First of all…thanks to those who responded to my previous blog posts… you are appreciated.
Most people attracted to Unity either have, or are seeking a postmodern world view and that’s most likely the reason Unity churches aren’t growing fast! It is a very difficult demographic to serve, yet it is ours! So, what does that mean? First of all, a basic understanding of the postmodern world view and how it emerged is essential.
POSTMODERNISM in Unity
1. Most people who hold postmodern world views agree that the human spirit needs to be freed from religious dogma, from greed and material fears, and from the kind of divisiveness that marginalizes people because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, wealth, status and a myriad of other kinds of unfair discriminations. They believe in prosperity and that having “more than enough” needs to be extended to all, not just the privileged. The earth’s resources and opportunities should be spread equally but with consideration for the environment.
2. Every voice should have an equal say and all perspectives should be given equal consideration. As each individual seeks their own inner peace and deep spiritual truth they can join with others in harmonious, peaceful relationships and interactions. Thus, all decisions should be reached without struggle and through spiritually inspired consensus and, if needed, reconciliation processes.
3. A state of inner divine perfection exists in each person. No one truly needs to change as the truest essence of everyone is already divine and perfect. The mind (including the heart) is paramount and each individual creates his or her world by the thoughts, feelings and beliefs he or she holds. Each individual simply needs to realize their own perfection and let their own divine light shine. As each person allows their light to shine, these lights will come together without struggle, creating a harmonious world that works for all.
4. Since each person is perfect, each person has inner access to Truth. Truth does not come from the outer world but is an inner spiritual realization. Thus, one doesn’t need to adopt another’s religious dogma or creed if it is felt to be in opposition to the individual, inner experience of truth. In that same light one can go on a spiritual search and discover others who share the same perspective of Truth. There is no real need to join an institutionalized religious or spiritual organization (I will call it church for the sake of brevity) for this purpose. In fact, for some, it may seem like the church actually detracts from the experience of Truth if the church is not teaching Truth in the same precise way that the individual seeker currently understands it.
5. Also, if the church finds itself in divisive conflicts similar to the conflicts that plague other organizations in our culture, then that means that the church, (or some of its people – often including the minister) must be operating from a state of un-enlightenment. The conflict will usually be seen as evidence that the church leadership is either incompetent at providing a truth based experience or it is incapable of effectively dealing with unenlightened troublemakers. (If “they” were truly practicing the spiritual principles this wouldn’t – couldn’t – happen, so that means “they” – the one’s I disagree with – are out of touch with their inner perfection and are dominated by their ego.) Thus, when this happens the church is seen as something to avoid if one wants to maintain a positive connection with one’s inner truth of peace and harmony.
6. Also, there are a huge number of spiritual inspiring resources such as books, videos, television, and websites that are available and are directed at the postmodern seeker demographic. And, there are a myriad of workshops and seminars that seem to be available somewhere every weekend of the year. Most of the creators or presenters are highly talented professionals who are exceptionally good at communicating spiritual ideas. Every Unity church (and minister) is, at some level, in competition with a huge number of voices that are seeking to gain the attention of people on the postmodern spiritual path. And, many of these seekers simply reject a church in which an “ordained” individual stands up and brings the Truth every Sunday morning. Often by implication this is interpreted as meaning that the ordained person has a high spiritual status or a greater grasp on Truth. That kind of status is something that is strongly rejected by many – likely the majority – of people who hold a postmodern perspective on spirituality.
7. Last but not least. It becomes apparent that the challenge of attracting and keeping large numbers of people who hold a postmodern perspective will be extremely challenging to say the least. It appears that there are three major things that attract and hold a person who is a postmodern spiritual seeker…and there are many of them!
a. One. Community; which usually means that the church will stay relatively small in order to provide the intimacy that makes community appealing. When a church approaches 150 Sunday attendance the increased complexity of community relationships causes stress and begins the needed breakdown if the church is going to grow past that stage. However, that transition is usually not successful because of the unwillingness of participants (often both members and leadership) to let go of the current community / intimacy experience that has been holding the church together in meaningful ways. If pushed, conflict often ensues resulting in the decline of numbers which brings back the potential to re-create the community experience. And, if there is no driving mission that’s more compelling than the experience of community, there is no real reason to abandon and restructure the relationships that are currently providing that community experience of intimacy.
b. Two. It needs to be a church that can provide “spiritual food” that resonates with, nourishes, and supports the inner truth as uniquely perceived by the individual postmodern seeker. This is very difficult to do because of the diversity of postmodern spiritual paths. The church must also demonstrate to the seeker that the Truth it teaches actually works in people’s lives as demonstrated by the lives of the leadership; ministerial and lay. And, even more important, this Truth must be demonstrated by the church organization in the way it expresses peace, love, consensus building, and equality of individual perspectives. It must prove that it “walks the walk” by being an organization of individuals who are letting their light shine resulting in the spontaneous, struggle free growth of peace, harmony and prosperity.
c. Three. A highly charismatic, powerful leader whose lessons or teachings are at the same or higher quality than can be obtained in other ways. Most of the Unity churches that get well past the 150 mark do so because of the skills and the charismatic personality of the minister. When that personality leaves the church it can, and often does, become a huge problem.
MORE ABOUT POSTMODERNISM AND THE HISTORY OF UNITY
Postmodernism emerged at a time (in the late 19th and early 20th century) when Modernism was just coming into full expression. The Modern world view emerged as science began to provide a better and more accurate understanding of the world than the stories that emerged through religion. Not only were the new stories more accurate, but science and the new knowledge of how to manipulate and exploit the material world began to provide a rapidly expanding range of solutions to the problems humans faced. Science and industry provided ways to make human life much better. An example is dramatically extended human life expectancy and the production of enormous amounts of human food (resulting in explosive population growth). And, as we are coming to realize, new world views also create new problems.
The purely scientific perspective did not answer all needs as demonstrated by Myrtle and Charles experiences with illness. When Myrtle attended the E.B. Week’s New Thought lecture (New Thought is a Postmodern spirituality) she entered into a personal healing experience that transcended the curative power of emerging modern medicine.
At that same time, Charles, a business man and entrepreneur, was thoroughly grounded in the modern world perspective. The modernist perspective gave birth to the entrepreneurial spirit that Charles expressed. It created new possibilities for personal, individual achievement that would be rewarded with prosperity and the good life. After Charles’ rather rocky road trying to create a satisfying life using his entrepreneurial skills, and after his observation of Myrtle’s healings, his world view began to change to postmodern with an emerging inner need for spiritually. However, he included his modernist emphasis on prosperity, individual achievement and the “more than enough” good life in his understanding of spirituality. So, Unity began as an early expression of Postmodernism.
IN CONCLUSSION
That’s a very brief look at Postmodernism and the Unity way of life. It may be possible for you to see why it is so difficult for our churches to grow today. And, it doesn’t look as if I think the postmodern Unity movement will become the fastest growing transformational spiritual movement in the world, does it?
Is there an answer? I believe there is. It is in the evolution of our movement, our teachings and who we have come here to be. An understanding of how to transcend postmodernism is needed and needed soon! And, that answer – a new World View – is emerging.
Next Blog!
