Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Four Truisms of International Engagement

From discussions with my field education supervisor, Rev. Eric Cherry, I have identified four distinct truisms that inform international engagement efforts:

1. Unitarian Universalist congregations are religious communities – their members may not agree on one exclusive theological position, but every worshipper yearns for an experience of the divine in community.

2. Personal theology informs the choices we make – contrary to the modernist division of social life, our convictions and commitments drive our actions and judgments.

3. Through reflection, we gain confidence and grow in new directions – failure should be welcomed as an opportunity to re-assess our world; intentionality must work hand in hand with action.

4. Becoming an effective inter-religious partner depends to a great degree on self-awareness – we are all located in specific contexts and must be held accountable for these locations.

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