EVENT: 2016 0623 SERVICE OF THE LIVING TRADITION 0737 PM EST CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY: HEAR INK http://www.hearink.com PHONE: (314)427‑1113 **********DISCLAIMER********** THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROM THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE. THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD. TO DO SO IS AN EXTRA FEE. THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION. THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE COPIED OR DISSEMINATED TO ANYONE UNLESS YOU OBTAIN WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OFFICE OR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS PROVIDING CART CAPTIONING TO YOU; FINALLY, THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE USED IN A COURT OF LAW. **********DISCLAIMER********** >> PLEASE BE SEATED. >> WELCOME. WELCOME TO THE 55TH SERVICE OF THE LIVING TRADITION. WELCOME REMEMBER TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE PRESENT HERE IN COLUMBINE BUS AND TO THOSE OF US JOINING US VIRTUALLY FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND ACROSS THE WORLD. WELCOME TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE MINISTERS THAT WE HAVE LOST THIS YEAR AND WE ARE REMEMBERING TONIGHT WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR FAITH WERE MANY AND SPLENDID AND STRONG. WELCOME TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ATTENDING GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. AND WELCOME TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE JOINED US IN THIS AFTERNOON CELEBRATION OF WHO WE ARE AS A PEOPLE OF FAITH AND WHO WE ARE CALLED TO BECOME. WELCOME TO THE MINISTERS, THE MUSICIANS, AND THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED VARIOUS MILESTONES IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIVES. THOSE OF I JUST BEGINNING, THOSE IN THE MIDDLE, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WINDING UP LONG CAREERS FOR WHICH WE ARE IMMENSELY GRATEFUL. WELCOME TO OUR UU LAY LEADERS, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO SUPPORT AND SHARE THIS CALLING CALLED MINISTRY. WELCOME TO THE YOUTH AND THE YOUNG ADULTS AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY. TEACHERS OF TODAY WHO INSPIRE US WITH YOUR COMMITMENT. WELCOME TO OUR INTERNATIONAL GUESTS AND OUR INTERFAITH GUESTS AND THE MEMBERS OF OUR MILITARY, OUR VETERANS, THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WELCOME TO ALL RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS, LAY DELEGATES, AND PRESENTERS. PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE RECENT EVENTS, THE ORLANDO MASSACRE, THE MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE IN THE BROCK TURNER TRIAL, THE RECENT ANNIVERSARY OF THE SHOOTING IN CHARLESTON, IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH ONE ANOTHER AS WE WORK TOGETHER AND HOLD FAST IN OUR HEARTS THE DREAM OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY MADE REAL. I WANT TO GIVE A PARTICULAR SHOUT‑OUT TONIGHT, AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN DOING THIS, TO OUR MINISTER IN ORLANDO, THE REVEREND KATHY SCHMITZ. [APPLAUSE] REVEREND SCHMITZ IS JOINING US ON STREAMING FROM FLORIDA TONIGHT. SHE OPTED NOT TO COME GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO ATTEND TO HER COMMUNITY AND HER CONGREGATION, ALTHOUGH I NOTICE THERE ARE SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM ORLANDO HERE, AND WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, FOR YOUR INTERFAITH COMMUNITY, FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS, AND ALL WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE TERRIBLE EVENTS THERE. THANK YOU, KATHY. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE MADE ORLANDO STRONG. [APPLAUSE] SO AGAIN, WELCOME, ONE AND ALL, AS WE GATHER HERE, UNITED IN THE MYSTERY THAT IS LIFE AND LOVE AND CONNECTION. AS WE NOW BEGIN OUR CALLING FORTH, YOU ARE INVITED TO RAISE A GLAD NOISE AS OUR HONOREES VENTURE ONTO THE STAGE. >> I CALL FORTH AMONG YOU THESE PERSONS WHO HAVE RECEIVED PRELIMINARY FELLOWSHIP AS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MINISTERS. [READING NAMES] >> I CALL FORTH AMONG YOU THESE PERSONS WHO HAVE RECEIVED FINAL FELLOWSHIP AS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MINISTERS. [READING NAMES] >> CALL FORTH THIS PERSON WHO HAS BEEN CREDENTIALED AS A RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR, MASTER LEVEL. [READING NAMES] >> I CALL FORTH FROM AMONG YOU THESE PERSONS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM OF STUDY AND ARE NOW CERTIFIED MUSIC LEADERS. [READING NAMES] >> I CALL FORTH AMONG YOU THESE PERSONS WHO HAVE COMPLETED CAREERS OF FULL TIME SERVICE. [READING NAMES] >> TODAY WE GATHER HERE TOGETHER, REALIZING THAT OUR INDIVIDUAL JOURNEYS ARE NOT SO SEPARATE. THOUGH THE PATH IS LONG AND FAR FROM CLEAR, WE PUSH FORWARD TOWARDS A BETTER WORLD, TOWARDS FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND JOYFUL SONG, GUIDED EACH STEP OF THE WAY BY LOVE. IN THIS SPIRIT, WE GATHER AND WELCOME TO THIS HOUSE. PLEASE RISE IN BODY OR SPIRIT AND JOIN US TOGETHER IN SINGING RANK BY RANK. [SINGING] >> I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THE CHALICE LIGHTING THAT WE USE EACH SUNDAY AT FIRST UNITARIAN PORTLAND, OREGON. YOUR PART IS WRITTEN IN YOUR ORDER OF SERVICE. WE ARE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS. WE LIGHT THIS CHALICE IN FAITH, IN HOPE, AND IN LOVE. >> [SINGING] >> EACH YEAR, WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF OUR CREDENTIALED RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AS WE DO EVERY YEAR, WE WILL READ TEAR NAMES ALOUD. THESE INDIVIDUALS SPENT THEIR LIVES ANSWERING A CALL. A CALL TO LOVE, TO SERVE, TO LEAD, TO TEACH, TO HEAL. THEY GAVE THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF THEIR VERY BEING IN COUNTLESS ACTS BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. AS I CALL THE ROLL OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED, LET US HOLD THE MEMORIES OF THEIR MINISTRIES IN OUR HEARTS. I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE RISE IN BODY, RISE IN SPIRIT. [READING NAMES] >> IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I MUST ADD CYNTHIA PRESCOTT, ROBBIE WALSH, AND LEON HOPPER TO THIS LIST. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE PASSED AWAY SINCE MAY THE 17TH AND WILL RECEIVE FULL HONORS AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2017. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A SPIRIT OF PRAYER. SPIRIT OF LIFE AND LOVE THAT BINDS US TOGETHER, WE MOURN THE LOSS OF THESE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. WE REMEMBER THESE INDIVIDUALS WITH A MIXTURE OF GRIEF AND GRATITUDE. OUR LOSS IS MIXED WITH A SENSE OF PRIDE INSPIRATION. THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE SIGNING EXAMPLES OF LIVES LIVED WITH INTEGRITY AND COMMITMENT. AS WE GRIEVE, LET US ALSO CELEBRATE THESE LIVES GIVEN IN SERVICE. LET US DRAW STRENGTH AND COURAGE FROM THEIR EXAMPLE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET US TAKE UP THE WORK, THEIR WORK IS NOW OURS TO CONTINUE. NOW, IF SILENCE, LET EACH OF US HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AND REFLECT UPON OUR PLACE IN THIS LIVING FAITH. >> OUR OFFERING THIS EVENING WILL GO TO SUPPORT THE UUA'S LIVING TRADITION FUND. THE LIVING TRADITION FUND PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS, DEBT REDUCTION GRANTS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN TIMES OF NEED TO SEMINARIANS, MINISTERS, RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS, OTHER CONGREGATIONAL STAFF, AND RETIRED MINISTERS AND THEIR LOVED ONES. EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CAN COME IN MANY FORMS. IT COULD COME IN THE FORM OF HELPING RETIRED MINISTERS TO HAVE A ROOF OFFER THEIR HEAD OR TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR DINNER TABLE. IN ORDER TO COME IN THE FORM OF [INDISCERNIBLE] OR EXORBITANT MEDICAL BILLS. I KNOW THIS, BECAUSE I AM A GRATEFUL RECIPIENT OF THIS FUND. 16 MONTHS AGO TODAY, MY WIFE, LALITA, AND I WERE SITTING IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT THE BEDSIDE OF OUR BELOVED COMATOSE SON. PRAYING THROUGH OUR TEARS AND FEARS THAT HE WOULD RE‑AWAKE INTO LIFE AND NOT FADE INTO DEATH. AS PARENTS, WE KNOW ALL TOO WELL WHAT IT IS TO LIVE A NIGHTMARE, AND WE HAVE DROPPED THE DREAD DREAM SCAPE OF EVERY PARENTS' TERROR. BUT THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD, THE ADVANCES OF MODERN MEDICINE, AND PRAYERS OF OUR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST AND INTERFAITH FAMILY OF FRIENDS BOTH NEAR AND FAR, OUR SON SURVIVED. BUT SADLY ‑‑ [APPLAUSE] MY JOYOUS RELIEF WAS SHORT‑LIVED, BECAUSE WE THEN ENTERED A LANDSCAPE