June 9, 2021: What is Ministry?

Last night, I learned that another UU colleague had died. He was only a bit older than I, and he followed me in interim ministry at the UU Congregation of the South Jersey Shore in 2016. He’d had a stroke a year ago, but was recovering. He had been planning to preach in CT just 2 weeks ago.

He was a kind, generous, thoughtful, and effective minister, a true professional. When the NAACP of Atlantic City awarded our congregation for our antiracism work during my ministry, he welcomed me back even though I’d already left NJ. Here’s a photo of him and me offering a prayer at the banquet:

Rev. John Marsh, UU minister, died suddenly 6/6/21

I also read this week that a colleague who has served the Unity Temple Unitarian in Oak Park, IL (Chicago) for 18 years is leaving this month. This news has particular significance to me since I knew the Rev. Alan Taylor before he even considered UU ministry. I was in seminary in Berkeley (Pacific School of Religion) and he was a part of the weekly Young Adult group that Eric and I led at the seminary. I recall suggesting that he’d be a good minister, and if I count all the people that I have tried to talk OUT of ministry for any number of reasons since then, the score would be about 50 to one. I may have just been lucky with Alan, but he did go to seminary and he has been an exemplary minister. Interestingly (but not shocking, since UUism is a rather small denomination) he was the mentor/supervisor for the young minister who now serves the Lexington congregation I left seven years ago!

I recall think Alan was SO young. Eric and I were newlyweds, and Marjorie was born while we were in Berkeley. The first photo is of our young adult group in 1993 (I hope you can still recognize me; Eric is in red to the right. I’m in KY blue, not holding Marjorie) at a baby shower they held for us. Alan is the long haired guy whose shoulder I have my hand on. The second is a recent one of Alan. He’s married with two daughters. He’s 54.

Berkeley CA UU Young Adult Group 4/93

Rev. Alan Taylor with UU President Susan Frederick-Gray and Rev. Marlin Lavanhar of Tulsa.

Time passes. Sometimes slowly, and sometimes unbelievably fast. I want to tell young people this and to especially warn younger ministers how soon it will be over and how much they will regret. I will surely miss most of all the amazing people I have met in the congregations I have served. I am grateful to have known each one of you.

I’m here to acknowledge that I haven’t been a great minister to you over the past many months.

I can say more about that, but I will be explaining to the Board how I became ill this past year, and how it kept me from performing and scheduling certain tasks I should have done. I thank you for your patience and understanding, and I ask your forgiveness. I deeply hope that you will find a caring minister who can be present for you going forward!

So, as I contemplate “retirement,” I do not think ministry will end. I don’t know exactly what form it will take; that remains to be seen. It depends upon my health, the opportunities available, and other choices I have yet to make.

When I was ordained, almost exactly 26 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the trajectory my ministry would take.

And I can’t think of a better place for it to wind down than at GNUUC. My experience with you has been rewarding beyond anything I could have imagined. Indeed, it was you who taught me. I will say more about that in my sermon on June 20th. I hope you will join me!

With Love,

Cynthia