Barry L. Vennard
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Why Haven't We Always Been the Fastest Growing Movement?
After 15 years of Unity ministry and much of it traveling the U.S. doing Transitional Ministry and Peace Work in various Unity churches, I have come to the conclusion that there are far, far more people that have left Unity congregations after becoming involved then are currently active!
My guess is that the number that have left is at least double; probably triple (or more) than our current membership. In the church I am currently serving, the Unity Church of Omaha, our current membership is around 200. I’m sure there are well over a 1000 people who live in Omaha, who have been active in the church over the years, and who have left for one reason or another and simply refuse to come back even though we have successfully addressed the issues that were used as explanations for their leaving. Why is that?
Is it because there is something wrong with us? Maybe, but I don’t think so even though the common denominator I’ve discovered is – disillusionment with their experience in the church!
And, their disillusionment is usually tied to some kind of divisive conflict or disagreement within the church that should never have happened (according to those who have left) if Unity people were living the principles of universal and unconditional love that they teach and preach and if they were truly coming from the perfect presence of God that we call the real and only true nature of each and every human being…a truth that is most accessible to those who are awake to it; those who embrace Unity!
Today, we (our Association) is attempting to put together a plan to make Unity the fastest growing transformative spiritual movement in the world. How can that happen if disillusionment continues to plague us?
We continue to have ministers and many members of our congregations die at early ages from cancer and other illnesses when we affirm that healing is our inheritance and we claim it all the time.
Our Association, Unity Institute, Unity churches and many of our congregants are experiencing critical financial shortages when we know that our affirmations of God’s abundance and prosperity can never fail no matter what the outer circumstances are? Shouldn’t we be the ones in the world demonstrating that truth right now when it can be most powerful and when the rest of the world is not yet awake to it?
We affirm growth in our congregations …fast growth..yet, how many of our churches are really growing fast? Is that disillusioning for some of us?
And, we say that we live the principles of peace and unconditional love, yet, how many of our congregations have experienced divisive and damaging conflict, maybe one of the most disillusioning aspects of our movement.
So, what’s going on? And, how should we respond to “disillusionment?” One of the ways we respond is to try to deny and ignore disillusionment because of its inherent negative energy. By doing that, according to us, we do not give energy to something we don’t want to increase…and surely we don’t want to increase the experience of disillusionment, do we? Or, do we?
What if disillusionment is the necessary life condition that calls us to transcend the current world view that is limiting Unity and limiting humanity as a whole? What if the Modern and Postmodern world views that gave birth to Unity have served their purpose and need to evolve yet can’t be transcended without disillusionment? What if it is this current world view - Post-modernism - is now beginning to decline in order that a new Integral world view can emerge and transcend it? What if Unity evolved as a Modern / Postmodern spirituality that has high potential to evolve to an Integral Spirituality, a potential that may only be fulfilled when the Modern / Postmodern form no longer works?
Postmodernism is the final stage of the six, Tier One levels of human consciousness development according to the Integral theory that Unity is currently embracing. The evolution to the next stage – the Integral stage -is not like the evolution through previous stages…. It requires a “Great leap.” And, that Great Leap will likely only happen when life conditions resulting from the problems that emerged through the Modern and Postmodern world views can no longer be solved by the minds operating from those world views. And, likely that will be experienced as disillusionment.
And, what if failure to acknowledge that the experience of disillusionment is real, valid and essential for the ongoing evolution of human consciousness is what is restricting our growth and effectiveness? Could it be that failure to embrace disillusionment is a fear based reaction that only increases the resistance to the transformation that is the next essential step in the spiritual transformation of human kind?.... and Unity?
My guess is that the number that have left is at least double; probably triple (or more) than our current membership. In the church I am currently serving, the Unity Church of Omaha, our current membership is around 200. I’m sure there are well over a 1000 people who live in Omaha, who have been active in the church over the years, and who have left for one reason or another and simply refuse to come back even though we have successfully addressed the issues that were used as explanations for their leaving. Why is that?
Is it because there is something wrong with us? Maybe, but I don’t think so even though the common denominator I’ve discovered is – disillusionment with their experience in the church!
And, their disillusionment is usually tied to some kind of divisive conflict or disagreement within the church that should never have happened (according to those who have left) if Unity people were living the principles of universal and unconditional love that they teach and preach and if they were truly coming from the perfect presence of God that we call the real and only true nature of each and every human being…a truth that is most accessible to those who are awake to it; those who embrace Unity!
Today, we (our Association) is attempting to put together a plan to make Unity the fastest growing transformative spiritual movement in the world. How can that happen if disillusionment continues to plague us?
We continue to have ministers and many members of our congregations die at early ages from cancer and other illnesses when we affirm that healing is our inheritance and we claim it all the time.
Our Association, Unity Institute, Unity churches and many of our congregants are experiencing critical financial shortages when we know that our affirmations of God’s abundance and prosperity can never fail no matter what the outer circumstances are? Shouldn’t we be the ones in the world demonstrating that truth right now when it can be most powerful and when the rest of the world is not yet awake to it?
We affirm growth in our congregations …fast growth..yet, how many of our churches are really growing fast? Is that disillusioning for some of us?
And, we say that we live the principles of peace and unconditional love, yet, how many of our congregations have experienced divisive and damaging conflict, maybe one of the most disillusioning aspects of our movement.
So, what’s going on? And, how should we respond to “disillusionment?” One of the ways we respond is to try to deny and ignore disillusionment because of its inherent negative energy. By doing that, according to us, we do not give energy to something we don’t want to increase…and surely we don’t want to increase the experience of disillusionment, do we? Or, do we?
What if disillusionment is the necessary life condition that calls us to transcend the current world view that is limiting Unity and limiting humanity as a whole? What if the Modern and Postmodern world views that gave birth to Unity have served their purpose and need to evolve yet can’t be transcended without disillusionment? What if it is this current world view - Post-modernism - is now beginning to decline in order that a new Integral world view can emerge and transcend it? What if Unity evolved as a Modern / Postmodern spirituality that has high potential to evolve to an Integral Spirituality, a potential that may only be fulfilled when the Modern / Postmodern form no longer works?
Postmodernism is the final stage of the six, Tier One levels of human consciousness development according to the Integral theory that Unity is currently embracing. The evolution to the next stage – the Integral stage -is not like the evolution through previous stages…. It requires a “Great leap.” And, that Great Leap will likely only happen when life conditions resulting from the problems that emerged through the Modern and Postmodern world views can no longer be solved by the minds operating from those world views. And, likely that will be experienced as disillusionment.
And, what if failure to acknowledge that the experience of disillusionment is real, valid and essential for the ongoing evolution of human consciousness is what is restricting our growth and effectiveness? Could it be that failure to embrace disillusionment is a fear based reaction that only increases the resistance to the transformation that is the next essential step in the spiritual transformation of human kind?.... and Unity?
Friday, March 27, 2009
A New Depth of Problem Solving is Needed
There is a fundamental problem that is the foundation for many of the other social and cultural problems facing humanity at this time in our evolutionary history.
