Forests are always changing. In Colorado, where I grew up, whole mountain sides can be covered by Aspen groves. In the summer, with their distinctive black-flecked white bark, and their wavering spade-shaped leaves, they create pools of light unlike what one finds under lodgepole and bristlecone. Yet no grove is permanent; over time the aspen thin out as taller evergreens crowd in. Differing evergreens come and go, until a fire or beetles start the cycle again. “Celebrate Diversity” proclaims one bumper sticker often found on UU cars, but underlying that celebration must also be a willingness to embrace change. The aspens, in serving the larger community, never disappear from the big picture, but they no longer dominate the places they used to.

In terms of UU diversity a pair of speeches roiled the UU ministers just before last year’s national UU General Assembly. Now these two have been published in our magazine, the UU World, and they can be found online. Go to the front page of UUWorld.org and look for “Can Unitarian Universalism Change?” by Paul Rasor, and “We Must Change” by Rosemary Bray McNatt. Mr. Rasor lays out the basic facts and statistics with brilliant clarity. Rosemary writes more from a personal, pastoral perspective. Together both are compelling.

Near the end of her responsive piece Rev. Bray McNatt wrote, "We must admit that we have a specific, sometimes alienating culture, and we must change it. And we must grieve the loss of the familiar and gain some measure of courage to embrace the new." These are strong words, but true in their way. I encourage you to read these articles, discuss them with others in our church, and most importantly, decide what you will do in response to the facts and realities they present. Let me know what you think.

Rev. Thomas Perchlik