Why the words matter

The Religious Education Committee recently approved new wording for our mission statement for the program.  Since it had been over five years since the mission had been reviewed, we decided to look it over and see if it still rang true.

Here's the final version:

The mission of the Religious Education program at Channing Memorial Church is to create a Unitarian Universalist identity for our children and youth that nurtures their spiritual growth, guides their search for truth and empowers them to work for justice.

People in our Religious Education program:

• Speak their truth and listen with open hearts and minds,
• Serve our church, community and world and
• Foster connections across generations.

I am delighted with the new statement.  It is clearer and more concise, and reflects our commitment to supporting faith development as Unitarian Universalists, and specifically "create a Unitarian Universalist identity."

As parents, we often are fearful of pushing our religion on our children.  We can be so worried that our children can get a message that we don't care if they are UU at all.  I feel that it is important for our children to identify with Unitarian Universalism.  Promoting our faith isn't indoctrination.  We are a movement of people all searching for our own truths, so there is no concern of pushing our beliefs on others- even the kids.

What would happen if, when your kid asks, "What religion are we?"  you reply, "We are Unitarian Universalists"?  They will see that the practices of your family fit within the larger whole.  And it is good.