All the reasons I love the United Church of Christ became very clear to me yesterday. I cannot go into details, but suffice it to say, I work for an organization that chose the cowardly way rather than bearing witness to a God of extravagant welcome.
The whole mess reminded me of the internal conflict I went through when trying to decide whether to leave the United Methodist Church or to stay and try to work for change within the denomination. It finally came down to a matter of integrity for me. I refused to lie about who I was just to become ordained, even though that meant I would not be able to work toward change from the inside. Other faithful people make different choices, choices that are right for them and allow them to maintain their integrity – I give thanks for their continued work in changing hearts and doctrine in the UMC. Leaving the UMC was the right choice for me. Since moving to the United Church of Christ, I have been able to live and work with a deep sense of integrity, bringing all of who I am to my life and ministry.
Maybe you face a similar challenge in your work or personal life. Questions of integrity face us all the time. Whether it is an ethical dilemma in your work dealings; the balancing act of trying to work for an organization you believe in yet being desperate for a job… any job; managing your investments for retirement without funneling money into companies you do not believe in; the day to day of maintaining relationships with family or friends with whom you deeply disagree; or trying to speak or live what you believe is right, even in the face or great opposition. All of these situations and more test our integrity. But I believe that God calls us not to take the easy way, to stand for what is good and right, to speak truth to power, to defend the poor and marginalized, to live a life of integrity.
Friends, believe that I am writing this for myself, as well as for you. As I sit at my desk today, I feel deeply conflicted about what to do. Do I leave with no other job prospect? Do I stay because the clients we serve need someone like me to advocate for and serve them? Do I stand against the cowardly and unethical behavior though it may cost me my job? I don’t know the answer today, but I walk with you in this journey to live a life of integrity, a life where our Still Speaking God’s voice and light can be see in me.