ALL TOO FAMILIAR TO MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. THE PRICE TAG ATTACHED TO THE MAGNIFICENT MEDICAL CARE THAT SAVED OUR PRECIOUS SON'S LIFE WAS STAGGERING. UNPAID MEDICAL EXPENSES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF PERSONAL BANKRUPTCIES IN OUR COUNTRY AFFECTING NEARLY 2 MILLION PEOPLE EVERY YEAR. HAVING BEEN SPARED THE TRAGEDY OF LOSING A CHILD, MY FAMILY AND I NOW FACED THE VERY REAL PROSPECT OF BECOMING STATISTICS IN OUR NATION'S HEALTHCARE CRISIS. I FELT OVERWHELMED BY FORCES BEYOND MY CONTROL THAT I WAS POWERLESS TO RESIST OR OVERCOME. AND WITHOUT EXTENDED FAMILY IN THIS COUNTRY TO HALL TOY OUR SIDE, WE FELT ALONE, FRIGHTENED, AND ON THE VERGE OF BEING SWALLOWED UP AND PULLED DOWN INTO A SHADOWY REALM OF FINANCIAL INSOLVENCY AND PERSONAL INSECURITY. FRIENDS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT LALITA AND I WERE GRIPPED BY A FEAR WE HAD NEVER KNOWN BEFORE. BUT WHEN ALL SEEMED LOST, WE WERE SAVED BY A POWER GREATER THAN FEAR. WE ARE HELD AND SAVED BY THE POWER OF LOVE, A DEEP AND ABIDING LOVE, GOD'S LOVE, AS EMBODIED IN THIS, OUR BELOVED FAMILY OF FAITH. AND THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION'S LIVING TRADITION FUND. THIS LOVE THAT WE FELT AND THAT CARRIED US THROUGH WOULD NOT LET US GO, NOR DID IT LET US DOWN. EVEN THOUGH WE FELT ISOLATED, WE WERE NEVER ALONE. ALL OF YOU WERE THERE FOR MY FAMILY THROUGH THE LIVING TRADITION FUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO TONIGHT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A SUSTAINING DIFFERENCE TOGETHER. AS YOU PREPARE TO WRITE A CHECK OR FILL OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS ON THE ENVELOPE OR PULL OUT A HUGE STACK OF 20‑DOLLAR BILLS FROM YOUR WALLET, OR EVEN GIVE THROUGH OUR MOBILE DEVICE BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS WE WILL PROJECT ON THE SCREEN, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH TO SUPPORT OUR RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS IN NEED? WHEN THE LIVING TRADITION FUND IS ONE OF THEIR LAST AND ONLY RESORT. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH TO HELP NEW MINISTERS HANDLE THEIR EDUCATIONAL DEBTS SO THAT THEY CAN FOCUS ON THEIR NEW MINISTRIES? HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH WHEN SOME OF OUR BELOVED MINISTERS, CREDENTIALED RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS AND MUSIC LEADERS, NOW RETIRED, ARE TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PAY THE HEATING BILL OR BUY GROCERIES. SO AS YOU DISCERN AND DECIDE WHAT TO PUT IN THE OFFERING PLATE OR RIGHT AS YOUR PLEDGE OR TEXT ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, LET LOVE GUIDE YOU. BECAUSE IT IS LOVE THAT FILLS THE LIVING TRADITION FUND. IT IS LOVE THAT SUSTAINS THE LIVING TRADITION FUND. AND IT IS LOVE THAT IS PRESENT IN THIS HALL OF WORSHIP TONIGHT THAT MOVES AMONG, WITHIN, AND THROUGH US. THAT IMPELS US TO ANSWER THE CALL WITH A YES OF OUR LIVES. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHOSE LIFE YOU MIGHT SAVE TODAY THROUGH YOUR GIFT. MADE IN LOVE TO THE OFFERING TONIGHT. AND IF YOU COULD ONLY WITNESS THE TEAR STAINED FACES OF THE PEOPLE YOU WILL SAVE THROUGH YOUR GIFT TONIGHT, FACES BATHED IN JOYFUL TEARS BECAUSE OF CALAMITY AVERTED BY HUMAN KINDNESS, YOU WOULD GIVE FOUR TIMES, NO, SIX TIMES WHAT YOU ARE PREPARED NOW TO OFFER. AND IF YOU COULD ONLY HEAR THE STORY, SEE THEIR RELIEF, FEEL THE GRIP OF THEIR HAND ON YOURS AS THEY CHOKED OUT THANK YOU. THEN I KNOW YOU WOULD GIVEN JOY. I FROM A PLACE OF ABUNDANCE THAT KNOWS NO BOUNDS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT LOVE DOES. TODAY I AM BUT ONE OF THOSE SAVED BY LOVE. AND I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALSO FOR ALL THE LIVES THAT THAT YOU WILL TOUCH THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY. TONIGHT YOU DON'T JUST STAND ON THE SIDE OF LOVE. YOU'RE MORE THAN LOVE'S CHAMPIONS. YOU ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF LOVE. SO LET US SHOW THE WORLD WHAT ABUNDANT LOVE LOOKS LIKE AND CAN DO. I THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR LOVE, YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR FAITH, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, AND SUPPORT TO OUR MINISTRIES AND FOR YOUR GIFTS OF ABUNDANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE OFFERING FOR THE LIVING TRADITION FUND WILL