The problem is actually not very difficult to identify because it’s an expression of an evolutionary challenge that is basic to life on our planet. The challenge most organisms (and species) face is to satisfy the instinctual drive to maximize their chances for survival and reproduction. That drive is fundamental to all organisms and is basic to human beings who are evolved primates; great apes with opposable thumbs and extraordinary and unprecedented creative minds.
It is the tool making ape with the creative mind that opened the way for that natural drive to evolve into a life threatening addiction. That happened through the emergence of the modern and post-modern human world view in which the fundamental instinct to maximize survival and reproduction has now evolved into a growing human addiction to “More.” The addiction is supplied by the accelerating exploitation and consumption of earth’s natural resources made possible by the evolution of the human, creative mind. It’s this accelerating addiction to more that is the unaddressed problem. It’s the problem that’s at the bottom of environmental degradation, war and the ever present threat of nuclear annihilation, diminishing natural resources, over-population, financial collapse, and extreme stress and health problems for societies and individuals; just to name a few.
But, because most human beings are engaged in the addiction it seems almost impossible to address. Denial prevails big-time! And, most efforts to solve contemporary human problems simply ignore that reality. If it does get addressed it is usually only by finger pointed at those who are judged greedy or those addicted to substances such as alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, etc.
Thus, most problem solving efforts today are not about trying to recover from the addiction. They are mostly efforts to control, manage and stay alive, often in an effort to continue and increase addictive gratification and relief. It’s much the same way an alcoholic tries to control and enjoy the addiction to alcohol. But, for the alcoholic, the addiction results in escalating drinking that ultimately leads to deteriorating life conditions and collapse. The escalating human consumption of natural resources to feed the addiction is moving humanity towards collapse, and like most addictions, that movement towards collapse is accelerating.
Fortunately there is a model for addiction recovery. Unfortunately it is a Modern / Post-Modern model and has very limited effectiveness. A new addiction recovery program with a global perspective is needed. It will likely include and transcend the existing approaches with an integral model.
If the emerging global crisis(s) is truly the consequence of this human addiction, and if the solution is the evolution of a significant number of people to the Integral stage, and, if it is the critical deterioration of life conditions that open the way for the radical and drastic change required for transformation and authentic recovery, then it is likely that individuals whose lives are close to addictive collapse might be some of the best candidates for that change today.
And, it might now be possible to create an addiction recovery program that can facilitate the transformation of a significant number of addicted individuals to the Integral stage.
The problem is actually not very difficult to identify because it’s an expression of an evolutionary challenge that is basic to life on our planet. The challenge most organisms (and species) face is to satisfy the instinctual drive to maximize their chances for survival and reproduction. That drive is fundamental to all organisms and is basic to human beings who are evolved primates; great apes with opposable thumbs and extraordinary and unprecedented creative minds.
It is the tool making ape with the creative mind that opened the way for that natural drive to evolve into a life threatening addiction. That happened through the emergence of the modern and post-modern human world view in which the fundamental instinct to maximize survival and reproduction has now evolved into a growing human addiction to “More.” The addiction is supplied by the accelerating exploitation and consumption of earth’s natural resources made possible by the evolution of the human, creative mind. It’s this accelerating addiction to more that is the unaddressed problem. It’s the problem that’s at the bottom of environmental degradation, war and the ever present threat of nuclear annihilation, diminishing natural resources, over-population, financial collapse, and extreme stress and health problems for societies and individuals; just to name a few.
But, because most human beings are engaged in the addiction it seems almost impossible to address. Denial prevails big-time! And, most efforts to solve contemporary human problems simply ignore that reality. If it does get addressed it is usually only by finger pointed at those who are judged greedy or those addicted to substances such as alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, etc.
Thus, most problem solving efforts today are not about trying to recover from the addiction. They are mostly efforts to control, manage and stay alive, often in an effort to continue and increase addictive gratification and relief. It’s much the same way an alcoholic tries to control and enjoy the addiction to alcohol. But, for the alcoholic, the addiction results in escalating drinking that ultimately leads to deteriorating life conditions and collapse. The escalating human consumption of natural resources to feed the addiction is moving humanity towards collapse, and like most addictions, that movement towards collapse is accelerating.
Fortunately there is a model for addiction recovery. Unfortunately it is a Modern / Post-Modern model and has very limited effectiveness. A new addiction recovery program with a global perspective is needed. It will likely include and transcend the existing approaches with an integral model.
If the emerging global crisis(s) is truly the consequence of this human addiction, and if the solution is the evolution of a significant number of people to the Integral stage, and, if it is the critical deterioration of life conditions that open the way for the radical and drastic change required for transformation and authentic recovery, then it is likely that individuals whose lives are close to addictive collapse might be some of the best candidates for that change today.
And, it might now be possible to create an addiction recovery program that can facilitate the transformation of a significant number of addicted individuals to the Integral stage.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A Spiral Dynamics Understanding of Addiction
This blog entry requires knowledge of Spiral Dynamics Integral and the colors used to represent stages of evolution in human consciousness.
First, before I address the Spiral Dynamics nature of addiction I want to re-address the current life conditions creating the need for an evolutionary change of consciousness: (sorry, I need to quote from an earlier blog).
The life conditions in play are created by the natural, evolutionary, and overwhelming drive of species to maximize their survival and reproduction capabilities combined with the human emergence of the Spiral Dynamics orange and green world views that include aspects of purple, red and blue.
The evolution of the Orange stage (Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution) of human conscious created a seemingly unlimited supply of human food and resulted in an exlosive growth in human population. What’s even more important is that Orange also created the unique human capacity to further exploit natural resources enabling human beings to acquire a seemingly unlimited supply of the “ things” that provide comfort, represent higher status in the hierarchy and create a sense of security and power. The evolution of Green (Post Modern) seeks to reduce hierarchy and to share that capacity on a more equal basis with all people. The result is a growing human global addiction to “more.” That addiction has spawned a world wide economy based on the expanding consumption of natural resources and is fuelled by Orange and Green. (see the metaphor in my blog on Cancer, Heart Disease and Spiritual Healing).
Acknowledging that a life built on this kind of addiction will eventually collapse and that this life condition actually exists in us as a species – overcoming denial - may be biggest challenge and the first thing that needs to be done. Ovcercoming denial can happen when the addiction is presented, not as something that is evidence of human failure but as something that emerged through evolution and was inevitable. And, that it’s source is actually Divine in nature (more about that later).makes it understandable as simply a product of an essential stage of evolution.
That perspective also helps people be open to the need for the transformation of the ideas, attitudes and beliefs that currently dominate human consciousness (Tier One world views) and requires a new set of strategies (creative responses) to address a much more complex world. … and that need is becoming critical.
It’s the unsustatinable addictive life condition that is accelerating the need for people with post-modern – green world views to evolve to second tier yellow / turquoise states of mind. And, as many of us are becoming aware of, this may be THE turning point for humanity.
At this point people with a Tier 1 center of gravity often see the addiction of humanity to "more" as either not a problem they have as an individual or see it as someone else’s problem and thus have little interest in addressing it. People who have a Tier 2 center of gravity know this as a global human problem that everyone needs to address.
