Spiritual Development
“Life becomes religious whenever we make it so: when some new light is seen, when some deeper appreciation is felt, when some larger outlook is gained, when some nobler purpose is formed, when some task is well done.”- Sophia Lyon Fahs (1876-1978)
Even during my days as a Holiness Pentecostal minister, I was always in a position that advanced religious formation and education. I taught spirituality and religion to the whole range of life span from children to adults- even to fellow ministers. It is an essential part of my call and always has been. Naturally, I became an innovative educator for a huge chunk of my career to date. To get through these times, I have relied heavily on my own spiritual practices- creating them, growing them, changing them, and owning them. For this reason, I wanted to take a group of congregations on the journey with me. So, during my internship, I developed and facilitated a small group ministry called Owning Your Religious Past, which created space for participants to reckon with their religious upbringings and integrate them into their current and developing religious lives as I was on the journey as well. There was a broad range of religious backgrounds from non-religious to Catholicism represented in the group. It was profound and deepened the relationships of the congregants who participate within themselves and each other. It was healing, empowering, and powerful.
Lifespan Spiritual Exploration multi-generational gathering August 2021, Montpelier, VT.
Interview about Queerality for Vermont Public Broadcasting, November 2021.
I also wanted to model my own journey over the years navigating my sexuality with my spirituality. For this reason, I created a public small group ministry called Queerality, which explored the intersectionality of sexuality and spirituality for congregants and community members who identify as queer. For both groups, we meet twice a month and share and care for each other exploring our innermost selves and spirituality in a safe and brave space. Our sessions were life-giving, relationship-building learning experiences, and mutually beneficial especially during the pandemic. I had to model sensitivity and compassion while creating safe spaces for vulnerability and exploration. With my experience in teaching adult learners as a community college professor, it came naturally to integrate these skills into my ministry for the purpose of supporting the spiritual lives of people.
I was also able to rely on my days as a summer camp counselor and director at YMCA camp during late teens and early 20s to work with children and youth through participation in multi-generational outings and co-leading times for all ages in worship.
Time for All Ages: Our Principles as a House of Love, Sept. 26, 2021, with Liza Earle-Center, Director of Lifespan Spiritual Exploration, Unitarian Church of Montpelier.
“I always try to learn something new everyday.”
I believe that lifespan spiritual development is essential to the future of our faith and denomination. It is also my specialization. However, my approach is to provide direction and oversight for the faith formation/religious education staff and volunteers, and directly support and collaborate with its leadership. If there isn’t a youth ministry, one must be created as this is another essential growth opportunity for individual selves and the community. My approach is to support and provide direction over this work while working collaboratively with leadership in this area to ensure its impact.
My approach is to also ensure that adult religious education thrives in congregations. My specialization and experience in faith formation have taught me these are vital for the health and well-being of the congregation and build community. Chalice Circle small groups and small group ministry opportunities utilizing tools and resources such as “Owing Your Religious Past," “Building Your Own Theology,” and UU Common Read.