NOW BE GIVEN AND GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> I'D LIKE IS TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW LINES FROM THE REVIEW OF THIS PIECE FROM THE "WASHINGTON POST." THERE ARE ONLY 88 WORDS IN I NEED YOU TO SURVIVE, REPEATED OVER AND OVER, SUNG ALMOST ENTIRELY IN YOUNG I SON. IT IS CENTERED ON THE IDEA THAT HUMANS HAVE PROFOUND RESPONSIBILITIES TO EACH OTHER. TELLING SOMEONE I NEED YOU TO SURVIVE IS SUCH A RAW STATEMENT THAT IT FEELS ALMOST OBSCENE TO UTTER ALOUD. BUT LONG‑TERM PARTNERSHIPS ARE ABOUT BUILDING SOMETHING FAR MORE AUDACIOUS THAN EITHER PERSON COULD CREATE OR SUSTAIN ALONE. TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE OUR INTERCONNECTEDNESS AND OUR COMMITMENT TO A BETTER WORLD WE HOPE TO CREATE TOGETHER. [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> OUR READING THIS EVENING IS DRAWN FROM BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME BY AUTHOR AT NEHISI COATES. YOU MAY KNOW HIM FROM HIS ARTICLES IN THE ATLANTIC. COATES IS AFRICAN‑AMERICAN AND THE BOOK IS WRITTEN AS A LONG LETTER TO HIS 15‑YEAR‑OLD SON. THAT WAS THE WEEK YOU LEARNED THAT THE KILLERS OF MICHAEL BROWN WOULD GO FREE. THE MEN WHO HAD LEFT HIS BODY IN THE STREET LIKE SOME AWESOME DECLARATION OF THEIR INVIOLABLE POWER WOULD NEVER BE PUNISHED. IT WAS NOT MY EXPECTATION THAT ANYONE WOULD BE PUNISHED. BUT YOU WERE YOUNG AND STILL BELIEVED. YOU STAYED UP TILL 11:00 P.M. THAT NIGHT WAITING FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN INDICTMENT, AND WHEN INSTEAD IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WAS NONE, YOU SAID, I'VE GOT TO GO, AND YOU WENT INTO YOUR ROOM AND I HEARD YOU CRYING. I CAME IN FIVE MINUTES AFTER, AND I CANNOT HUG YOU. AND I DIDN'T COMFORT YOU, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO COMFORT YOU. I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT IT WOULD BE OKAY, BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE OKAY. WHAT I TOLD YOU IS WHAT YOUR GRANDPARENTS TRIED TO TELL ME: THAT THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY, THAT IS YOUR WORLD, THAT THIS IS YOUR BODY, AND YOU MUST FIND SOME WAY TO LIVE WITHIN THE ALL. IT. HERE ENDS OUR READING. >> YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO ME; I NEED YOU TO SURVIVE. >> THIS IS OUR COUNTRY AND THIS IS OUR FAITH AND WE MUST FIND SOME WAY TO LIVE WITHIN THE ALL OF IT. MAY, 1966. I WAS IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA, A YOUTH LEADER ATTENDING MY FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON MY WAY TO THE WARE LECTURE. AND THE DOORS OF THE ELEVATOR OPENED. AND THERE HE WAS, STANDING WITH HIS ATTENDANTS. MAY I SHAKE YOUR HAND, DR. KING? I'M SO HONORED TO MEET YOU. >> WHAT IS YOUR NAME, YOUNG MAN? >> BILL SINKFORD. >> AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM, SON? >> CINCINNATI, OHIO, SIR. >> WELL, THERE IS PLENTY OF WORK YET TO DO IN CINCINNATI. >> WE REACHED THE GROUND FLOOR AND HE MOVED OFF TO THE GREEN ROOM TO PREPARE TO PREACH, AND PREACH HE DID. I APPROVE SICK SERMON URGING OUR FAITH NOT TO SLEEP THROUGH REVOLUTION. STAY WOKE, AS THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES URGES US TODAY. HOW CAN I DESCRIBE IT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE NOT EVEN BORN THEN? IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF A REVOLUTION AND THAT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS WERE IMPORTANT ACTORS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY DRAMA. DR. KING CALLED ON THE CHURCH TO LEAD. WHEN THE CHURCH IS TRUE TO ITS NATURE, HE SAID, IT STANDS AS THE MORAL GUARDIAN OF SOCIETY. HE CALLED ON THE CHURCH AND ON EACH ONE OF US TO BE MAL‑ADJUSTED TO THE STRUCTURES OF SOCIETY THAT CORRUPT AND OWE PRESS. AND EVERY HEAD IN THE AUDIENCE NODDED IN AFFIRMATION. THE RHETORIC WAS VINTAGE MLK. IT MAY BE TRUE THAT THE LAW CANNOT CHANGE THE HEART, BUT IT CAN RESTRAIN THE HEARTLESS. THE LAW CANNOT MAKE A PERSON LOVE ME, BUT IT CAN RESTRAIN THAT PERSON FROM LYNCHING ME. STILL, DR. KING CLAIMED THAT LOVE WAS NOT ONLY PRESENT, BUT AT THE VERY HEART OF THE REVOLUTION IN WHICH WE WERE ENGAGED. AND OUR FAITH COMMUNITY LISTENED WITH RAPT ATTENTION. DR. KING ENDED WITH THE VISION OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY, HIS SERMONIC CLOSE RETURNED TO THE DREAM. WE WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSFORM THE JANUARY LINK DISCORDS OF