Feedback delay in this complex world makes denial of the addiction an even bigger challenge. It makes it hard to see that consequences – the karma – we are creating through this escalating addiction. An example of delayed feedback is the pesticide DDT. The chemical emerged in the early 20th century. In 1939 a German chemist discovered its insecticide potential. In 1948 he was awarded the Nobel prize for DDT based on it’s enormous potential to increase human food production. In the 1960’s it was banned because of its damaging impact on the environment – delayed feedback!
People who have a green, post-modern center of gravity and who agree that the addiction to this kind of expanding materialism is deadly, and who are open to Tier 2 evolution have another challenge that can impede or even block their evolution o their world view. It’s the dominating focus on the self. It often includes the perceived need that one must fully experience a sustained, non-dual or mystical spiritual state of mind before one can evolve to tier 2. Thus, well intentioned people who, from their perspective, don’t achieve that sustained spiritual state simply continue focusing on themselves as they seek that experience.
That focus on self is not something that is inherently wrong. The fact is the capacity to focus on the spiritual (and other positive needs) of the self is one of the blessings that green brings. However, it’s very easy to get stuck there. But, if one is truly committed to one’s own spiritual awakening then that person is usually ready and capable of taking an external focus that will initiate the tier 2 experience.
That new external focus needs to be the joining with others in creating a spiritual fulfilling, socially just, environmentally sustainable human presence on earth. It can be as simple as helping others overcome denial of the addiction. Then, spiritual practices and self care become like eating and drinking, no longer the focus of the individual, but just a common part of life. Like eating and drinking, those practices enable the individual to step outside of themselves and give of their unique divine nature to something much larger than themselves that addresses the current life conditions – at present, the deadly addiction to “more things” - that human beings face. And, the practices don’t have to be any where near perfect to begin an authentic external focus and make the leap to tier 2.
As I said earlier, the addiction to “more” has its source in the natural drive of an organism (or a species) to acquire or secure as much as it can in the world to maximize its capacity for survival and reproduction. So it is a natural product of the evolutionary energy that is emerging from the ground of all being..that which we call God.
For us human beings, who are facing either the evolution of consciousness to tier 2 or the probable extinction of our species, the current expression of the addiction to more needs to be transcended by an addiction to spiritual freedom. That is the divine addiction that will transcend the current addiction to “more things” Its a spiritual addiction to “more freedom” in order to truly be who we have come here to be. It's no longer just an individual need but a need that must to be shared with humanity on a global basis.
The addiction to spiritual freedom is what enables the fullest expression of one’s divine creative nature in a way that enhances the global experience of life and is an expression of the deepest and most authentic part of who we are - .it is our “Becoming” nature.
The evolution to Tier 2 and the addiction to spiritual freedom is simply a next evolutionary step in a series of earlier addictions "to more" that have been instrumental in the evolution of our species. The difference in this step is that the tier 2 state of “ becoming” cannot be attained by any individual without working to make it available to every individual. That’s the essence of the Second tier global consciousness of Oneness and it has its source in the universal, ever present “Being” nature of God.
Barry Vennard
First, before I address the Spiral Dynamics nature of addiction I want to re-address the current life conditions creating the need for an evolutionary change of consciousness: (sorry, I need to quote from an earlier blog).
The life conditions in play are created by the natural, evolutionary, and overwhelming drive of species to maximize their survival and reproduction capabilities combined with the human emergence of the Spiral Dynamics orange and green world views that include aspects of purple, red and blue.
The evolution of the Orange stage (Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution) of human conscious created a seemingly unlimited supply of human food and resulted in an exlosive growth in human population. What’s even more important is that Orange also created the unique human capacity to further exploit natural resources enabling human beings to acquire a seemingly unlimited supply of the “ things” that provide comfort, represent higher status in the hierarchy and create a sense of security and power. The evolution of Green (Post Modern) seeks to reduce hierarchy and to share that capacity on a more equal basis with all people. The result is a growing human global addiction to “more.” That addiction has spawned a world wide economy based on the expanding consumption of natural resources and is fuelled by Orange and Green. (see the metaphor in my blog on Cancer, Heart Disease and Spiritual Healing).
Acknowledging that a life built on this kind of addiction will eventually collapse and that this life condition actually exists in us as a species – overcoming denial - may be biggest challenge and the first thing that needs to be done. Ovcercoming denial can happen when the addiction is presented, not as something that is evidence of human failure but as something that emerged through evolution and was inevitable. And, that it’s source is actually Divine in nature (more about that later).makes it understandable as simply a product of an essential stage of evolution.
That perspective also helps people be open to the need for the transformation of the ideas, attitudes and beliefs that currently dominate human consciousness (Tier One world views) and requires a new set of strategies (creative responses) to address a much more complex world. … and that need is becoming critical.
It’s the unsustatinable addictive life condition that is accelerating the need for people with post-modern – green world views to evolve to second tier yellow / turquoise states of mind. And, as many of us are becoming aware of, this may be THE turning point for humanity.
At this point people with a Tier 1 center of gravity often see the addiction of humanity to "more" as either not a problem they have as an individual or see it as someone else’s problem and thus have little interest in addressing it. People who have a Tier 2 center of gravity know this as a global human problem that everyone needs to address.
Feedback delay in this complex world makes denial of the addiction an even bigger challenge. It makes it hard to see that consequences – the karma – we are creating through this escalating addiction. An example of delayed feedback is the pesticide DDT. The chemical emerged in the early 20th century. In 1939 a German chemist discovered its insecticide potential. In 1948 he was awarded the Nobel prize for DDT based on it’s enormous potential to increase human food production. In the 1960’s it was banned because of its damaging impact on the environment – delayed feedback!
People who have a green, post-modern center of gravity and who agree that the addiction to this kind of expanding materialism is deadly, and who are open to Tier 2 evolution have another challenge that can impede or even block their evolution o their world view. It’s the dominating focus on the self. It often includes the perceived need that one must fully experience a sustained, non-dual or mystical spiritual state of mind before one can evolve to tier 2. Thus, well intentioned people who, from their perspective, don’t achieve that sustained spiritual state simply continue focusing on themselves as they seek that experience.
That focus on self is not something that is inherently wrong. The fact is the capacity to focus on the spiritual (and other positive needs) of the self is one of the blessings that green brings. However, it’s very easy to get stuck there. But, if one is truly committed to one’s own spiritual awakening then that person is usually ready and capable of taking an external focus that will initiate the tier 2 experience.
That new external focus needs to be the joining with others in creating a spiritual fulfilling, socially just, environmentally sustainable human presence on earth. It can be as simple as helping others overcome denial of the addiction. Then, spiritual practices and self care become like eating and drinking, no longer the focus of the individual, but just a common part of life. Like eating and drinking, those practices enable the individual to step outside of themselves and give of their unique divine nature to something much larger than themselves that addresses the current life conditions – at present, the deadly addiction to “more things” - that human beings face. And, the practices don’t have to be any where near perfect to begin an authentic external focus and make the leap to tier 2.
As I said earlier, the addiction to “more” has its source in the natural drive of an organism (or a species) to acquire or secure as much as it can in the world to maximize its capacity for survival and reproduction. So it is a natural product of the evolutionary energy that is emerging from the ground of all being..that which we call God.
