Last night, toward the end of a tweetchat on multicultural faith formation, Rev. Naomi King made this observation: “Spiritually intense work is work that changes, that engages the uncomfortable, & that moves into the larger story.” When I recite our congregational statement of commitment on Sunday, I pledge myself to the “search for truth, to right of each to believe as heart, mind and conscience dictate, and to accept the responsibility that freedom commands”. When my daughter was a teenager, she told me how much she hated that last part, which seemed like a wagging finger preaching about things she ought to be doing. I can see how it might come off what way.

For me, struggling to discern a new faith, still (and always) connected to my childhood beliefs and learnings, this portion of the pledge was a welcome challenge and reminder. I can’t speak for birthright UU’s but for me as a come-outer, joining a Unitarian Universalist church was a culture shock. Even with the old blue (very Protestant) hymnal and a minister who, like me, had been raised Evangelical Lutheran in the Midwest, UUCSS felt like foreign territory. Beyond the acronyms and the uncomfortable habits and traditions — JPD! UUMAC! Name tags! Joys and concerns! — there was the expectation that I would be an active seeker. I wanted to be, but had no idea how to go about it or what the experience would be like.

Rev. Naomi’s suggestion that seeking might require a spotter or coach is spot-on. It can be shattering to confront one’s own crisis of faith, no matter how distant. Exploring other religious traditions must be done with keen awareness and a sensitivity for the dangers of superficial appropriation.

As someone who coaches and mentors young scholars, I know the value of having someone who cares enough to ask the tough questions in a nurturing, supportive way. I feel stretched when I am working with more than 30 student researchers at a time. We can not expect our ministers and religious educators to mentor entire congregations in the manner that the Search requires. That means we need to learn, as lay people, to support faith development for each other and ourselves.