Why Interfaith?

Many people have asked me "Why did you decide to become an interfaith minister? I mean, when there are so many faiths available, why interfaith?"

It's a sort of "Wazzup with that?" question.

For me, the process of coming to an interfaith decision was a little like "The Long and Winding Road" song from the Beatles.

The long and winding road
That leads to your door,
Will never disappear,
I've seen that road before.
It always leads me here
Leads me to your door.

As a child, I was exposed to the Seventh-Day Adventist faith. Many of my family were very active in that religion, and I even attended private SDA schools, including four years of boarding school in my high school years.

Yet, for me, something was missing. What was it?

Oh, I know: freedom. Freedom to think for myself, freedom to ask questions, freedom to discover for myself my own truth.

Interestingly, I realized that many others didn't share this intense feeling, which was fine for them, but for me, I ached to discover my own truth.

So, once out of high school, I found myself feeling lost. I knew what I didn't want (religious structure), but I had no clue as to what I did want.

I tried lots of different things, and finally realized after about ten years that I was seeking spirituality, not religosity. I learned meditation and loved it. Finally, I was connecting to my deeper truth.

However, I still didn't trust my own intuition, because at that point in time, I had no clue as to how to distinguish intuition from ego or personality.

Then my daughter was born. My inner urge to find a spiritual fit became stronger. I attended a Methodist church for a while. It was nice, but still not "it." Then a friend introduced me to Unity Church.

I loved it! I resonated with the New Thought message of the Unity Church, with the concept of focusing on the positive, as well as the idea that we create our lives through our very thoughts and through our connection to Divinity. Our minister also introduced me to the Course in Miracles, an amazing and powerful teaching.

You would think I'd become a Unity minister, rather than an interfaith minister, wouldn't you?

Well, not so fast.

I then discovered (through a variety of moves to new locations) that I didn't resonate with all Unity churches. This was a bit of a shocker!

I then delved into Landmark Education (the Forum, for those of you who aren't familiar with LE), which is a sort of a religion (although many would argue that point). Meanwhile, I was still meditating (both Buddhist and Hindu influences). I was exposed to Sufiism (the mystical branch of Islam), and liked it, and was exposed to Judiaism, and also liked it very much.

In addition, friends of mine were Pagan and I discovered I resonated with their Goddess-oriented, earth-based faith.

Now in Richmond, VA, I tried out Presbyterianism. I liked it.

Another move to Charlottesville, VA, had me seeking a new church. This time Unity was a fit again - for a while.

Then I met and married my husband, who is Presbyterian. Again, I was attending Presbyterian churches - all of which I truly enjoyed.

Another move (whew!) - this time to Florida -and I realized I was ready to attend Seminary. I had been pondering this particular Seminary (The New Seminary, in New York City) for several years and now I felt I had the time and the energy I to devote to the studies and teachings.

I discovered I loved Interfaith. Rather than segmenting the Divine into separate religions, it honored the Divine in all faiths. Rather than focusing on what is different, it focused on what is similar. Rather than excluding, it included.

Even the teachings of Unity felt too constricting for me. I felt that the New Thought concepts were a religion. And they still weren't broad enough (although they are very broad).

For me, God or Allah or Jehovah or Universal Energy or Krishna or whatever you desire to call that incredible Divine creative power is greater than any religion we as humans can create. Interfaith simply holds the belief that each person decides for him or herself what their right connection to that Divine creative power is and it honors that decision. Interfaith honors that path.

Interfaith holds the space for all truths, all paths, all beliefs. It welcomes all and it honors all.

That is why interfaith is a fit for me.

How is Your Ministry Going?

This morning, I received an email from a young woman who is finishing her second year of seminary. She will be ordained at St. John of the Divine church in New York City, on a beautiful June day this year. I was ordained at St. John of the Divine church in New York City, on a beautiful, very hot, June day last year, from the same seminary. She asked me: "how's your ministry going?"

Now this is a frequent question that I receive, and one that many of my fellow graduates have received since being ordained. And many of us have a similar answer: "Uh, well, good, and well, uh, hmmm..." The reason for this rather unclear answer is that most of us are still figuring out what the heck we're doing being ministers.

We felt called. We answered the call. We spent two years exploring the world's major religions, and learning how to create rituals, perform ceremonies, and give sermons. We learned how to experience the energies of celebrations and times of challenges, and how to become ministers. How to speak like a minister. How to be a minister.

The ordination was magical. After an intimate, and deeply moving, retreat, our tightly-knit group of eager seminarians met up with family members for a weekend in New York.

Sunday was our big day. My husband flew from Ft. Lauderdale to be with me. My mother flew in from Oregon to see me ordained. My daughter and her fiance rode the train from Baltimore to be there. My brother and nephew came from Pennsylvania. My dear friend came from Charlottesville. It was affirming, and rich and powerful.

Samora and I sang "The Prayer." Kate sang another beautiful song. Sharon gave the class a voice with her profound speech. We sweated. We celebrated. We cried. And we were ordained.

Then it was all over. We went our separate ways. My study group (nicknamed "The Fertile Ones") stayed together online. We are a diverse group: Jewish, Voodoo, Shaman, Buddhist, Pagan, and Christian - of several faiths including New Thought, Presbyterian and Catholic - and yet all Interfaith. The group continued to meet weekly. We discussed what this meant to be a minister.

One by one, we have found our way. One started Peace House, an interfaith meeting place dedicated to peace. One became an associate minister at her Unity Church. One was a pastor at his community church. One officiated weddings of gay and lesbian friends. One continued his training in his faith and became a priest. Others discovered their ministry is in the offering of themselves to those around them in whatever form is needed.

The question remains "How's your ministry going?"

For me, the answer has been muddled. My vision has been muddled. But it's clearing.

I had the opportunity to give the sermon at the Unity church I attend, and loved it. (Thank you, Rev. Frank!) I'm going to do more! I sing, and I also offer workshops on EFT (and have done a number of them also at Unity as well as other places). I am creating some amazing affirmation CDs, combining affirmations and EFT (a wonderful acupressure technique), and have discovered that this is part of my ministry. (Those who have test-driven my abundance CD have had some powerful financial breakthroughs as a result!) I tried out being a chaplain at a hospital and discovered I did not like that at all. And I officiated at some weddings and found I loved it.

So: how's my ministry going? "Well, uh, good. It's coming." (Basically, this means I'm figuring it out as I go along.) I do feel strongly that where I am right now is not where I'll be in 2 years, or 5 years. No question about that. And that's good news. Where I am is just fine. But where I'm going? Ooohhh, baby! Just you wait!