Minister’s Reflections Rev. Rod Debs July-August, 2009
“Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” (John F. Kennedy)
10:30AM to 3:30PM, Saturday, August 29
Leadership Development Conference
with Connie Goodbread
Mid-South District Lifespan Program Consultant
@ UU Fellowship of Montgomery
presented by Alabama-Florida Panhandle UU Minister’s Cluster
In the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution we find the civic-minded aspirations of our nation’s founders: By “Union” of “We the People” the United States was established for the purpose of Justice and Tranquility, not only for a powerful, wealthy, permanent aristocracy as in Europe, but more broadly for “the common defence” and “the general welfare.” Civic-minded patriots rejected the self-interest of kings, priests and wealthy classes in framing the Constitution of a united people.
That the Constitution was designed to promote the common good and the general welfare is clear. But today, such civic-mindedness in our country is optional—except for taxes and jury duty. I dare say, every economics school in the country teaches self-interest as our nation’s fundamental economic law. In the “free enterprise” system, self-interest rules. Common interest is optional!
I stopped by a garage sale where a fellow shopper purchased a guitar to give to a child as part of a free music program in Uptown Station. Such civic-mindedness is wide-spread despite the glorification of private accumulation of wealth, and of the “successful” as a superior elite. Taxes? Rather than being a civic duty, taxes are publicly denigrated as theft. Self-interest is sacred.
The spiritual leader at the founding of the American Unitarian Association, William Ellery Channing celebrated the democratic concept of “disinterested” behavior. Self-interest pits each against all in society. Even civic-minded individuals and groups find ourselves in conflict based upon our diverse perceptions of what is in the public interest. But it is by the democratic processes of public discourse and disinterested policy-making whereby society can rise above both self-interest and parochial perspectives of the public interest.
One example of disinterested decision-making comes to mind: A congregation I served considered purchasing a computer so as to centralize their financial and membership data. The Board discussed the proposal and a motion was made to purchase a PC. When the “question” was called, there was one dissenting vote. All eyes went to the one voting “no.” The Board Chair asked, “Please share why you voted against this motion, if you would.” The dissenter responded, “I think we might be better served with a Macintosh. It is more user-friendly.” Everything got quiet. Though the PC users on the Board thought that their computer preference would serve the public interest best, the Board members suspended their own parochial perspective for a moment. They paused. From a disinterested perspective, they recognized they had no clear basis to choose one computer system over another. They withdrew their votes and tabled the matter until they could make a disinterested decision. The democratic spirit is to take every person’s view seriously, not just winning a vote.
There are, of course, other examples of a less democratic spirit. At a congregation with several biology professors and a clear commitment to “green” environmental practices, I observed a member with a little bottle of “Round-Up” spraying weeds in the cracks in the pavement of the parking lot. It took a special effort for him to come out on a week-day when no one was around so as to kill the weeds that made the parking lot look scraggly. I suspect he thought it would be better to avoid the debate and just get the job done. How many of us have side-stepped democratic process at one time or other because, “It is easier to get forgiveness than to get permission!”?
Breaking faith with the democratic process comes in many forms, but it boils down to the feeling of civic-minded folks that: “I know better than they do!” “It’s too important to the community, and I care too much to let others muck it up!” Countless civic-minded folks break faith with the democratic process, often in the name of “democracy.”
Leadership that honors diverse perspectives, leadership that follows processes of disinterested decision-making, Unitarian Universalist leadership is a wonderful challenge—especially for us who care so passionately for the common good. May we keep faith with one another and honor this precious democratic process handed into our care.
Blessings! Rev. Rod Debs, pastor