November Moderator’s Minute (2024)

Hello friends! The weather is finally turning a bit cooler. I’m taking advantage of the Fall weather that seems to regularly occur now – at least between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. – when I can wear my sweaters. I am anxiously awaiting a socially appropriate time to begin setting up my Christmas inflatable display. I’m celebrating one of those birthdays that marks a transition into a new decade – the kind that makes you reflect a bit on where you’ve been and where you’re going. And I have just returned from the UCC Florida Conference Annual Gathering.

For someone who grew up in very different denominations (Catholic and evangelical non-denominational), it was a fascinating experience. I saw the worship practices, musical choices, and language used by other congregations. I learned more about how our denomination functions as an organization. I learned more about the ministries happening throughout our state and through the national conference. I met Snow White, Dopey and Grumpy! 

Some parts made me a little uncomfortable. For example, I could not have predicted how viscerally I would respond to the sound of chords played on a keyboard while someone prayed. In my evangelical days, a similar practice was used in altar calls, which I would later come to believe was a manipulation of peoples’ emotional states. It was just similar enough to remind me of the faith practices of my past, even though what was happening in the room was quite different. To be clear – no altar calls were performed at the Annual Gathering (or probably ever in UCC history).

Some parts gave me an even deeper appreciation for our denomination. Even twenty years removed from my evangelical days, I am still deeply impressed that a church ordains queer-identifying ministers. It’s really not something to be impressed by – it’s like being impressed that ice is cold. Of course, it is – as it should be. But the ex-evangelical in me, still a little wounded from years of repressive theology, still marvels a bit that there are other churches – lots of them – that don’t…hate. UCG is the only church I’ve belonged to after leaving the faith systems of my youth, a protective little bubble in which my faith identity has matured. I don’t think I even realized how much I believed we were very, very special – ultra unique in our acceptance of people. It was a gift to be reminded that we are a special community for many reasons, but loving people isn’t unique to our church. 

Some things were new to me like the tiniest sealed cup of communion wine with the tiniest communion wafer sealed into the bottom of the cup – seriously, so tiny! Some things felt reassuringly familiar, like the thirty minutes spent making friendly amendment upon friendly amendment to the language of a proposed bylaw change that was ultimately sent back to committee. There were many other moments in which I knew I was feeling something that I couldn’t name at the moment. Over the years, I’ve learned when that happens it is best to get curious, to ask myself some questions about how the experience I’m having might be impacting me. One feeling was crystal clear – I realized just how deep our roster of support is as a congregation in this denomination. In these months ahead that will be filled with change, it was reassuring to know just how much wisdom and tangible resources are available to us.

The next few months will be busy. Aside from the regular busyness of the holidays, we will also say goodbye to Bromleigh, transition to a time with Talia as solo minister, and continue to work on our next steps as a congregation. Once again, there will be a lot happening, so I ask you to be diligent in reading the bulletins, emails and newsletters, and to look out for other opportunities to hear more about what’s happening. Our Interim Search Committee is already hard at work drafting the church profile used to announce the position. The Pathfinding Implementation Sub-Committee is hard at work on its various tasks – see the newsletter update from Chair, Tim Martin, for more information. 

I suspect in the next few months you might have some moments like I did at the Annual Gathering – moments that feel uncomfortable, impressive, amusing, novel, or reassuring. And I imagine you’ll also have some moments where you can’t quite place what you’re feeling. I hope you’ll join me in being curious about those feelings – and the feelings others are experiencing. By the way, I finally figured out what my “mystery feeling” was – hope. I feel hopeful about our future, more certain we are going to be okay even if we don’t have all the answers for how we will get there just yet.

Lindsey Telg

Moderator