For us human beings, who are facing either the evolution of consciousness to tier 2 or the probable extinction of our species, the current expression of the addiction to more needs to be transcended by an addiction to spiritual freedom. That is the divine addiction that will transcend the current addiction to “more things” Its a spiritual addiction to “more freedom” in order to truly be who we have come here to be. It's no longer just an individual need but a need that must to be shared with humanity on a global basis.
The addiction to spiritual freedom is what enables the fullest expression of one’s divine creative nature in a way that enhances the global experience of life and is an expression of the deepest and most authentic part of who we are - .it is our “Becoming” nature.
The evolution to Tier 2 and the addiction to spiritual freedom is simply a next evolutionary step in a series of earlier addictions "to more" that have been instrumental in the evolution of our species. The difference in this step is that the tier 2 state of “ becoming” cannot be attained by any individual without working to make it available to every individual. That’s the essence of the Second tier global consciousness of Oneness and it has its source in the universal, ever present “Being” nature of God.
Barry Vennard
Monday, March 9, 2009
Spiral Dynamics, Christianity and the Evolution of Consciousness
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Barry Vennard's avatar" src="http://www.enlightennext.org/membership/files/pm/avatars/picture-1177.jpg">Barry Vennard
This blog entry requires a basic understanding of Spiral Dynamics and the colors that represent vmeme stages and the evolutionary changes that occur in these stages.
Human beings are at the brink of major change. Most change occurs in response to life conditions. The need for human beings to actively, consciously and intentionally participate in their own evolutionary process has never been greater or more possible. The current global life conditions are urgently calling us to do exactly that.
So, what are these life conditions? The life conditions currently in play are created by the natural drive of organisms (human beings) to maximize their survival and reproduction capacities combined with the emergence of the orange and green SD world views that include aspects of purple, red and blue.
The evolution of the orange vmeme stage of human conscious created a seemingly unlimited supply of human food and resulted in an exponential growth in human population. the Orange vmeme also created the capacity to further exploit natural resources enabling human beings to acquire much more of the things that provide comfort, represent stature and create a sense of security and that go far beyond what is needed for survival. The evolution of the green vmeme seeks to share that capacity on a more equal basis with all people.
The result is a growing human global addiction to more. The addiction has spawned a world wide economy based on expanding consumption and is fuelled by Orange and Green vmemes.
Acknowledging that a life built on addiction will eventually collapse and that this life condition actually exists in us as individuals and as a species – overcoming denial - may be one of the most important and difficult things a church can do. But, if that life condition is presented, not as something that is evidence of human failure, but as something that emerged through evolution (and was probably unavoidable) it seems that people can accept it. It also helps them be open to the critical, spiritual need for the transformation of the ideas, attitudes and beliefs that dominate human consciousness. That transformation can enable us to create a new set of strategies (creative responses) to address a much more complex world. That need is becoming urgent!
It calls for leadership that supports individuals and groups in the spirituaql recovery from - or the spiritual transcending of - the addiction to more, and at the same time calls them to play some kind of role in the evolution of consciousness for our species even if they are not completely recovered themselves.
In a church that uses the Bible, it may require a complete re-interpretation of the Bible in an effort to see if it is still relevant…..relevant to Spiral Dynamics Integral and the evolution of consciousness. That’s what some of us in Unity movement are doing. E.J. Niles and her work around Spiral Dynamics and the Bible and Gary Simmons work on the development of the Integral approach to ministry are examples.
That’s what I tried to do with the teachings of Jesus as interpreted in my book , Stepping Through the Narrow Gate (although it was written before my exposure to SDI) The book is written from the perspective of addiction and from the idea that Jesus was a human being who had evolved into what we would term as Tier 3 stage of consciousness in SDI (a very unpopular perspective for some conventional Christians). And, what I share in the book is my discovery that his teachings are much more universal, relevant, accessible and powerful from that perspective.
The challenge in churches (and many other organizations) is to engage people in a way in which they can see that the evolution to Second Tier is the answer to current human life conditions and at the same time, insure that they understand that the evolution through world views that each of us experience is universal and is not evidence of something inherently wrong with them or others.
Barry Vennard
Edit
Barry Vennard's avatar" src="http://www.enlightennext.org/membership/files/pm/avatars/picture-1177.jpg">Barry Vennard
This blog entry requires a basic understanding of Spiral Dynamics and the colors that represent vmeme stages and the evolutionary changes that occur in these stages.
Human beings are at the brink of major change. Most change occurs in response to life conditions. The need for human beings to actively, consciously and intentionally participate in their own evolutionary process has never been greater or more possible. The current global life conditions are urgently calling us to do exactly that.
So, what are these life conditions? The life conditions currently in play are created by the natural drive of organisms (human beings) to maximize their survival and reproduction capacities combined with the emergence of the orange and green SD world views that include aspects of purple, red and blue.
The evolution of the orange vmeme stage of human conscious created a seemingly unlimited supply of human food and resulted in an exponential growth in human population. the Orange vmeme also created the capacity to further exploit natural resources enabling human beings to acquire much more of the things that provide comfort, represent stature and create a sense of security and that go far beyond what is needed for survival. The evolution of the green vmeme seeks to share that capacity on a more equal basis with all people.
The result is a growing human global addiction to more. The addiction has spawned a world wide economy based on expanding consumption and is fuelled by Orange and Green vmemes.
Acknowledging that a life built on addiction will eventually collapse and that this life condition actually exists in us as individuals and as a species – overcoming denial - may be one of the most important and difficult things a church can do. But, if that life condition is presented, not as something that is evidence of human failure, but as something that emerged through evolution (and was probably unavoidable) it seems that people can accept it. It also helps them be open to the critical, spiritual need for the transformation of the ideas, attitudes and beliefs that dominate human consciousness. That transformation can enable us to create a new set of strategies (creative responses) to address a much more complex world. That need is becoming urgent!
It calls for leadership that supports individuals and groups in the spirituaql recovery from - or the spiritual transcending of - the addiction to more, and at the same time calls them to play some kind of role in the evolution of consciousness for our species even if they are not completely recovered themselves.
In a church that uses the Bible, it may require a complete re-interpretation of the Bible in an effort to see if it is still relevant…..relevant to Spiral Dynamics Integral and the evolution of consciousness. That’s what some of us in Unity movement are doing. E.J. Niles and her work around Spiral Dynamics and the Bible and Gary Simmons work on the development of the Integral approach to ministry are examples.
That’s what I tried to do with the teachings of Jesus as interpreted in my book , Stepping Through the Narrow Gate (although it was written before my exposure to SDI) The book is written from the perspective of addiction and from the idea that Jesus was a human being who had evolved into what we would term as Tier 3 stage of consciousness in SDI (a very unpopular perspective for some conventional Christians). And, what I share in the book is my discovery that his teachings are much more universal, relevant, accessible and powerful from that perspective.
The challenge in churches (and many other organizations) is to engage people in a way in which they can see that the evolution to Second Tier is the answer to current human life conditions and at the same time, insure that they understand that the evolution through world views that each of us experience is universal and is not evidence of something inherently wrong with them or others.
Barry Vennard
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Disturbing Question on Spiritual Healing
My question is, why hasn’t the human capacity to spiritually channel divine healing energy become much more prevalent in human health and well being? There should be thousands and thousands of healers with millions of people continually being healed. The public should be lined up at our doors.
