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My name is Kalvin Drake, and I'm a Unitarian*Universalist…
I've been a Unitarian*Universalist since Tuesday, September 12,
1972… since around 6:30 in the evening…
Of course, I didn't know that I was Unitarian and
a Universalist. I didn't even know the terms, let alone a definition
of the terms. In fact, I quickly discovered that I definitely
wasn't a Unitarian or a Universalist when I read what scant
definitions I could find in the encyclopedias and the other books in
my teenage bedroom in the North of England.
You see, according to the books I couldn't be a
Unitarian or a Universalist because I wasn't a Christian, and I
didn't much care whether God came in one, three or 57 varieties. The
"ultimate salvation of my soul" wasn't a major concern to me either,
since I was confident that whatever "happened to me when I died"
would be (or at least should be) determined by how I lived in
this life. And if I was wrong, then I knew I'd have some
pretty "good" company down there in Hell.
It wasn't until I came to Canada that I
associated myself with the labels "Unitarian" and "Universalist".
Even then it took some time! Too much time. In the days before that
great Unitarian invention, the World Wide Web, it wasn't easy to
find you! The definitions I found in the North American reference
books were much the same as in the British.
It was only years later that I discovered that,
while North American Unitarians and Universalists continue to use
Christian terminology, they might mean something quite different! I
guess that I, like many others I've talked to, hadn't stuck around
long enough to listen to the "small print" that says "Well, when
Unitarians say 'Church', 'Sermons' and 'Hymns', they don't mean
'Church', 'Sermons' and 'Hymns' like…" Well, you know what I mean!
In fact, it was only through Humanist and
Buddhist groups in Canada that I learned "No, really, take a look at
the Unitarians. Fortunately, they are not what the say they are!"
I suspect my story is not unique - and that many
of you have stumbled across Unitarianism by accident…
Not only have we ourselves forgone the benefits
of being "connected" for much of our short lives, I am convinced
that there are countless thousands across this country - and
millions across the world - who would be comforted and energized by
simply knowing we exist.
And beyond the individual, I have come to believe
that Unitarian*Universalism offers not only a religious, but
a unique philosophical and political common ground
where diverse people can come together from across this fractious
planet to solve complex problems with mutual respect and trust.
It is for these reasons that I see the work of
the Canadian Unitarian Council as so important, and why I am so
grateful to have the opportunity to work with such competent staff
and volunteers at both the regional level as a Congregational
Networker and at the National level as a member of several
committees and task forces.
Together, as individual Unitarian*Universalists
and as members of the CUC, our work is vital - for the peace
and solace of individual hearts and minds, and for the very future
of our planet.
Thank you.
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