As a community we have struggled in recent days to decide what is the right thing to do. We covenant to affirm and promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations. If we are morally serious about this covenant then we will inevitably struggle with difficult questions: Whose justice? Equity and compassion for whom?

The existence of this struggle is evidence of our moral seriousness and ought to be celebrated. I feel sad when, in the midst of these struggles, in the midst of crucial conversations–when the stakes are high, when emotions run strong, and when opinions vary–people withdraw from relationship and decide to leave the community.

People leave our religious communities for a variety of reasons. I invite any member of our community who is considering leaving to please contact me so that we can examine those reasons together and discern together the best way ahead for each of us as individuals and for the community as a whole.

I hope people with diverse points of view and different approaches to the way we embody our covenant can stay in relationship and move through the struggle. This kind of endurance is necessary for the growth of individuals and the community as a whole.

See you on Sunday

CJA