From Rev. Susan - Exploring Wisdom and Growth
During May, we will be exploring the theme of wisdom and growth. It is a fitting theme for Unitarian Universalists as we embrace life as a journey and faith as something that can grow and change and deepen throughout our lives. The Hebrew poet and philosopher, Solomon ibn Gabriol, says, “We are wise only while in search of wisdom; when we imagine we have attained it, we are fools.” This reminds us there is a natural connection between seeking wisdom and being open to ongoing learning, growth, and discovery. This month, we will explore this theme as we reflect on broadening our perspective while parenting and protecting what we value in difficult times, and learning from our history.
We also celebrate a big anniversary in our tradition this month. May 26, 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the chartering of the American Unitarian Association! The Universalist side of our tradition is slightly older. The organization that would become the Universalist Church of America established in 1791. And in 1961, these two traditions merged to form the Unitarian Universalist Association of which UUCB is a proud member.
In honor of the 200th anniversary of the American Unitarian Association, the UU World has been sharing articles highlighting some important moments in our history.
In this first one, Rev. Ethan Loewi shares how the Iowa Sisterhood, a small group of dedicated women Unitarian ministers in the 1800s, spread the gospel of their liberal faith throughout the Great Plains, while also experiencing discrimination within our tradition.
This next article offers the explanation from Egbert Ethelred Brown, who founded the Harlem Unitarian Church in 1920, tells us why he became a Unitarian minister despite the challenges he faced as a Black man.
These stories reveal the complexity of our faith as one full of trailblazers and how many of our trailblazers faced obstacles and even scorn within our tradition. It reminds us how important it is to understand our history, learn from it, and keep cultivating an openness to growth, learning and wisdom within our tradition today.
