INCORPORATING THE FIFTH EPOCHAL REVELATION INTO
ORGANIZED RELIGION AND INTERFAITH GROUPS

Wednesday, August 3, 2005

International Conference for Urantia Book Readers

Philadelphia, PA

Steven Hecht, Moderator

Description of Workshop

Following panelist presentations, break-out sessions for group participation will convene to address three questions. Panel members will serve as facilitators for the group discussions. The questions are:

How has the UB informed our spiritual pursuits and what faith contexts have we experienced?

How do we perceive opportunities to be of service within organized religion as UB readers?

What roles do we see the UB playing in future religious explorations on this planet?

Each group will provide a report to the reconvened audience during the final thirty minutes.

AGENDA

Part 1 (1:30-3:00 PM)

Introduction Steven Hecht

 

Panelist Presentations (approximately 10-15 minutes each)

Daughter-ship: A "Passing By" Ministry Eugenia Bryan

Protestant Christianity and the UB: How I Balance Two Faith Communities Linda Huff

Sharing Experiential Faith Within Organized Religion Ken Raveill

An Alternative View: The Temple between Your Temples Stephen Zendt

Note: Due to a family emergency, Lee Loots is unable to join us today. If you wish to contact her, leave your queries and contact information with the moderator; they will be forwarded to her.

Question and Answer Session (as remaining time allows)

Please use the available 3x5 cards to submit succinct questions or issues that you wish discussed by the panelists. One query per card please. Cards will be collected during the presentations and given to the moderator.

Part 2 (3:30-5:00 PM)

Break Out Sessions Formed and Convened (approximately 10 minutes)

Participants will join one of five smaller breakout sessions facilitated by the panelists and moderator.

Breakout Discussion (45 minutes)

A recorder and reporter will be appointed for each group to summarize discussions that will address the three questions posed above in the workshop description.

Reconvene and Group Reports (remaining time available)

Group reporters will share content of group discussions with the reconvened participants. It is the hope of the organizers of this presentation that guidelines and suggestions will emerge which can be shared in some manner for others interested in interfaith activities within the Urantia community. Further group discussion is invited.

Daughter-ship: A "Passing By" Ministry

Presenter-Eugenia Bryan

"And it behooves the Master's followers in all ages to learn to minister as "they pass by"-

to do unselfish good as they go about their daily duties." Paper 171:7.10 (1875)

 

In this presentation, I will provide some personal stories of "passing by" that are specifically related to experiences as a layperson in my own church denomination, the Episcopal Church. There are ample opportunities that arise when one is open to the potential for working with others in both formal and informal situations. Some of these opportunities include: Prayer Chains, Discernment Coordinator for those seeking ordained ministry, The Stephens Ministry, Small Group Discussion, Informal one to one encounters. Though contemporary Christian Churches are often disparaged within the UB community, it is good to remember that those who choose to participate formally in a church will meet people who hunger for God. A faith community is fertile ground for mindful promulgation of the Fifth Epochal Revelation.

Protestant Christianity and the UB: How I Balance Two Faith Communities

Presenter-Linda Huff

"Jesus prayed for unity among his followers, but did not desire uniformity." Paper 182:1.8 (1965)

 

I will briefly tell my story of how I simultaneously participate in two faith communities. I will share two stories from Holy Week that are illustrations of integration of the traditional teachings and the UB. I will use specific examples of the ideas and teachings of Jesus which have helped me through some difficult situations of conflict in the congregations. Examples:

1.        Jesus non-interference and yet supportive role in the apostles of John and his followers around questions of Baptism.

2.        The importance of values in today's faith traditions.

3.        Seeing Jesus again from new eyes.

4.        The question of the rights of the individual in relationship to the concerns of the group.

Lastly, I will talk about why I think that organized religion needs the UB and what the UB can learn from the institutional church.

 

Working at the Edge

Presenter-Lee Loots

"The progression of eternity does not consist solely in spiritual development. Intellectual acquisition is also a part of universal education." Paper 37:6.6 (412)

 

Jesus worked at the edges of things. For example, he chose not to become a formal priest or synagogue leader or learned scholar or elite member of the cultural cliques of his day. Instead, he went out to the countryside to speak to the common people. Moreover, he gathered common men and women around him to help him teach and preach. He occasionally preached in synagogues but he freely taught anywhere people would gather. Rather than always being direct, he often revealed just edges of his truths, choosing to speak in parables, and intentionally referring to himself as the Son of Man (rather than as the Creator of the universe). Keeping a low profile and acting as a "rabbi" (teacher), he was able to appeal to great numbers of people. Those interested in his simple truths could perceive larger truths in a parable; those with spiritual hearts could discern that he was more than a human being. In the ministry of public college teaching, I find a similar advantage working at the edge. I have no institutional buy-in because I have always been an adjunct instructor. I am able to fold higher truths into the academic content by speaking directly to the adjusters of the students. I address ethics, value formation, personal responsibility, character formation, balanced living, the interconnectedness of all, and the necessity to explore matters that cannot be scientifically verified. Within the church as a seminary graduate, I prefer work that is behind the scenes with a pastor friend. I believe I am able to elevate spiritual content of her church and exert subtle influences that do not arouse defensiveness. Working at the Edge allows me to be a constructive influence for God's work.

