Too often we have allowed our disagreements to distract us from all that we can do together. These words, from the UUA Creating Peace Statement of Conscience, were reaffirmed by the congregation in a litany I led during Sunday Service on September 23.

In our congregations we are free to disagree; we celebrate diversity; and, as we covenant in our declaration of principles and purposes: “we are grateful for the religious pluralism that enriches and ennobles our faith.”

The challenge we face in discerning “What is ours to do?” is this: how do we move beyond the diversity towards unity of purpose, and unity of action?

“We need not think alike to love alike.” This often quoted phrase is attributed to the early Unitarian clergyman Francis Dávid, who is often said by Unitarian

Universalists to have proclaimed this at the Edict of Torda (1568).

More likely, Dávid never said this; the phrase was appropriated (plagiarized?) from the English Methodist founder, John Wesley, who asked in a sermon on
“Catholic Spirit,” “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?”

Even so, the phrase speaks to the theme of this month: unity and diversity. Even though we are diverse in our thinking, might we be united in love? Or, more
specifically, united in common action in service to our pole with water representing individual aspirations for most essential values: fairness, compassion, honest,
peace. Then (below) Rev. Antal and friends and members respect, and responsibility?

What can we do together? Can we stand together to end the US war in Afghanistan, which will enter year 18 on October 7? Can we stand together to lobby elected
officials to restrict the war powers of the Executive Branch? Can we stand together to address social injustices in our neighborhoods and communities?

What can we do together? Your views matter and I hope to hear your response to this critical question of congregational discernment.

See you on Sunday.
Chris J. Antal