Unitarian Universalist
...a welcoming spiritual community
190 Academy Rd, North Andover, Massachusetts,
01845-4022 978-687-7948 office@northparish.org
Welcome from the Senior Minister
the Reverend Lee Bluemel
Greetings, and welcome to The North Parish!
I’m personally delighted that you have discovered and joined our faith community, as each member and friend makes our church more vibrant, diverse, active and alive. Here are just a few of the ways that we describe our faith community:
1. We are a “one to one” congregation.
This means that if you are new to the church and would simply like to get to know a few people better and move beyond surface pleasantries, a “one to one” conversation can easily be arranged. We have a cadre of members and friends who especially enjoy getting to know new people and are happy to meet for an hour of coffee and conversation. Your minister is available as well.
2. We are a “small group” congregation.
This means that we recognize the best way to begin to make connections and enter into the life of the church is through any one of our many, many small groups. These include everything from bi-monthly “small group ministry” circles for ongoing life reflection, to a variety of musical ensembles (all of which are open to newcomers), to one-time adult spirituality classes, to social action project teams, to religious education and youth small groups. If you need some guidance to figure out a good spot for you, please ask me or someone at the Conversation Corner in the Parish Hall on Sunday mornings.
3. We are a “mission focused” congregation.
This means that we take our mission seriously, and use it to guide our priorities and our planning for the future. Our mission includes creating a welcoming religious community for newcomers, taking responsibility for our own spiritual growth and that of our children, participating in the democratic governance of the church, and putting our faith into action in the wider world.
4. We are a “permission-granting” congregation.
This means that if you come up with an idea that is in line with our mission, permission is granted to go ahead and do what you are called to do! If you find yourself hankering to get more involved, our task forces and committees are delighted by new ideas and energy. If you find yourself beginning a sentence with “I think the church should…”— please, don’t hesitate to follow your instincts. You can always ask me or any member to act as a sounding board.
5. We are a “welcoming” congregation.
In Unitarian Universalism, “welcoming congregation” refers to an official designation given by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This designation is received after the church has completed a self-audit and put processes in place to make sure we are truly welcoming to gay, lesbian, transgender and intersex people—one group of people historically unwelcomed and oppressed by the institutional church. All people of good will are welcome at our table.
6. We are a “safe congregation”.
This means that we have deliberate policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety of all members of our community, including the most vulnerable among us. If you have concerns or questions about Safe Congregation, the Safe Congregation Committee members are available to talk to you.
7. We are a theologically deep, honest and “multi-lingual” congregation.
This means that we desire to truly honor one another’s integrity, honesty and desire to live examined and spiritually full lives, even as we have come to a variety of conclusions on theological matters. I will often use what I call “parallel language” when speaking in theological terms. For example, you may hear me say “the spirit of God, the spirit of love” in the same sentence, as there are some for whom the word “God” is a doorway opening to meaning and for others it is a doorway shut. As it is said in some Buddhist circles, there are 1,001 doors to enlightenment. We mean to open as many of them as we can, together!
There are many other ways to describe our community— vibrant, active, alive, ever evolving, grounded, hopeful, and deeply sustained by love. If you have questions, concerns or thoughts to offer, or a story to tell, I am always happy to meet with you. Welcome!
In faith,
the Rev. Lee Bluemel
Welcoming Congregation
North Parish is a Welcoming Congregation, consistent with the guidelines of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We actively welcome lesbian, gay. bisexual, transgender, and intersex people as full participants in the life of the church. For more information, see our Welcoming Congregation page, or contact our Interweave chapter.