First, lets consider a perspective about the subject that is common in Unity. Unity has traditionally placed a strong emphasis on spiritually based healing of the individual. Certainly we know that Myrtle’s healing was the corner stone Unity was been built upon. The desire for healing has brought many people to Unity.
Throughout history there have been individuals who have demonstrated the power of the mind to focus consciousness in a way that energizes healing activity in spirit and in the body. It seems clear that the potential for spiritual healing exists in humanity and that potential has been exhibited by a small number of people. Jesus was likely one of them. Edgar Casey, Myrtle Fillmore and Joel Goldsmith are others who come to mind. I’m reasonably sure that Silent Unity has produced healings.
In Unity I know of a number of individuals who wanted to become professionals healers using Reiki. They were convinced that the healings their efforts produced would be rewarded with enough of whatever they needed to continue. But, I’ve never been able to find a Reiki healer listed in the yellow pages. The only ones I know that are making a living from Reiki are earning their money, not so much by their healing work, but by the fees they get for teaching others to be Reiki healers.
Yet, I truly believe in spiritual healing. But, I also believe that those experiences we’ve seen so far are simply glimpses of what might be possible for human beings in the future . Otherwise we wouldn’t have Unity ministers and other sincere Unity folks dying premature deaths at the hands of diseases like cancer and heart disease. I also believe that if and when the human species evolves into a species that exists in true, sustainable, harmonized oneness with all life on this planet, those powers will become much, much more accessible.
In our culture it appears that the two main diseases that prematurely take the lives of individuals are cancer and heart disease. Here’s a disturbing way to look at cancer related to human beings. (I admit, in a couple of places below I attribute qualities of consciousness to cancer cells that may not exist in these cells. However, I do believe that consciousness, in one expression or another, is an aspect of disease. )
Cancer cells have big appetites and, like any other expressions of life, a desire to reproduce as much as possible. They start out small - just a few of them - then they acquire a unique capacity to access nourishment at the expense of other cells. Now, with a seemingly unlimited supply of nourishment they can reproduce in an unlimited way; and with this capacity can overpower and overwhelm, or simply get rid of other competing cells that are also trying to survive and reproduce.
The cancer cells then realize they can adapt to virtually any environment in the human body and the human body seems to be uniquely created just for their purposes. And off they go! They are blessed with such an abundance that it must seem like it is divinely ordained that they become the dominant cells of the body and are free to take all they want. At the height of their success, it must feel like nothing can stop them. The body is their oyster.
"More" is what they believe is always in store for them as they accelerate their exploitation of the body's resources and their own reproduction. But, when they begin to truly overwhelm most other expressions of life they also begin to realize that the very systems of the body that supported them are now being degraded……but, too late; they are hopelessly addicted to the idea of “More.” They can't seem to stop. To them it seems like the only solution to this rising anxiety is to get more of what was so good in the past. They are truly addicted. Now all they can do is continue to exploit the resources of the body from the same addicted state of consciousness. They even accelerate their consumption in an effort to reduce the rising anxiety ........... until it all collapses.
Now about spiritual healing. I don’t believe spiritual healing efforts focused on the consciousness of individuals are consistently effective against cancer because I don't believe cancer is caused by the consciousness of individual human beings. It’s caused by the consciousness of our species and gets expressed in unfortunate individual human beings. We are all adding to the consciousness of the one life energy that is reproducing variations of itself as individual human beings. I also believe that heart disease is not the result of individual consciousness but is an expression of our species consciousness.
Thus, I am becoming more and more convinced that the transformation of our entire species is necessary if we are to survive. It's our species that needs a new heart and a new understanding of who we are and how to live successfully as one member of the diverse community of life. And, the need for that – the need to address this epidemic human addiction to "more" - is urgent. For spiritual ministries this new focus on accelerating the spiritual transformation of our species will be far more effective in the long run than the ministry focused on individual healing. This is the new spiritual transformational work that is the future of successful spiritual ministries.
And, just think about it. If we had been able to consistently, and at will, heal sickness for the past 100 years of Unity, (or two thousand years since Jesus) we would be a huge, huge ministry with many, many more human beings seeking to live according to our prosperity teachings; seeking rich, abundant lives blessed with every material thing they could ever want.
First, lets consider a perspective about the subject that is common in Unity. Unity has traditionally placed a strong emphasis on spiritually based healing of the individual. Certainly we know that Myrtle’s healing was the corner stone Unity was been built upon. The desire for healing has brought many people to Unity.
Throughout history there have been individuals who have demonstrated the power of the mind to focus consciousness in a way that energizes healing activity in spirit and in the body. It seems clear that the potential for spiritual healing exists in humanity and that potential has been exhibited by a small number of people. Jesus was likely one of them. Edgar Casey, Myrtle Fillmore and Joel Goldsmith are others who come to mind. I’m reasonably sure that Silent Unity has produced healings.
In Unity I know of a number of individuals who wanted to become professionals healers using Reiki. They were convinced that the healings their efforts produced would be rewarded with enough of whatever they needed to continue. But, I’ve never been able to find a Reiki healer listed in the yellow pages. The only ones I know that are making a living from Reiki are earning their money, not so much by their healing work, but by the fees they get for teaching others to be Reiki healers.
Yet, I truly believe in spiritual healing. But, I also believe that those experiences we’ve seen so far are simply glimpses of what might be possible for human beings in the future . Otherwise we wouldn’t have Unity ministers and other sincere Unity folks dying premature deaths at the hands of diseases like cancer and heart disease. I also believe that if and when the human species evolves into a species that exists in true, sustainable, harmonized oneness with all life on this planet, those powers will become much, much more accessible.
In our culture it appears that the two main diseases that prematurely take the lives of individuals are cancer and heart disease. Here’s a disturbing way to look at cancer related to human beings. (I admit, in a couple of places below I attribute qualities of consciousness to cancer cells that may not exist in these cells. However, I do believe that consciousness, in one expression or another, is an aspect of disease. )
Cancer cells have big appetites and, like any other expressions of life, a desire to reproduce as much as possible. They start out small - just a few of them - then they acquire a unique capacity to access nourishment at the expense of other cells. Now, with a seemingly unlimited supply of nourishment they can reproduce in an unlimited way; and with this capacity can overpower and overwhelm, or simply get rid of other competing cells that are also trying to survive and reproduce.
The cancer cells then realize they can adapt to virtually any environment in the human body and the human body seems to be uniquely created just for their purposes. And off they go! They are blessed with such an abundance that it must seem like it is divinely ordained that they become the dominant cells of the body and are free to take all they want. At the height of their success, it must feel like nothing can stop them. The body is their oyster.
"More" is what they believe is always in store for them as they accelerate their exploitation of the body's resources and their own reproduction. But, when they begin to truly overwhelm most other expressions of life they also begin to realize that the very systems of the body that supported them are now being degraded……but, too late; they are hopelessly addicted to the idea of “More.” They can't seem to stop. To them it seems like the only solution to this rising anxiety is to get more of what was so good in the past. They are truly addicted. Now all they can do is continue to exploit the resources of the body from the same addicted state of consciousness. They even accelerate their consumption in an effort to reduce the rising anxiety ........... until it all collapses.
