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A House for Hope the Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-First Century

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A House for Hope the Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-First Century DISCUSSION GUIDE A House for Hope The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century JOHN A. BUEHRENS and REBECCA ANN PARKER by Sarah Gibb Millspaugh 2 A House for Hope: Discussion Guide A Discussion Guide for A House for Introduction Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century Hope rises. It rises from the heart of life, here and now, beating with joy and sorrow. Hope longs. It longs for good to be affirmed, for justice and love Sarah Gibb Millspaugh to prevail, for suffering to be alleviated, and for life to flourish in peace. To thrive, hope requires a home, a sustaining structure of com- Based on A House for Hope: The Promise of munity, meaning, and ritual. Only with such a Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century by habitation can hope manifest the spiritual stami- John A. Buehrens and Rebecca Ann Parker (Beacon Press na it needs to confront evil, endure through trou- 2010), this multiple-session program invites participants ble, and “hold fast to that which is good.” to meaningfully engage with liberal theology from a —John Buehrens and Rebecca Ann Parker, Unitarian Universalist perspective. from the Introduction Contents In A House for Hope, John Buehrens and Rebecca Ann Parker engage readers in liberal religion’s rich theolog- ical legacy. Using the metaphor of a house to encom- pass the six great topics of theology, Buehrens and Introduction . 2 Parker explore what grounds us, what expands us, what Session 1: “Introduction” and “The Garden”: shelters us, and what gives us hope. Eschatology . 3 This guide outlines discussions and activities for adult readers of A House for Hope. Each session explores Session 2: “The Sheltering Walls”: Ecclesiology. 5 one of liberal theology’s six great topics, helping par- Session 3: “The Roof”: Soteriology . 6 ticipants explore Parker and Buehrens’s concepts as well as their own theological thinking. The goals of this Session 4: “The Foundations”: Theology . 7 Discussion Guide are twofold. Participants will: Session 5: “The Welcoming Rooms”: · Develop a meaningful understanding of liberal the- Anthropology . 9 ology. · Engage in Unitarian Universalism’s “free and Session 6: “The Threshold”: Missiology . 10 responsible search for truth and meaning” by locat- Session 7: Conclusion and “House Dedication”. 11 ing their own, and others’, theological understand- ings within a “House for Hope.” Suggestions for Further Reading. 12 Liberal theology, like liberal religion and spirituality, is best explored in a conversation. Throughout the work- About the Guide’s Author. 13 shops, participants will engage in a life-enriching conver- sation, infusing the diversity of our liberal tradition into their own experiences and outlooks. May their lives be blessed by the gravity and grandeur of A House for Hope. HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE This leader’s guide is designed for flexible use. Facilitators are encouraged to adapt the workshop plans to meet the needs of the group and constraints of A House for Hope: Discussion Guide 3 the setting. Each of the seven workshops in this guide RESOURCES FOR FACILITATORS represents an hour to an hour and a half of discussion Unitarian Universalism strives to be a truly inclusive and activities. You may wish to combine workshops to faith. Inclusion, for adults as well as for children, create a shorter series, with as few as three meetings. means creating a space that can be accessed by people Each workshop plan includes a short summary of the with a whole range of physical and cognitive capabili- chapters’ salient points for the facilitator’s use, fol- ties. In building an accessible “house for hope,” you are lowed by an outline for discussions and activities. encouraged to consult some of the UUA’s thoughtful Workshops open with large-group discussion, continue suggestions for inclusion of a broad range of adults. with a time of solo reflection and writing, which moves As you guide participants’ learning throughout the into small-group sharing, and conclude with a large- workshops, you may wish to engage in your own deep- group activity or discussion. er exploration of the theological topics being dis- Each workshop contains a time for reflection and writ- cussed. This guide includes a list of suggested books ing. If you choose to lead the seventh workshop, partic- for further study. ipants will be invited to review their writings and expand upon them, creating “House for Hope” person- al theological essays. Participants will share their essays as a culmination of the workshop series. Session 1: “Introduction” and “The Garden” GETTING STARTED Eschatology The group will need a comfortable and accessible room in which to meet, one with flexible seating to allow for FACILITATOR PREPARATION the activities