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The Future is . . . Back!
Today is a day filled with juxtapositions, good memories and a glimpse of the future. First, we look back at a time that will never be forgotten. Today, we recognize Browne Barr's ordination anniversary and we look forward as we celebrate the graduation from seminary of several of our members with hopes for them to be sent forth into all the world. Browne led this congregation through the turbulent sixties and seventies with wisdom, courage and the strength of humor. He led it through a fire, which ripped through this sanctuary and Hall of Entrance and through a time in which the whole nation was burning with tension and violence — the time of Civil Rights, the free speech movement and the war in Viet Nam. It was during Browne's ministry that the "umbrella policy" began, Browne taught us the value of diversity in opinion and persons by declaring that the church could be big spirited and wide open to differences while remaining faithful to the gospel. During Browne's time the Sunburst program was developed, which enabled lay leadership to extend and expand the ministries of the church by being trained in the art of caring. We recognize these gifts today, in our Open and Affirming stance and in our ministries of hospitality, Caregiving and healing prayer. And Browne's status as a brilliant preacher and teacher has made more than one successor tremble in her shoes as she approaches the FCCB pulpit! Browne, I can hardly imagine what it is like to return to this place for such a moment as this! You've been gone from FCCB for 25 years, almost to the day. This congregation said good-bye to you as their Senior Minister on June 12, 1977. Your sermon on that day was entitled "Thy Strong Hand and Arm Outstretched." Truly, God's hand has been strong in your life, as God has continued to give you the gifts of long life, strong friendships and an abiding relationship of faithfulness and love. Today, we are a congregation who is busy looking toward the future. We are in the midst of a capital campaign and are working on a long-range strategic plan. We are planning to add an additional worship service come fall and are looking toward creating a new ministry with youth and singles. Our outreach in the community remains consistently strong, through BOCA, our community organizing effort with other Berkeley congregations and through other local and international endeavors. Today, it's especially fitting to mention the Feed My Lambs project in Haiti begun by Margaret Trost and supported by members and friends of FCCB. I imagine that for all our new excitement and creativity, that we are merely pursuing what this congregation has always pursued–caring community, strength through faithfulness and mission and a willingness to live into the future with hope. As I thought about this today, I began to fantasize about what it might be like for me to return to FCCB to celebrate the 60th anniversary of my ordination. It would be in 2040! I've been ordained for 22 years…I'll be something like 91 when I return for my 60th anniversary! I can imagine some of the circumstances of the world in 2040. If history is any indicator, there will be some things that remain the same, but others that will surprise and even outrage us. A Zen Master was asked once about the effects of enlightenment on his life. He gave an answer that applies to us now: "Before enlightenment, I chopped word and carried water. After enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water." Everything about life will be very different and yet, mysteriously, the same. I have every hope that FCCB will be here in 2040, providing the same faithful witness of compassion, justice and love that has marked it's ministry and mission these many years. What might the political landscape of the world look like in that year? I have a sense that we will need to tend to the wreckage of the global economic and political order. Everyday, the world is making more and more refugees. As the conflict continues to rage in the Middle East or the next crisis point, more and more people will be displaced. As tiny countries like East Timor become new nations, they will displace some, even as they provide a country for others. There will be refugees from the new Jihad and conflicts like Kosovo. Haitians or Cubans, Chinese or Koreans will pack boats with refugees daring the seas to Miami and San Francisco. We will have to acknowledge the changing landscape of persons and nations. We will be multilingual, multi colored, religiously and economically diverse in ways that we can only begin to imagine today. As Mary Pipher has written in her beautiful book, The Middle of Everywhere, these are the people with whom we will share the future in a rapidly changing world. How will the church respond to the unfurling chaos of the world? Will we hunker down and protect ourselves and our way of life? Or will we see this as a calling to live with people different than ourselves, fusing cultures and community? Talk about umbrella policy! Globalization is bound to change us forever. Teilhard de Chardin saw education and love as the twin pillars of progress toward the unity of humankind. Perhaps the church can be a leader in creating a community in which we forge a creative synthesis between knowledge and the practical application of love. In addition to globalization, I can imagine three current crises to which the church must respond and grow in new ways before 2040. Curiously, they could be called "renew," "reach out" and "rejoice." I hope that the church will respond to the intellectual challenge facing religion today. Christianity emerged in an ancient, pre-scientific, rural world rich in metaphors of sacrifice, lilies of the field, sheep and shepherds, all in a three-story universe. Now it must change its language and its imagery to be relevant to an urban scientific, sophisticated culture. How will we Renew? How will the Gospel speak to the ethical dilemmas of a brave new world of cloning, genetic engineering and germ warfare? What language shall we use? What imagery? How will the old, old story relate and have relevance? The present crisis in the Catholic Church makes us painfully aware of how timid and repressive the Christian tradition has been in dealing with human sexuality. The whole church has spent so much time and so little compassion and celebration on issues of sexuality, by narrowing the dialogue to who is included and who is excluded. We need to address the vastness of the love of God instead of putting limits on it. In this difficult moment in the whole Church, we religious people need to stand together against abuse, and for the grace of God alive in sexuality. The church is called to be about freeing the mind and spirit for the giant task of bringing love, compassion and justice to the people of the world, not for constricting and controlling human behavior. How will we reach out to those who have been wounded, abused, set aside? Finally, I hope that FCCB will continue to explore and define spiritual formation and Christian practice. People increasingly desire a way of life that gives meaning and makes a difference in the world. Christianity needs to specialize in the disciplines of caring community, prayer, service, worship, formation and stewardship of the earth's resources and the care of the planet. We are entering into a time of globalization and enormous change. It is a time when the church will survive only if it makes real difference in the world and at the same time, respect and honor the variety of paths to God. We have to be faithful to our traditions as we practice our particularity. For us as Liberal Protestant Christians, it can be a dawning of an incredible adventure, for we are called to be open, not punitive, and we have a unique calling to serve the world from a vantagepoint of inclusion and acceptance. We are called to rejoice in our faith and in the gospel. Browne, I believe the umbrella is wide open and still up! The church will remain faithful to the Gospel by learning to respond to the challenges and obstacles of its time with hope strength and imagination. Genesis tell us that "In the beginning, God created." In the present moment God continues to create. The Spirit of God is endlessly creating. I imagine, I dream, I hope that in 2040 FCCB will be an active part of God's ongoing creation. I hope that I will be here to celebrate it with you. Paul gives us a word in the letter to the Corinthians, which is a common blessing for all time. "The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Especially with you, Browne, for you have seen it all and guided us through many changes and challenges to arrive at this special day in your life and ours. Amen. |