OUR NATION INTO A BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF UNITY AND SPEED UP THAT DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO WALK THE EARTH AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AS SIBLINGS, AND THEN WE CAN SING IN THE WORDS OF THE OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL, FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, WE ARE FREE AT LAST. AND THOUSANDS OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS, MANY LIKE ME WITH TEARS STREAMING DOWN THEIR FACES, ROSE IN THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE. YOU SEE, WE WERE READY TO REDEEM THE AMERICAN DREAM. WE WERE READY TO TAKE OUR PLACE IN REVOLUTION. WHAT WAS OUR ROLE TO BE? JAMES BALDWIN, WRITING JUST THREE YEARS BEFORE IN THE FIRE NEXT TIME, PUT IT THIS WAY. IF WE, THE RELATIVELY CONSCIOUS ONES, WHO MUST, LIKE LOVERS, CREATE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF OTHERS, IF WE DO NOT FALTER IN OUR DUTY NOW, WE MAY BE ABLE TO END THE RACIAL NIGHTMARE AND ACHIEVE OUR COUNTRY, AND CHANGE THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS, WE WERE MORE THAN READY TO CLAIM THAT ROLE, AS SOME OF THE CONSCIOUS ONES. NOT RELATIVELY CONSCIOUS, MIND YOU. MOST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS LISTENING TO DR. KING BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE FULLY ENLIGHTENED AND UP TO THE TASK OF ENLIGHTENING OTHERS. ARROGANCE, YOU SEE, HAS BEEN A SPIRITUAL ISSUE WITH US FOR A VERY LONG TIME. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] AND THAT BLACK YOUTH LEADER, ME, WELL, I BELIEVED IT, TOO, AND I WAS FILLED WITH HOPE NOT ONLY FOR OUR NATION, BUT FOR THIS FAITH. 1966. 50 YEARS AGO. SO MANY DREAMS DEFERRED. SO MANY DREAMS DENIED. HOW DID WE GET FROM I HAVE A DREAM TO THE NEW JIM CROW AND THE MASSACRE IN ORLANDO? 50 YEARS ON, HOW DID UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM GET FROM THAT COMMITMENT TO REDEEM THE AMERICAN DREAM TO THE NEED TO HANG BLACK LIVES MATTER BANNERS ON OUR CHURCHES AND STAND VIGIL AS THE PULSE OF LIFE IS BRUTALLY CUT SHORT ONCE AGAIN BY HATE? DID WE FALL ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH? WELL, THAT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH MARRIAGE EQUALITY IS NOW THE LAW OF THE LAND. THERE'S GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR WITH WOMEN AND GIRLS. AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT IS NOW IN PLACE. IT'S NOT THAT PROGRESS IS COMPLETE ON ANY OF THOSE FRONTS, BUT WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK. WE'VE MARCHED. WE'VE PETITIONED. WE'VE PROTESTED. MANY OF US. BUT THE RACIAL NIGHTMARE HAS NOT BEEN ENDED AND RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY, XENOPHOBIA AND HOMOPHOBIA ARE STILL USED TO JUSTIFY HATRED. IN FACT, WE FOUND MORE EXCUSES TO KEEP US DIVIDED THAN MOST OF US COULD HAVE IMAGINED 50 YEARS AGO. DID WE SOMEHOW TAKE OUR EYES OFF THE PRIZE? OR DID DR. KING'S DREAM PROVIDE A FLAWED LENS THAT PREVENTED US FROM SEEING ALL THAT WE NEEDED TO SEE? DR. KING, SOME OF YOU WILL REMEMBER, CONTINUED TO EXPAND THAT DREAM, ADDRESSING MILITARISM, INCOME INEQUALITY AND IMMIGRANT WORKERS. I WONDER IF HE WOULD BE SO REVERED IF HE HAD NOT BEEN KILLED. BECAUSE AMERICA INSISTED ON EMBRACING NOT DR. KING'S EXPANDING AND CHALLENGING VISION OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY, WHICH EMBRACED MORE AND MORE AND MORE OF US, BUT THE FAR MORE COMFORTABLE DREAM OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND THE VISION OF INNOCENT CHILDREN SITTING TOGETHER AT THE AMERICAN TABLE, OR AT LEAST IN THE AMERICAN SCHOOL ROOM THAT DREAM WHICH WAS CENTERED MORE ON LOVE THAN ON STRUGGLE. I WONDER WHAT DR. KING WOULD PREACH TO US TODAY. I AM SURE THAT HE WOULD HAVE BUILT GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN'S RE‑PRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INTO HIS VISION. SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY, ABSOLUTELY WOULD BE THERE. PEOPLE OF COLOR WOULD PROBABLY BE HIS LANGUAGE, NOT JUST BLACK AND WHITE. ALL OF THOSE THINGS, I THINK, WOULD BE THERE. BUT MORE. I THINK HE WOULD CONDEMN THE WAR ON DRUGS, JUST AS HE CONDEMNED THE VIETNAM WAR AND FOR THE SAME REASON: BOTH ARE WAGED ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. I THINK HE WOULD BE CALLING INCOME INEQUALITY A MORAL FAILURE. [APPLAUSE] NOT JUST AN ECONOMIC REALITY. AND I THINK