Message from Rev. Lee – May 22, 2026

Every week there is so much to say.

Last Sunday, while we were welcoming new members and hearing from three among us who grew up in different faiths, there was a publicly funded White-House-sponsored mostly-white-evangelical Christian prayer meeting on the national mall called “Rededicate 250” that promoted Christian nationalism. According to the Pew research center, white evangelicals make up only an estimated 14 – 16% of the total U.S. adult population. That’s a lot… but it’s certainly not a majority. Clearly, they are punching above their weight. Americans identifying as white Christians of any sort make up about 41% of the U.S. public… less than half the population.

There are many, like us, who affirm messages about religious freedom like those that were projected onto the walls of the National Gallery of Art last week by the national Interfaith Alliance. They included “The Separation of Church and State is Good for Both”, “Reject Christian Nationalism”, “Democracy, not Theocracy”, and “Rededicate America to Democracy.” Whether religious or secular, voices promoting interfaith respect and freedom are needed in the public square. Organizations promoting religious pluralism, interfaith dialogue, and the separation of church and state need our support. Towns and cities need our example.

   On Monday, three Muslim men were shot dead at the Islamic Center of San Diego, killed by two male teenagers espousing extremist views. Another deadly hate crime. Local officials called for an end to what they call “a campaign of hate” from “mainstream” politicians. The mosque’s imam said “…the religious intolerance and the hate, unfortunately, that exists in our nation is unprecedented. All of us, we are responsible for spreading the culture of tolerance, the culture of love.”

All of us are responsible for spreading the culture of tolerance and love. I think that’s true.  To do so, we can use what we wear, what we say, what we sing, whom we approach and interact with, what organizations we support, what we tattoo on our bodies, where we go, and what projects we get involved in through North Parish or other organizations. Among the seven values adopted by the UUA’s General Assembly in 2024 is pluralism. The formal statement says, “We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology. We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.”