Leader Resource 6: Engaging as Religious Professionals
Part of What Moves Us
This is a 30-minute activity.
Description
Share with the group:
As a result of his conversion experience, James Luther Adams plunged himself into voluntary associations that were working to bring more justice into the community and the world. He stated that this was unusual for a Protestant clergyman.
Invite participants to consider their own engagement with voluntary associations beyond the congregation. Invite them to consider and to discuss the following questions:
- Do you agree with Adams that our faith calls us to involvement in the community beyond the congregation?
- How are you involved beyond your Unitarian Universalist congregation? Which of your involvements in the community and the wider world are through voluntary associations based in your congregation (i.e., a congregational group acting in the wider world)? Which of your involvements are through voluntary associations formed outside of the congregation (i.e., you as an individual participate in an association with people who are not necessarily from the congregation)?
- What is the proper balance of working inside the congregation and responding to need by working toward justice outside of the congregation?
- How do you as a religious leader encourage the kind of conversion experience that Adams talked about and encourage people to work for justice in the world?