HE WOULD RAIL AGAINST RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY, THE BUILDING OF WALLS ON OUR BORDERS, AND THE BANNING OF MUSLIMS FROM OUR SHORES. [APPLAUSE] HE WOULD CALL PEOPLE. HE WOULD CALL PEOPLE OF FAITH TO BE DIVINELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE WORLD AS IT IS NOW, JUST AS HE WAS DIVINELY DISSATISFIED WITH THE WORLD AS IT WAS WHEN HE LIVED. BUT HE WOULD ALSO BE ASKING WHY CORPORATIONS AND ENTERTAINERS PULL OUT OF STATES THAT TRY TO ROLL BACK LGBTQ RIGHTS, BUT NOT WHEN STATES ROLL BACK VOTING RIGHTS. [APPLAUSE] AND FOR ALL OUR PROGRESS ON THESE OTHER ISSUES, AS IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE, HE WOULD BE INSISTENT THAT THE BELOVED COMMUNITY WILL ALWAYS BE INCOMPLETE, FLAWED, ITS VERY FOUNDATION COMPROMISED UNTIL THE RACIAL NIGHTMARE IS ENDED. [APPLAUSE] NOW, DR. KING IS NOT WITH US NOW. AND SO IT FALLS TO US TO FIND AND HOLD A DREAM FOR THE BELOVED COMMUNITY. THAT IS OUR RELIGIOUS WORK. OUR WORK, OUR RELIGIOUS WORK, NOT MY RELIGIOUS WORK. [APPLAUSE] BECAUSE LIKE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ALL MY LIFE. AND IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO HELP US MOVE TOWARD WHOLENESS ON THE ISSUE OF RACE FOR DECADES. IF I HAD THE SOLUTION, IF I HAD A MAGIC WAND TO WAVE, SOME ANSWER THAT COULD TRANSFORM US AND OUR WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE BELOVED COMMUNITY FOR YEARS NOW. [APPLAUSE] AND I DON'T PRETEND TO HAVE THAT ANSWER, BUT I DO HAVE A MESSAGE. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I THINK I KNOW. THERE IS A REASON THAT OUR NATION HASTENED TO EMBRACE THAT WARM AND FUZZY DREAM OF AN AMERICAN WELCOME TABLE, WHERE EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS CAN TRANSCEND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT DREAM ALLOWED US ALL, BUT ESPECIALLY WHITE AMERICANS, TO MAINTAIN A BELIEF IN THEIR OWN INNOCENCE. [APPLAUSE] AND I HEAR STATEMENTS OF INNOCENCE ALL THE TIME. I NEVER OWNED ANY SLAVES. I DIDN'T CREATE THE WAR ON DRUGS. SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE MUSLIM, MEXICAN, GAY. PUT IN THE CATEGORY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO THINK ABOUT. I'M NOT A BIGOT. NOW, MOST OF US HAVE DONE ENOUGH WORK TO UNDERSTAND THE FLAWS IN THAT LOGIC. MOST OF US HAVE. BUT TANEHISI COATES ARGUES THAT IT IS EXACTLY THAT AMERICAN SUPREME OF WHITE INNOCENCE FROM WHICH WE MOST NEED TO AWAKEN. HE WRITES, THE PROCESS OF WATCHING, THE DISPARATE TRIBES WHITE, THE ELEVATION OF THE BELIEF IN THE DREAM OF BEING WHITE, WAS NOT ACHIEVED THROUGH WINE TASTINGS AND ICE CREAM SOCIALS, BUT RATHER THROUGH THE PILLAGING OF LIFE, LIBERTY, LABOR, AND LAND. [APPLAUSE] AND THESE NEW WHITE PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE SCALE OF THE THEFT THAT ENRICHED THEM. THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN, BECAUSE TO REMEMBER WOULD TUMBLE THEM OUT OF THE BEAUTIFUL DREAM AND PUSH THEM TO LIVE DOWN HERE WITH US, DOWN HERE IN THE WORLD. IN THE DREAM, THEY ARE BUCK ROGERS, PRINCE ARAGORN, A WHOLE TRIBE OF SKY WALKERS. TO AWAKEN THEM IS TO REVEAL THAT THEY ARE MERELY AN EMPIRE OF HUMANS. THE AMERICAN DREAM, THIS NEW WHITE IDENTITY, IT REQUIRES A VIVID PERFORMANCE OF INNOCENCE, AS ONE COMMENTATOR DESCRIBES IT, DESPITE THE TRUTH THAT THERE IS NO ACTUAL INNOCENCE AND THERE NEVER WAS. [APPLAUSE] NOW I'M GOING TO BRING IT ON HOME HERE. EVEN PROGRESSIVE RELIGIOUS FOLKS, EVEN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS HAVE TO GIVE UP OUR INNOCENCE. [APPLAUSE] YOU SEE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE WERE READY TO SIGN ON TO DR. KING'S DREAM, WE SOON PULLED BACK AS A FAITH COMMUNITY WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE PASSAGE OF A FEW LAWS WAS NOT GOING TO SAVE US. SOME OF US REMEMBER THE LATE 1960S AND EARLY 70'S. IT WAS A TIME WHEN DREAMS OF INTEGRATION WERE CHALLENGED BY DEMANDS FOR BLACK EMPOWERMENT. DAYS WHEN IT GOT TOO HARD AND PAINFUL FOR OUR CONGREGATIONS TO STAY INVOLVED. YOU CAN READ ABOUT THAT PERIOD IF YOU CANNOT LIVE IT. IT'S OFTEN CALLED THE BLACK EMPOWERMENT CONTROVERSY. I PREFER TO DESCRIBE IT AS A FIT OF WHITE ENTITLEMENT. [APPLAUSE] SO YOU CAN READ ABOUT THAT PERIOD IF YOU CANNOT LIVE IT, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WE WITHDREW. AND WHEN OUR FAITH WITHDREW FROM THE RACIAL JUSTICE CONVERSATION, MANY, MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAD