It was finding Unitarian Universalism and then attending General Assembly that brought my call to light.
Discerning A Call TO MINISTRY
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka
As a child, I was drawn to what we UUs call the "free and responsible search for truth and meaning." My parents came from Catholic and Methodist roots but were not actively involved in those traditions. On the occasions when I did explore churches with family and friends, I found that questions weren't always welcome. It wasn’t until adulthood, when I first attended worship at the Unitarian Universalist church in Topeka, that I found my home.
The UUs in Kansas taught me how to put my values and beliefs into action. Our congregation was regularly protested by the Westboro Baptist Church, an infamous anti-gay church based in Topeka. We supported same-sex marriage and had a female minister. (Our minister at the time was incredibly proud to be on their "roster of the damned.") One Sunday, I watched and provided support as our youth made lemonade and cookie trays to take out to the protesters. I found people in this church living their faith outside the walls in powerful and life-affirming ways.
I joined the UU Fellowship of Topeka and became active on their worship team, social justice committee, and Board of Trustees. The church sponsored my attendance at General Assembly in 2008. One afternoon while at GA, I was walking down the hall, the banners of the attending congregations lining the walls around me, and I had the surprising and consuming thought: "I want to do this all the time. I want to devote my life to this faith. I want to be a minister." The next fall, I started moved to the Boston area to begin my seminary education at Andover Newton.
My time in seminary placed me in the middle of one of the most historic cities in the United States, provided a strong community of Unitarian Universalists, and, as a progressive Christian school, allowed me to heal from some experiences I had in religion as a child. My time there also gave me experience in leadership, as I created a labyrinth ministry, helped lead the UU student group on campus, and served as treasurer of the Student Association. My final year, I led the Student Association and received an award for campus leadership upon graduation. These experiences and the education I received at Andover Newton reinforced and refined my understanding of my call, preparing me to move on into active parish ministry positions.
Wilson Chapel, Andover Newton Theological School