Our Minister: Rev. Elizabeth Stevens

Be ours a religion which, like sunshine,
goes everywhere;
Its temple, all space;
Its shrine, the good heart;
Its creed, all truth;
Its ritual, works of love;
Its profession of faith, divine living.
-Theodore Parker

 

There are certain spiritual issues that every human being must grapple with, regardless of faith tradition. What is the meaning of life? What happens when we die? Why must we all suffer? How do we best care for the earth? How do we live together in peace?
Unitarian Universalists believe that there is no one right answer to any of these questions. Instead, we affirm the right and the responsibility of each person to search answers which are “somewhat adequate for me for now,” answers that help us to live better lives. We find wisdom in all of the world’s major religions, in literature and philosophy, in the natural world, and in each other’s experiences, but the ultimate authority is the ‘still, small voice’ which whispers in each individual heart.

If you are looking for a religious community that asks the questions without dictating the answers, you have found it.

You must be willing to enter with an open mind. You will be sitting next to people who have radically different beliefs than you. Here, Christians, pagans, atheists, humanists, Buddhists and Jews worship side by side. What holds us together is a deep and abiding respect for one another. We strive to speak our truth without needing to change anyone’s mind, and to listen without needing to agree.

You must be willing to enter with an open heart. We believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status. We embrace and value diversity.

You must be willing to live as if your life matters. Our mission calls us to build a liberal religious community of love and justice, enriched by diversity, that nurtures spirituality and inspires us to act on our beliefs. It is not what we believe or how we feel or who we are that saves us. It is what we choose to do.
As the minister of this beloved community, I freely admit, there’s quite a bit I don’t know, but this I know for certain: whenever we reach out to someone with respect and compassion, it makes a difference. My hands and the hands of the members of the Kitsap Unitarian Universalist Fellowship are reaching out, ready to welcome you.

Check out Reverend Liz's monthly Minister's Musings.