JOINED US WITHDREW, TOO. FEELING BETRAYED, WE LEFT UU‑ISM. I WAS ONE OF THEM, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY OTHERS. AND I COULD CALL SOME OF THEIR NAMES, BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT HERE. THEY CANNOT FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO THIS FAITH LIKE I DID. AND WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT THIS FAITH MIGHT LOOK LIKE OR BE LIKE TODAY IF THEY COULD HAVE REMAINED. [APPLAUSE] OUR FAITH LOOKED AWAY. WE CANNOT STAY WOKE. AND WHETHER WE FEEL GUILT FOR THAT OR SHAME, AND EVEN IF WE DENIED IT, THE TRUTH IS THAT WE, ALL OF US, ARE COMPLICIT. WE CANNOT PREVENT THE RACIAL NIGHTMARE FROM CONTINUING. JUST AS WE HAVE NOT ENDED HOMOPHOBIA, FOR ALL OF OUR WORK AND WITNESS, THERE IS NO INNOCENCE LEFT FOR ANY OF US. [APPLAUSE] AND THERE'S ONE MORE THING. TANEHISI COATES TELLS HIS SON, HERE IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW: IN AMERICA, IT IS TRADITIONAL TO DESTROY THE BLACK BODY. IT IS HERITAGE. COATES' SON NEEDS TO KNOW THAT HIS BODY IS AT RISK, THAT HE CAN BE KILLED WITH IMPUNITY, JUST AS MY SON AND MY GRANDSONS NEED TO KNOW THAT. JUST AS I KNOW IT EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON RURAL ROADS AT NIGHT OR AM STOPPED ON CITY STREETS. IN AMERICA, IT IS TRADITIONAL TO DESTROY THE BLACK BODY AND THE GAY BODY AND THE IMMIGRANT BODY. IT IS HERITAGE. NOW, THESE ARE HARD WORDS, BUT THEY EXPLAIN SO MUCH. FERGUSON AND TAMIR RICE MAKE SENSE. THE NEW JIM CROW? RACIAL PRO SMILING VIOLENCE ON THE BORDER? EVEN ORLANDO. IT IS OF A PIECE. AND I'VE KNOWN THESE THINGS ALL MY LIFE. ON THESE ISSUES I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE ONE OF THE CONSCIOUS ONES. BUT COATES FORCED EVEN ME TO CONFRONT TRUTH THAT I WOULD RATHER AVOID. BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LOVE. YOU KNOW I WOULD. AND SO WOULD YOU. WHAT I KNOW IS THIS: WE ARE BEING GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE. THE RACIAL JUSTICE AND JUST PLAIN JUSTICE MOVEMENT, BLACK LIVES MATTER, THAT EMERGED OUT OF THE TRAGEDIES ON THE STREETS OF FERGUSON AND CLEVELAND AND BALTIMORE AND PORTLAND WHERE I SERVE, THAT MOVEMENT IS OFFERING US THE CHANCE TO CLAIM A FULLER AND ULTIMATELY A MORE HOPEFUL DREAM. AND EVEN THE RESPONSE TO ORLANDO IS ALSO HELPING TO POINT THE WAY. LET ME ASK YOU, HOW MANY OF YOU STOOD VIGIL IN YOUR COMMUNITY LAST WEEK? RAISE YOUR HANDS. HOW MANY JOINED WITH OTHERS, LIT A CANDLE, SAID A PRAYER, HEARD THE NAMES CALLED? THE IMAGE OF THOSE VIGILS IS WHERE I AM SEEING HOPE THIS WEEK. THE RAINBOW FLAGS WERE MOST EASILY SEEN, BUT IF YOU LOOKED JUST A BIT MORE CLOSELY, YOU SAW ALL OF US PRESENT THERE. YOUNG AND OLD, QUEER AND STRAIGHT, CISGENDER AND TRANSGENDER, MUSLIM MEN AND MUSLIM WOMEN WITH THEIR HEADS COVERED, CHRISTIANS, JEWS, ATHEISTS, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS, LATINOS AND ANGLOS, BLACK AND BROWN AND MANY, MANY SHADES OF BEIGE. WE WERE ALL THERE. [APPLAUSE] THE TRAGEDY OF ORLANDO CALLS US TO DEMOLISH THE WALLS AROUND OUR VISION AND CLAIM THAT FUNDAMENTAL UNIVERSALIST TRUTH, THAT WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. [APPLAUSE] THE VIGILS CALLED US TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY IN OUR GRIEF AND TO STAND AS A COMMUNITY OF RESISTANCE. RESISTANCE TO THE HATE AND THE BIGOTRY AND THE FEAR. WE WERE COMMUNITIES OF RESISTANCE THAT GATHERED. AND PERHAPS THAT IS HOW WE NEED TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES, THE NOT AS THE ALREADY CONSCIOUS LEADERS WAITING FOR THE DELUDED DREAMERS TO AWAKEN, BUT AS ONE COMMUNITY OF RESISTANCE STRUGGLING TO STAY AWAKE AND AWARE OURSELVES. ONE COMMUNITY OF RESISTANCE TO THE HATE AND THE VIOLENCE, READY TO PARTNER WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES OF RESISTANCE. CLIMATE ACTIVISTS SHOWING UP AT BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATIONS AND BLACK LIVES MATTER BANNERS MARCHING IN PRIDE PARADES. [APPLAUSE] BEGIN TO SEE OURSELVES AS COMMUNITIES OF RESISTANCE, WILLING TO BUILD A MORE EMBRACING DREAM TOGETHER. BECAUSE RESISTANCE IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE IN THE FACE OF HATE. [APPLAUSE] AND RESISTANCE IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE IN THE FACE OF VIOLENCE. ARE WE WILLING TO LIVE AS IF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY IS MORE THAN JUST BE IDOL DREAM? ARE WE WILLING TO