Changing Relationships, Changing Perspectives

Sunday, April 25, 2004

Rev. Gretchen Woods

 

TALKING POINTS

 

Introduction

 

Connections between UUs in Transylvania and USA: need to remember that Unitarianism did not begin in the United States, nor even in the colonies.

 

Arian heresy rife in northern Europe from the fourth century on.

  1. Brief history of 16th century
    1. George Biandrata, physician to the Queen of Transylvania and her young son, John Sigismund died in 1588.
    2. David Ferenc (Francis David), led Transylvanian churches from Catholicism, to Lutheranism, to Calvinism, to Unitarianism – very charismatic and always concerned with reform, died in prison for "innovation" in 1579
    3. Post founders: riven with argument over "innovation"

            In 1638 the Diet of Dees decreed a new creed for Unitarians which called for worship of Christ, but not as God, re-institution of infant baptisms, which had been allowed to lapse, and the observance of the Lord’s supper. At the same time, the church was forbidden to publish and was warned that innovation would be punished by the state. The decree had the effect of limiting the freedom of belief of the Unitarian Church, but securing the continued existence of the church within the definition offered by the decree. The Agreement of Dees remained the official standard of the Unitarian Church in Transylvania into the twentieth century. It has sometimes been changed by interpretation, but never by amendment. (David E. Bumbaugh, Unitarian Universalism: a narrative history, p. 59.)

Further: . . . the revolution of 1848, and wars between Russia and Austria brought renewed threat of repression. Only financial intervention by English Unitarians, who had recently discovered their Eastern European cousins, saved the Transylvania schools affiliated with the Unitarian Church. The First and Second World Wars brought new devastation to the country and particularly to the Unitarian portion of the population. The period of Cold War Communism inflicted severe limitations upon the life of the Unitarian Churches of Transylvania, with ministers being imprisoned and Unitarian villages threatened with destruction. And yet, the fact remains that despite centuries of repression, the Unitarian Church still survives in the land where it was first called by that name and still seeks to fulfill its ancient commitment to reason and tolerance and the ancient cry that "God Is One!" (Ibid. p. 60.)

  1. Response to 20th century persecution

Late twentieth century, the UU congregations in the United States began to even recognize our connection to the village churches in Transylvania, and began direct relationships church to church.

 

Explanation of Changing Relationships:

  1. want to be more actively working With congregations in Transylvania
  2. not just give money, then leave
  3.  

Explanation of Changing Perspectives

A.   want to understand each other better

B.   want to discourage post 9/11 isolationism

 

CONCLUSION:

Changing both perspectives and relationships takes attention, which is spiritual practice.

We need to listen,

to think with, not for

to recognize the incredible differences in cultures

to recognize the commonalities in religious search for truth.

With respect, responsibility, and relish for the process.