Hills, Mountains and Meetings

Hills. Mountains. It is good for the human soul to behold the earth rising up toward the sky and falling down in to ravines and valleys.

Florida is beautiful, but it is so flat. I miss the rises. Marjorie and I arrived in Albuquerque yesterday afternoon. We met two colleagues, rented a van and drove up to Sante Fe by way of the scenic route stopping for a little browsing in an old mining village which apparently has been converted into a dozens of art galleries. The rents for setting up a gallery in Sante Fe must be really high, or the tourists must drive this scenic road a lot, to make it worthwhile. We didn't see may customers, but there were lots of vendors and quite a few artists.

I am here in Sante Fe for the January meeting of the UUMA exec. Our agenda is full. There is work relative to the UUA policies and ministers that we spend lots of time working on. But in our polity the association of ministers and the association of congregations are partners rather than antagonists. Some ministerial colleagues would love it if the UUMA were a union, and fought for ministers rights with congregations and the association. I have more experience as a trade unionist than 99% of my colleagues (three unions, steward, secretary treasurer of a local, and a field organizer) and I can't imagine how such a minister's union would work. Already we help by creating model contracts for parish ministers with congregations, and creating best practice guidelines. But the UUA is as association of congregations is not an antagonist to ministers, and ministers are not antagonists to their congregations. The UUA can't implement its policies without ministers, and ministers interests are bound up in the health and welfare of strong congregations. We are not employees, we are clergy, and the UUMA is an association of clergy. I am sure the conversation will go on.

So this morning I am a mile higher than yesterday. Loving it.