LOVE THIS FAITH AND LOVE OURSELVES ENOUGH NOT TO SETTLE FOR THE WORLD AS IT IS, BUT TO BUILD AND I KNOW HABIT THE WORLD WE DREAM ABOUT? WILL WE TRUST THIS FAITH, THIS FAITH THAT DOES BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF LOVE, WILL WE TRUST THIS FAITH ENOUGH TO HELP US FIND A NEW WAY? A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. BECAUSE IT IS ONLY TOGETHER THAT WE CAN FIND THE COURAGE AND THE WILL NOT TO LOOK AWAY THISHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH TIME. [APPLAUSE] WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME NOW? SPIRIT OF LIFE. GREAT MYSTERY AT THE HEART OF THINGS. DEAR GOD. MAY WE FIND THE STRENGTH TO REMEMBER BOTH HOW WE HAVE TRIUMPHED AND HOW WE HAVE FAILED. HELP US FIND THE COURAGE TO KNOW AS MUCH OF THE TRUTH AS WE CAN BEAR. HELP US FIND THE COURAGE TO ANSWER THE CALL OF LOVE ONCE AGAIN. TO STAND AGAINST HATE AND RESIST THE VIOLENCE THAT THE WORLD URGES US TO ACCEPT. THIS IS OUR WORLD AND THESE ARE OUR BODIES. HELP US FIND A WAY TO LIVE WITHIN THE ALL OF IT. AND ALLOW LOVE TO CALL US ON TOWARD HOPE. AMEN. [APPLAUSE] THE SONG WE'RE ABOUT TO SING IS ABOUT THE FOLK SINGER AND SONGWRITER JAMES TAYLOR. IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE EARLY 1990S TO HONOR THE WORK OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN THE LONG JOURNEY TOWARDS JUSTICE. ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS SONG IS THE WAY IT CONTINUES TO POINT THE WAY TOWARD JUSTICE, EVER EVOLVING TO THIS DAY. JAMES TAYLOR ADDED SISTERHOOD TO DR. KING'S LANGUAGE OF GATHERING AARP THE TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD. TODAY, WE READ THESE LYRICS AND SEE THE PEOPLE OF ALL GENDERS THAT TAYLOR'S WORDS LEAVE OUT AND THE MANY WAYS BESIDES WALKING AND STANDING THAT WE CAN AGITATE FOR GREATER JUSTICE IN OUR WORLD. IT INSPIRES ME, AS I HOPE IT INSPIRES ALL OF US, TO KEEP ON WRITING NEW SONGS AS THE LIGHT THAT JAMES TAYLOR SAW AND DR. KING SAW BEFORE HIM CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE THE FULLNESS OF DIVERSITY IN THIS, OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY HUMAN FAMILY. >> [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> WE ARE BOUND, BOUND TOGETHER, TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY. WE ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY OUR SHARED DREAM OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY AND BY A LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET US GO. MAY WE FIND THE COURAGE TO LIVE AS IF LOVE WERE REAL, AND BY OUR LIVING MAKE IT SO. MAY IT BE SO, AND AMEN. AMEN. [APPLAUSE] [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> BEFORE WE SING OUR BENEDICTION, I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO ALL SAY ONE WORD WITH US. THE WORD IS TODAY. THERE WILL BE A TIME WHERE THE CHOIR SINGS TODAY FOUR TIMES IN SUCCESSION AND I WOULD LIKE US ALL TO JOIN IN THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE FOR THE WORD TODAY, ALSO FOR THE WORD NOW. TODAY. CAN WE TRY THIS FOUR TIMES TOGETHER? TODAY, TODAY, TODAY. TODAY. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING TO COME UP TO THAT PART. YOU'RE FABULOUS. [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> WE INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN IN OUR SECOND LIFESTYLE VERSION OF GONNA LAY DOWN MY SWORD AND SHIELD. >> GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN, DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE, DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE, DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE. [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> AND LET'S KEEP THAT PARTY GOING AS YOU'RE LEAVING THIS EVENING. THIS IS JOE COCKER'S VERSION OF THE BEATLES, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS. >> [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. THANK UU. [APPLAUSE] EVENT: 2016 0623 SERVICE OF THE LIVING TRADITION 0737 PM EST CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY: HEAR INK HTTP://WWW.HEARINK.COM. PHONE: (314)427‑1113 **********DISCLAIMER********** THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROM THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE. THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD. TO DO SO IS AN EXTRA FEE. THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION. 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