Now about spiritual healing. I don’t believe spiritual healing efforts focused on the consciousness of individuals are consistently effective against cancer because I don't believe cancer is caused by the consciousness of individual human beings. It’s caused by the consciousness of our species and gets expressed in unfortunate individual human beings. We are all adding to the consciousness of the one life energy that is reproducing variations of itself as individual human beings. I also believe that heart disease is not the result of individual consciousness but is an expression of our species consciousness.
Thus, I am becoming more and more convinced that the transformation of our entire species is necessary if we are to survive. It's our species that needs a new heart and a new understanding of who we are and how to live successfully as one member of the diverse community of life. And, the need for that – the need to address this epidemic human addiction to "more" - is urgent. For spiritual ministries this new focus on accelerating the spiritual transformation of our species will be far more effective in the long run than the ministry focused on individual healing. This is the new spiritual transformational work that is the future of successful spiritual ministries.
And, just think about it. If we had been able to consistently, and at will, heal sickness for the past 100 years of Unity, (or two thousand years since Jesus) we would be a huge, huge ministry with many, many more human beings seeking to live according to our prosperity teachings; seeking rich, abundant lives blessed with every material thing they could ever want.
As it is, there are 6.76 billion of us on the planet today and that's becoming a problem. Let’s get to work on the real problems. We have everything we need to solve them if we make their solution our intention. Cancer cells don't have a choice, we do! One of the things you can do today is check out Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream and host a symposium at your church. http://www.awakeningthedreamer.org/.
We all know that a focused mind can indeed do divine things.
Barry L. Vennard
Monday, February 16, 2009
Purpose and Mission in Unity
Doesn’t Unity teach that if you and I were truly living our “divine purpose” we would be blessed with an abundance of everything we need to carry it out? The Unity answer is a resounding YES! Shouldn’t that be true for our Unity churches as well?
Most of us in Unity believe that every human being has a divine purpose that provides the highest possible meaning, satisfaction and fulfillment in life. For guidance and support in seeking that purpose we often look to our Unity churches and its ministerial leadership.
Spiritually inspired individual leadership is the foundation of our movement. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore’s leadership created a prayer based, educational organization supporting people seeking a spiritually transformative experience.
Today, our dedicated ministers continue that leadership tradition. Most of our Unity churches are built on a combination of: One, God and the consistency and truth of Unity teachings. Two, the unique personality and leadership characteristics of its minister(s). And, three, the congregation’s response to those two influences.
As Charles and Myrtle were the “parents” of our movement, our ministers are often seen in similar parental roles. The church’s well-being is often attributed to the leadership abilities and personality characteristics of the minister(s). When the well being of the church seems at risk the minister(s) leadership (or perceived lack of it) usually becomes the focus. In many of our churches that focus has led to divisive and damaging conflict.
Churches are also challenged by systemic factors that can dominate different size congregations. Small churches (under 50 average Sunday attendance) are often stressed by a shortage of resources; existing in a survival, subsistence, month to month mode. They often characterize themselves as having a strong “core” membership who make up the foundation of the spiritual family. They usually seem unable to overcome the shortage of resources without growth. Their sincere attempts for growth can be deficiency motivated and often remain unachieved.
Pastoral size churches (50 to 150 average Sunday attendance) often exist in the subsistence, month to month survival mode as well. Their growth is constrained when the minister’s capacity to provide personal leadership, supervision and pastoral support to individuals and activities is exceeded. This happens as the church nears 150 average Sunday attendance. This growth usually results in increased organizational complexity and increased demands on leadership. That can produce tensions, additional stress and the potential for divisive conflict. These two size churches make up 82% of Association churches.
Large churches that have have grown because of charismatic ministerial leadership often thrive because the minister’s attractive personality qualities enhance the parental, pastor/flock role in ways that overcome other limitations. These churches can have very difficult times when the personality of that minister leaves.
Most small churches want to grow. The motivation for growth is usually in response to the shortage of resources, both human and financial, as well as a desire to be a vibrant, thriving spiritual community. Even though the need for more resources causes tension and stress, small churches can function successfully if they have stable leadership. It’s when leadership either changes or fails to adequately address the critical stresses and tensions that serious trouble begins. This trouble almost always focuses on the minister(s) because of the traditional pastor/flock, parental role they play. It’s easy to understand this “minister centric” dynamic considering three major factors that influence how churches relate to ministerial leadership.
First, most congregants place the minister(s) in that role because that’s the historical and traditional way most churches function. Second, many ministers create that role for themselves as they seek to successfully model past generations of ministers. And, third, there has been almost no alternative to that “minister centric” model.
It’s no one’s fault. In fact, we’ve been blessed by that model. It’s gotten us where we are today. But, we’re outgrowing it as evidenced by the stresses, tension and epedemic of conflict the old system has generated in our churches . (Having served for 12+ years as an Interim, Transitional Ministry Specialist and Peace Worker working with churches that have had divisive and damaging conflict I have come to believe that it is the elephant in the living room that many of us do not want to acknowledge.)
But, good news! There is an alternative way! Thank God! Discerning an expanded divine purpose that integrates and transcends what we have been is the first step. It is what can move our churches from “minister centric” to “mission centric.” What does “mission centric” mean?
Ekhart Tolle and other spiritual writers describe how humanity is awakening to its own insanity and the need for transformation, now! An example of that insanity is the fact that human beings have created and stockpiled over 20,000 nuclear weapons. It would take less than 100 to eradicate human culture and likely wipe out the human race and that would be insane...yet, we have over 20,000 of them! And, many countries believe our security depends on maintaining or even expanding their nuclear weapon capacity. Also, many of us are concerned that we’re despoiling our environment to the extent that a global crisis may be eminent. And, what do human beings do in crisis? Well, when the ego (fear) rules, it’s fight or flight. There’s nowhere to run to and, we have 20,000 what? As history repeatedly reveals, fear can generate insane behavior at a level that is extremely destructive. The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream symposium states that the natural resources of this planet are being consumed at an unsustainable rate and that the rate is currently accelerating exponentially. The symposium quotes a man who is kept awake at night by his great great grandchildren asking him what he did to help when the world became aware of this crisis.
Something indeed needs to change and we need to be leaders in that change! Jesus said human nature needs to be transformed. In Unity we know that when human beings are transformed by an awakened consciousness of the presence of God within and around them, love replaces fear as the motivation for creative activity. Our Association of Unity Churches International acknowledges that potential in the vision statement: “Centered in God, we co-create a world that works for all.” Some Unity churches are adopting that vision as their own.
If a Unity church adopts that vision, how does that affect the church’s mission? Could the mission be anything less than the “spiritual transformation of as many people as possible" given what is happening in our world? Isn’t it time for us to step up to the plate and take on our true and higher purpose, our mission? Aren’t we called to be more than just a small group of churches seeking to support our congregations and strengthen our spiritual communities? What if our true purpose is to pro-actively become a (the) major influence in the spiritual transformation of the human race? Doesn’t that first have to take form in our minds, our hearts and then be acted on with clearly stated intentions?
