Sunday, November 14, 2010

11/14/10--“The Gospel of Inclusion (Or: ‘Why am I a Universalist’)" by Rev. Bill Gupton

Rev. Bill Gupton of Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church took the pulpit today.  His career path has included stops as journalist, minister, and yoga teacher.  He said Heritage is "where the Universalist comes first." His sermon reminded us of what a radical and rational concept it is to support the inherent worth and dignity of every person. 

Universalist, Gupton says, is the grammatical modifier.  You can be a Universalist Hindu, a Universalist Sufi, a Universalist Jew, or a Universalist Christian.  The Universalist side of our faith believes that we are all saved, universally. 

Rev. Gupton shared the story of Rev. Carlton Pearson, a former Pentacostal bishop who has embraced Universalism.  His story was covered by UU World and This American Life.  Rev. Pearson, the conservative leader of a mega-church in Tulsa, had a change of heart when he found that his best friend was gay.  His religion told him that this man would go to hell.  Pearson started to doubt a god that would punish his friend, a man he knew to be good.  He started to preach a more universalist message.  All were saved in God.

Pearson was soon rejected by his faith.  All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa, a mostly white congregation, offered Pearson and his remaining followers to share space at their church.  Their combined efforts have created the UUA's largest congregation in America.  That is radical in Oklahoma. It's radical everywhere. 

This radical love is something to learn from.  It is radical to accept all comers--gay, straight, black, white, gospel, classical, urban, suburban. . .  It's what All Souls and Pearson did.  It's what our UUniversalist principles call us to do.

Go out into the world,
G.

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