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Creating Theology Together – Retreat
February 24 @ 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
There’s a perception out there that being a Unitarian means believing whatever one wants. There is, of course, a lot of latitude in our tradition for shaping a theology that makes sense to us as individuals. Indeed, we are encouraged to “build our own theology,” piecing together our best understanding of the big theological questions—questions about the purpose of life and the meaning of death, the nature of the divine and the reality of evil, the call of justice and the demands of a life of integrity.
In this, Unitarianism calls us to a “free and responsible search” for truth and meaning. We have thrown out dogma to undertake a curious and critical exploration of the world around us and are supported in this search by a rich theological tradition. We can maintain that balance between freedom and responsibility by exploring the big theological questions in community, because sometimes building one’s own theology is something best done together.
Shawn and Kiersten will co-facilitate the next series of Creathing Theology Together with an effort to foster that dialogue. The workshops begin with a Saturday retreat on February 24th and will continue over three consecutive Wednesday evenings. In this series we’ll explore the theology we share as a congregation. Kiersten and Shawn have substantially rewritten the curriculum to fit our context at VanU, and we hope you’ll join with us for this time of shared meaning making. We will delve into the history of our Principles, reflect on the influence of Universalism, and discuss how our theology of interdependence has changed our view of the world around us.
Why Register? To be a part of defining the pluralistic theology specific to Vancouver Unitarians and gain insight and clarity of your own beliefs. The larger and more diverse our group, the more meaningful the results of our conversations.
Who is this for? All people, ages 12 and up, affiliated with Vancouver Unitarians and local Unitarians/UUs interested in the conversation. Individuals and families attending together.
What am I in for?
- One 4-hour Saturday retreat with brunch. Three consecutive Wednesday evening workshops, 7-9 pm, Feb 28, March 6 and 13.
- Conversations and explorations that may challenge or surprise you in seeing both our differences and our similarities.
- Explorations of belief, faith, theology, history, power differences, dominant culture/assumptions, and belonging.
- Engaging in dialogue, group discussions, activities, projects, and games that get us thinking in different ways.
- Having fun and getting to know each other more deeply across generations.
- Using consensus decision making to try and articulate the theology of Vancouver Unitarians.