At the Unity Church of Omaha we believe we have discerned that as our true purpose. Every Sunday morning we affirm the Association’s vision as our vision for humanity: “Centered in God, we co-create a world that works for all!” We then affirm our two-fold mission. It was an easy mission statement to come up with because it clearly states what we believe we are called to do. First is to “facilitate and support the spiritual transformation of as many people as possible using Unity principles and teachings and other related activities.” And, second is “to care for each other.”
Who and how many people are we called to support in the experience of spiritual transformation and caring for each other? Certainly, we must continue to support each other as we have always done. But, ask our congregation how many and they will say, “As many people as possible, for Christ’s sake!”
That unlimited statement moves us to an expanded sense of who we are. It's moving us to a consciousness that both includes and transcends our individual spiritual needs. Thus, it's moving us out of the survival mode to the next level; “the divinely inspired becoming level” – Moving us to create who we have truly come here to be! ... Something much bigger than ourselves...something divine.
Barry L. Vennard
Unity Minister
Most of us in Unity believe that every human being has a divine purpose that provides the highest possible meaning, satisfaction and fulfillment in life. For guidance and support in seeking that purpose we often look to our Unity churches and its ministerial leadership.
Spiritually inspired individual leadership is the foundation of our movement. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore’s leadership created a prayer based, educational organization supporting people seeking a spiritually transformative experience.
Today, our dedicated ministers continue that leadership tradition. Most of our Unity churches are built on a combination of: One, God and the consistency and truth of Unity teachings. Two, the unique personality and leadership characteristics of its minister(s). And, three, the congregation’s response to those two influences.
As Charles and Myrtle were the “parents” of our movement, our ministers are often seen in similar parental roles. The church’s well-being is often attributed to the leadership abilities and personality characteristics of the minister(s). When the well being of the church seems at risk the minister(s) leadership (or perceived lack of it) usually becomes the focus. In many of our churches that focus has led to divisive and damaging conflict.
Churches are also challenged by systemic factors that can dominate different size congregations. Small churches (under 50 average Sunday attendance) are often stressed by a shortage of resources; existing in a survival, subsistence, month to month mode. They often characterize themselves as having a strong “core” membership who make up the foundation of the spiritual family. They usually seem unable to overcome the shortage of resources without growth. Their sincere attempts for growth can be deficiency motivated and often remain unachieved.
Pastoral size churches (50 to 150 average Sunday attendance) often exist in the subsistence, month to month survival mode as well. Their growth is constrained when the minister’s capacity to provide personal leadership, supervision and pastoral support to individuals and activities is exceeded. This happens as the church nears 150 average Sunday attendance. This growth usually results in increased organizational complexity and increased demands on leadership. That can produce tensions, additional stress and the potential for divisive conflict. These two size churches make up 82% of Association churches.
Large churches that have have grown because of charismatic ministerial leadership often thrive because the minister’s attractive personality qualities enhance the parental, pastor/flock role in ways that overcome other limitations. These churches can have very difficult times when the personality of that minister leaves.
Most small churches want to grow. The motivation for growth is usually in response to the shortage of resources, both human and financial, as well as a desire to be a vibrant, thriving spiritual community. Even though the need for more resources causes tension and stress, small churches can function successfully if they have stable leadership. It’s when leadership either changes or fails to adequately address the critical stresses and tensions that serious trouble begins. This trouble almost always focuses on the minister(s) because of the traditional pastor/flock, parental role they play. It’s easy to understand this “minister centric” dynamic considering three major factors that influence how churches relate to ministerial leadership.
First, most congregants place the minister(s) in that role because that’s the historical and traditional way most churches function. Second, many ministers create that role for themselves as they seek to successfully model past generations of ministers. And, third, there has been almost no alternative to that “minister centric” model.
It’s no one’s fault. In fact, we’ve been blessed by that model. It’s gotten us where we are today. But, we’re outgrowing it as evidenced by the stresses, tension and epedemic of conflict the old system has generated in our churches . (Having served for 12+ years as an Interim, Transitional Ministry Specialist and Peace Worker working with churches that have had divisive and damaging conflict I have come to believe that it is the elephant in the living room that many of us do not want to acknowledge.)
But, good news! There is an alternative way! Thank God! Discerning an expanded divine purpose that integrates and transcends what we have been is the first step. It is what can move our churches from “minister centric” to “mission centric.” What does “mission centric” mean?
Ekhart Tolle and other spiritual writers describe how humanity is awakening to its own insanity and the need for transformation, now! An example of that insanity is the fact that human beings have created and stockpiled over 20,000 nuclear weapons. It would take less than 100 to eradicate human culture and likely wipe out the human race and that would be insane...yet, we have over 20,000 of them! And, many countries believe our security depends on maintaining or even expanding their nuclear weapon capacity. Also, many of us are concerned that we’re despoiling our environment to the extent that a global crisis may be eminent. And, what do human beings do in crisis? Well, when the ego (fear) rules, it’s fight or flight. There’s nowhere to run to and, we have 20,000 what? As history repeatedly reveals, fear can generate insane behavior at a level that is extremely destructive. The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream symposium states that the natural resources of this planet are being consumed at an unsustainable rate and that the rate is currently accelerating exponentially. The symposium quotes a man who is kept awake at night by his great great grandchildren asking him what he did to help when the world became aware of this crisis.
Something indeed needs to change and we need to be leaders in that change! Jesus said human nature needs to be transformed. In Unity we know that when human beings are transformed by an awakened consciousness of the presence of God within and around them, love replaces fear as the motivation for creative activity. Our Association of Unity Churches International acknowledges that potential in the vision statement: “Centered in God, we co-create a world that works for all.” Some Unity churches are adopting that vision as their own.
If a Unity church adopts that vision, how does that affect the church’s mission? Could the mission be anything less than the “spiritual transformation of as many people as possible" given what is happening in our world? Isn’t it time for us to step up to the plate and take on our true and higher purpose, our mission? Aren’t we called to be more than just a small group of churches seeking to support our congregations and strengthen our spiritual communities? What if our true purpose is to pro-actively become a (the) major influence in the spiritual transformation of the human race? Doesn’t that first have to take form in our minds, our hearts and then be acted on with clearly stated intentions?
At the Unity Church of Omaha we believe we have discerned that as our true purpose. Every Sunday morning we affirm the Association’s vision as our vision for humanity: “Centered in God, we co-create a world that works for all!” We then affirm our two-fold mission. It was an easy mission statement to come up with because it clearly states what we believe we are called to do. First is to “facilitate and support the spiritual transformation of as many people as possible using Unity principles and teachings and other related activities.” And, second is “to care for each other.”
Who and how many people are we called to support in the experience of spiritual transformation and caring for each other? Certainly, we must continue to support each other as we have always done. But, ask our congregation how many and they will say, “As many people as possible, for Christ’s sake!”
That unlimited statement moves us to an expanded sense of who we are. It's moving us to a consciousness that both includes and transcends our individual spiritual needs. Thus, it's moving us out of the survival mode to the next level; “the divinely inspired becoming level” – Moving us to create who we have truly come here to be! ... Something much bigger than ourselves...something divine.
Barry L. Vennard
Unity Minister
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