United and Uniting

I've spent some of these writings in mostly transparent reflection about my place as a Kansas Mennonite both in the Pacific Northwest and the United Church of Christ.  The reflections haven't always been rosy, and no doubt the dissonance between these places and identities continues loud and clear.  But this weekend I occupied the perspective of the other side, as a youth minister in the Seattle area United Church of Christ.

I took four of my youth to our annual Senior High Mid-Winter Retreat at one of our conference's camps: Pilgrim Firs.  The location, activities, and friendships were important, but here I want to reflect on something else - something less tangible.  Our theme for the weekend was "Be a Hero," and the focus was on the gifts we all have and how we offer those gifts to the world.

Discipleship, faith identity, faithfulness to God, peace and social justice, even spirituality were grace notes to this theme.  They were not the center, not in the way the are for Mennonite faith formation.  Instead, this was a place of utter acceptance regardless of belief or unbelief, regardless of talent or lack thereof, regardless of name, history, race, orientation.  There is no orthodoxy and no orthopraxis, no rightness or belief or practice.  The "rules" if we can call them that are about unwavering tolerance and uncompromising respect for one another.  From time to time, the youth make small comments that capture this character: I love going to a church where when someone says throw me a Bible, the Bible actually flies across the room.  I love going to a camp where the kids who are dating might be two teenage boys, not always a boy and a girl.   

I have rarely if ever been so generously welcomed by a community and a place.  I have never seen youth who are so accepting of one another.  This is one picture of God's kingdom breaking into reality, one manifestation radical hospitality.  This is one way to do church that challenges most others.  There is no center and there are no boundaries of exclusion.  Really and truly, all one needs to do is simply come.   

The United Church of Christ is an approximately fifty year old denomination, created in the joining of several groups of churches.  As a diverse collection with mostly congregational polity, part of its covenantal promise is to be "united and uniting."  Inherent here is one transcendent expression of welcome.  I feel like a small microcosm for that sentiment - united and uniting the Mennonite and the UCC, united and uniting the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest, united and uniting in one body and in the work (and play) of this one life.