Dogma is a word Unitarian Universalists don't use often. But the word dogma means the authorative teaching of a religious community. Our by-laws of the Unitarian Universalist Association enshrine congregational policy as the guiding principle of the Association. No other theological idea is mentioned, outside of the By-laws statement of the "Principles and Purposes." The Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association asks ministers to uphold congregational polity as part of the Code of Conduct along with taking care of oneself and being honest with congregants. Unitarian Universalists are known for their theological diversity, and their non dogmatic attitudes but one would be hard pressed to find a Unitarian Universalist leader who would express doubts about congregational polity. Congregational polity is our dogma.
On the other hand a dogmatist is person who is fanatic or inflexible in how they apply dogmas. I wonder if that is what Steve Caldwell was witnessing when he commented: Maybe the abundance of congregational leadership resources and the paucity of seeker resources on the main uua.org page simply reflects our congregational polity? I've heard some congregational purists suggest that the only appropriate outlet for Unitarian Universalism is the local congregation.
In the eyes of these congregational purists, any expression of Unitarian Universalism directed towards individuals that doesn't come from a UU congregation is inappropriate within our tradition. For example, I've heard some ministers in my region complain about "camp and conference Unitarian Universalists" who have some spiritual needs met outside congregations and district YRUU youth who also have some spiritual needs met outside congregations as forms of Unitarian Universalism as two examples that are incompatible with our traditions. Perhaps this relative lack of "seeker" resources directed towards individuals (and not congregational leaders) on the uua.org main page reflects that view of our polity?
First of all congregational polity means that each "congregation" is a self governing religious gathering and does not require an external theological authority to authorize its religious functions. Second, each congregation will determine its own membership and its own leadership, including calling and authorizing ordained ministry. Third, congregational polity means that each religious community is a covenant relationship with other religious communities working for mutual support and accountability. The theology of congregational polity is that the church is a body of covenanting believers, in contrast to top down polities which congregationalist assert infantalize the believer, and corrupt the community of the faith.
Nothing in our polity prevents a community of congregational churches from associating for any purpose. Congregationalists have long formed mission societies for outreach to people outside the local area of congregations. They established colleges, created publishing companies, and institutionalized charities all without bishops or presbyterian oversight. So creating an Association and authorizing it to advertise to seekers is not outside congregational polity. Congregational polity may be our dogma. But let us apply it with wisdom and a vision that moves beyond dogmatism.
Clyde, I'd love it if you'd tackle Steve's remarks even more directly. He isn't talking about congregations gathering, he's talking about complaints against UU folks who don't attend (or don't much attend) the local congregation but who consider themselves UU from their involvement with camps, conferences, etc.
What say you to that complaint, vis-a-vis "congregational purists?"