Father Ken and I going head to head. My husband calls me a masochist. I think he might be right. Overall, my parents understood my frustrations with the church and were supportive. My dad said to my mom. . .. Mickey, I agreed our children would go to church while they lived with us, I know that is important to you -- but we never actually specified which one. From then on, it was my dad's job to take me to visit other churches. We visited many places of worship: Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, Quaker, you name it. One day, we visited The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County, in Bel Air, Maryland. I finally found a home. This church, this faith, provided a place and opportunity for me to explore what God meant to me. I asked questions about what I valued, what I supported, what I believed. At the time, it was a small membership, very similar to this church. I was about 14 or 15. For me, I realized that understanding God was an evolving and lifelong process. I did not have to throw away all that I had grown up with. . .in the UU church I was encouraged to continue asking questions in a supportive community. Over the years, my relationship with UU has pretty much remained the same. On forms that I fill out asking my religion, I always state UU, it was very important for me to be married by a UU minister, and I have attended services on a regular basis. However, I doubt that anyone would know my name at the various churches I have attended. For those who know me, they would find that odd. I'm not the kind of person who stays for years on the fringe of anything. When I do it, whatever "it" may be. . . I don't just step in it. It's more like a plunge. In fact, that is true of my husband, Richard and me even though at times we drive each other crazy with our own pet projects.
Over the past year or so, my husband, Richard and I have been having an ongoing conversation with our children not so much about religion but more about this sense that we both have of giving it your all. They are at an age where they are beginning to make their own commitments. When you do something, you should give it your best, do it with heart and soul, be it swim team, soccer, school, guitar lessons. . . I hear myself say. . Then, at the last welcoming of new members, my kids asked me why haven't we gotten up like that? Are we members of this church? I struggled to answer them and in my mind, my answer seemed feeble. Then it hit me. . .it hit me very hard. Am I giving what I have to give in my church? Well. . .quite honestly no! I began some soul searching--why have I stayed sooo long on the sidelines? As I said earlier, it's not my nature to just hang out. Well. . .for those of you who don't know me very well, which is most of you. . . my political leanings are conservative even though I really hate to put myself in any camp. I do believe in small government and personal responsibility. My feeling is, the larger the institution, the greater possibility for corruption and greed to influence decisions. I believe that except in rare instances, the nature of capitalism has made the United States a place where people are given the ability to make choices; overall creating opportunity for more people. This point of view is in opposition to the view of many Unitarian Universalists. In UU, the liberal political point of view permeates its being. In my soul searching that is o.k. It is ok because in the scheme of things, what you or I believe in theology, economics, or politics in not what is so important. What is important to me is that what I say I believe is reflected in the way I interact with my family, my community, and my world. So, all of this politics isn't a bad thing. . .political action is in fact one avenue for Unitarian Universalists to express and live their faith. However, as a UU conservative, I would like to feel that my political orientation isn't at odds with this church or, at least, not reason for me to feel alienated. After reviewing the sermons of the past year, here at CUUCSA I heard a variety of sermons which enlightened me in regards to our faith, ranging from Emerson to Jesus to Beltane and all sort of other stuff in-between. However, political sermons are one-sided and for me at times inflammatory. . .Celebrating Choice, Is there Common Ground? How would Jesus Vote?--to name a few. In order for people to honestly seek truth, be it religion or politics, they need to hear and see different perspectives. The most UU's are politically liberal, the assumption that ALL Unitarian Universalists are liberal in their political thinking is not welcoming, nor is it consistent with UU beliefs, as I understand them.
In the early spring, I voiced my concern to Henry Hallf, the chair of CUUCSA membership. Henry encouraged me to keep coming to church, to participate in any way that would make sense to me. There would be a place for me here. After a few weeks I began, understand what Henry was saying. I decided to hand Henry Halff my membership form but as usual was running late. I decided to hand it to him as soon as the service was over. I sat down and began to listen. I don't remember everything that was said, but I remember the children's story about the evil wizard and a little girl trying to make change and not being able to because of the evil wizard. Well, the children left and the service continued. . .guess who the evil wizard turned out to be??? Pause Of course. . .the conservatives. . .the Republicans. Well, after the service, it was lunch--my daughter loves to have lunch here, so we HAD to stay. Everyone was having small chitchat. The people I sat with were discussing the sermon and its merits. I could only stew. Can I tell you how much I wanted to run out of there? Before I left, Henry saw me and knew I wouldn't be handing him my membership application that day. He assured me that if I shared my thoughts, they would not put me in the camp of "evil wizard". He timidly asked would I be willing to prepare a service with him? Oh my gosh. . .what to say---I said sure, not thinking after that sermon there'd be a chance in hell that I'd be standing here today. Looking back to that day, which was only a month or so ago--I am glad for the quirky gifts I received that day although, as is often the case, I did not understand it at the time. I thank goodness I didn't find my voice that day to speak my mind right there and then -- I would have spit fire. I was given a gift of time and opportunity. That day I made a decision Ð it was time for me to speak my mind or stop attending CUUCSA. From that moment on, I made a conscious effort to participate in events other than the worship service--to quit being an attendee. Up until today, my feet are still barely wet. However, coming here and speaking to you today is the plunge. I am excited by my change of thinking because for me coming to CUUCSA on a regular basis inspires me to be a better person. I am encouraged to explore a diversity of ideas in relationship to what God means to me. This faith helps me teach my children to know and define God for themselves. I am constantly renewed by the challenge UU sets forth--the challenge to make my world better for my children and future generations.
Statistically, the UU population is dying according to Davidson Loehr, minister of the First UU church of Austin, Texas. Membership is declining in a huge way across this nation. Many of you may say, I don't care. . .I need to believe what I believe and I won't change my faith. I would never ask such a thing! I am asking you to live up to your faith! I am asking you to be more inclusive, more welcoming to conservatives. . .welcoming to my family and me. I want to thank you for asking me to share my voice here on the pulpit. In conclusion, I would like to quote The President of the UUA, William Sinkford. He reminded all Unitarian Univeralists in a Pastoral Letter that Unitarian Universalism is liberal religion, not liberal politics. Our congregations need to be religious homes where the reality of joy and grief, certainty and uncertainty, can be present.