that ask the group to split into twos, threes, and fours. Be sure to figure out ahead of time The preparation for this first meeting of A House for how to best hang newsprint sheets around the room. Hope begins weeks in advance, with publicity for the Pay attention to the warmth and attractiveness of the workshops, ordering and sales of the book, communi- space, adding lamps or flowers to an “institutional” cations with potential participants, and sign-ups. Please setting and setting chairs and sofas in a circle to begin see the introduction to the guide for information on each session. ordering copies of A House for Hope for your group. Order A House for Hope and begin selling the book at For this first session: least four weeks before the workshop begins. It can be ordered from the Unitarian Universalist Association q Review this guide and decide how you (and your co- Bookstore or directly from Beacon Press. Bulk dis- facilitator) will conduct the workshop. counts are available from both sources. q Create a list of participants, with their contact information. Before the first session, remind participants that they will need to bring a notebook, a pen or pencil, and a q Create and print a workshop schedule, with dates, copy of A House for Hope. They should read the intro- times, meeting places, subjects, and reading assign- duction and chapters one and two (“This Holy ments. Include facilitators’ contact information. Ground” and “Last Things First”) before the workshop Photocopy this schedule to share with participants. begins. You may wish to print this information, along q Arrange for an easel, flipchart, markers, and mask- with the first meeting time, on bookmarks that you sell ing tape to be used in the workshop. with the books. q Gather a chalice, candle, and matches, plus an altar cloth for use in the workshop’s Welcome. q Gather writing paper and writing implements for participants who may not have brought their own. 4 A House for Hope: Discussion Guide SESSION PLAN 90 Minutes Each workshop contains time for reflection and writing. Between the sixth and seventh workshop you will be invited to review your writings, and Welcome and Introductions 5 Minutes add to them, creating a “House for Hope” per- Light the chalice. Welcome participants to A House for sonal theological essay. We will share essays at the Hope. Introduce yourself, and invite participants to do final meeting of the workshop. the same. You may wish to ask each person to share something about what drew them to A House for Hope. Group Covenant 10 Minutes Engage participants in a discussion about how they Introduction to the Series 10 Minutes will relate to one another in the workshop. Ask: Describe the scope of the book and the workshops, In our workshops, how will we best live out using these words or your own: Unitarian Universalism’s religious tolerance and The book, in its own words, theological diversity, and make space for people to express their own passionate convictions and provides a primer in progressive theology. It theologies? recovers and reconsiders the hope-filled religious frameworks that inspired generations of activists As you listen to participants respond, frame their to work for women’s rights, racial equality, eco- answers in the language of covenant, and encourage the nomic justice, and peace. These frameworks group to do the same. For example, “We will speak for embody reverence for the sacred, nourish com- ourselves,” and “We will respect others’ viewpoints.” munity life, carry forward the aspirations of our Write the group’s ideas on newsprint, and ask for the forebears, and respond to legacies of violence and whole group’s assent to this covenant before moving injustice that harm our bodies and souls. They on. Keep the covenant posted during this and all future hold promise for our time (pp. ix–x). gatherings of A House for Hope. It “uses the metaphor of a theological house to articulate the ‘frames that give our dreams shape Discussion 30 Minutes and meaning’” (p. x). The book, and these work- Introduce the topic of the first two chapters of A shops, explore the classic topics of theology House for Hope: eschatology. Begin by asking partici- through a progressive lens. pants to define the term. (Parker defines eschatology on By participating, we hope that you will develop a p. 4 as “the theological term for ‘speaking of final meaningful understanding of liberal theology. We things’—ultimate hopes.” Eschatology addresses seek to engage you in Unitarian Universalism’s “Where are we going?” “What is the purpose of exis- “free and responsible search for truth and mean- tence?” “What is the horizon to which our lives are ori- ing” by locating your own, and others’, theologi- ented?”) Then turn to these questions for discussion: cal understandings within a “House for Hope.” · Have you encountered conservative eschatological Liberal theology, like liberal religion and spiritu- teachings? If so, how? What forms did those teach- ality, is best explored in a conversation.
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