Unity in Diversity

(or how many UCC catch-phrases can you find in an otherwise serious reflection)

Last Sunday, I participated in the worship service of one of our Michigan Conference churches. Just before I preached, a wonderful gentleman read the Gospel lesson. When he finished reading, he looked up at the congregation, and I expected him to offer an ascription of praise, perhaps, "The Word of the Lord." Instead, he calmly said, "My name is Ken Auten, and I approve this message!" I can tell you that the laughter in that congregation lasted quite awhile. It was a relief from the barrage of often negative television ads, postcards, and "robo-calls" to which everyone had been subjected during the many months leading up to the Sunday before Election Day.

As Christians, it is the Good News of the Gospel that we unite in approving even in the midst of our myriad differences. We approve this message of love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, justice and peace - regardless of race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical and mental abilities, and political beliefs. 

This reminded me of the UCC phrase - prior to the "comma" and the "still-speaking" and the "changing lives" - unity in diversity. I've been mulling this over in the wake of our national election, because it is clear to me that there are very few who currently find any unity in our national diversity. An analysis of the election results show that we live in a country that knows disunity and division. A little more than half the voters are pleased with the national election results; a little less than half are disappointed. More than half of our states are red, while less than half are blue (though clearly purple would be a more accurate color to represent our nuanced allegiances). Post-election interviews with legislative leaders indicate a sharpening of ideological differences that suggest a continuing congressional quagmire. My informal polls hint at both fear and hope about what's in store as we move forward. However, it is so interesting to note the diversity of the unlikely coalition of youth, Latinos, and white women that seemed to create the unity needed to re-elect President Obama.

What I am discovering in my travels around the state is that no two of our churches are the same. What a surprise, huh? There is a real diversity in membership, organization, worship style, music, and leadership. And yet, we still covenant together to be associations and a conference in order to be more effective, and perhaps more unified, in our mission and ministry. In that covenant, we give up our total independence in order "to walk together in all God's ways" and live into Jesus' prayer, "that they might all be one."

Our call as members of the United Church of Christ, especially during these days, is to be a "united and uniting church" - celebrating our diversity, yet also affirming the unity found in our shared scriptures so that we can join in the affirmation: In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity.Perhaps the blessing that we can be at a time such as this is modeling that unity does not mean homogeneity, but instead living out the love of Jesus that keeps us together as congregations, associations, and a conference.

I hope that you will join me in approving this message!

Dear God, bless our newly elected leaders that they might govern wisely, promoting liberty and justice for all; and bless the churches of the Michigan Conference that they might be places of growing diversity and increasing unity - to your glory. Amen.