 

Sharing Experiential Faith Within Organized Religion

Presenter-Ken Raveill

"Go you, therefore, into all the world preaching this gospel, and lo, I am with you always,

even to the end of the ages." Paper 191:6.3 (2044)

 

I believe it is our privilege and responsibility to testify and show by example what Jesus meant when he admonished his followers to "Go you, therefore, into all the world, etc.," during his several morontia appearances. Jesus did not say go only to those who think as you do or to those who are like-minded. Our challenge, as I understand, is to seek out those who are searching and by word and example share our understanding of the Gospel Of Jesus knowing as we do this others will be blessed. I have made a conscience effort to study the beliefs and customs of all religions but my personal religious experience has been for the most part with the so-called Restoration Churches. These churches, some ninety in number, have grown around the religious organization established in New York State in 1830 by Joseph Smith. The two largest Restoration Churches are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with headquarters in Salt Lake City and The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints now called the Community of Christ with headquarters in Independence, Missouri. I have also had through the years contact with ministers and members of the Unity School of Christianity, the world headquarters at Unity Village being near my home in Independence. Regardless of the denomination, I believe every Urantia reader should if possible, be associated with a local church and become active giving leadership in the local church and as you have opportunity share your personal understanding of things spiritual. Where can you find a better opportunity to share your faith than at your neighborhood church?

An Alternative View: The Temple between Your Temples

Presenter-Stephen Zendt

"Religious perplexities are inevitable; there can be no growth without psychic conflict and spiritual agitation. The organization of a philosophic standard of living entails considerable commotion in the philosophic realms of the mind. Loyalties are not exercised in behalf of the great, the good, the true, and the noble without a struggle. Effort is attendant upon clarification of spiritual vision and enhancement of cosmic insight. And the human intellect protests against being weaned from subsisting upon the nonspiritual energies of temporal existence. The slothful animal mind rebels at the effort required to wrestle with cosmic problem solving." Paper 100:4.2 (1097)

Religion for most Americans, and even for the Western world means going to a place of religious practice and belief, such as church, synagogue, mosque or temple. I believe that it is important for believers in the Master's Kingdom of God to carry the "holy place" along with them, everywhere at all times. When we submit to the rules and creeds of organized religion we should do so with our minds crystal clear about what we do and do not believe, nor should we feel constrained to remain within a faith that no longer speaks to our needs as a religionist I will discuss the process of learning from the experience of immersion in church life, intensity of study and appreciation of elements of worship, ritual and creed. In order to discuss the effect of the Revelation upon our religious lives, we need to be able to acknowledge where our faith experience actually rests. What are we willing to compromise, what cannot be changed? I will talk about some of the background I bring to the discussion, as a preacher's son growing up in Protestant religion, a breakaway to become a student of Eastern religion and Western metaphysics, and a recent return to church as an Episcopalian in a very liberal parish. I will also delve into what I have gleaned from these years of searching and application of the UB to my experiences.

Presenter Personal Statements

Steven Hecht (Moderator): I am Jewish by birth, went to Hebrew school at a conservative synagogue in preparation for my bar-mitzvah. The overall impression of my conservative Jewish education: claustrophobic and disastrous. I have hardly ever stepped inside a synagogue since. I briefly considered converting to Russian Orthodoxy while in graduate school, but declined because of the same sensation of spiritual claustrophobia. I am most comfortable with the religious anti-institution I proclaim on a bumper sticker on the rear bumper of my car: "The true church is invisible". I have an eclectic (and academically-based) background in spirituality and religion, and over the years have incorporated Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, polytheistic, and philosophical sensibilities into the life of the invisible church I do my best to share with others.

 

Eugenia Bryan: I am now semi-retired from a professional career as a Clinical Laboratory Science practitioner, administrator and educator. Even though I was born into and loved the rituals, music and ambiance of the Episcopal Church, I had to leave it to find my personal religion, a sad commentary echoed by many. In 1988, I met my second husband, a long time reader, and the Urantia Book. I was ready for the experience of knowing God personally as an integral part of my life but my need and awareness was not fully developed at that point. The UB introduced me to thoughtful people with whom I could safely explore beliefs, practices and faith; and it gave me a reference that rang my inner truth bells in private and group study. Michael became my master and Jesus my mentor as I assumed my daughter-ship status with opened eyes. The UB led me to practice a personal ministry characterized as "passing by" within a church family and greater family of God. We are hosts to a study group and are members of the Heart of America Urantia Society.

 

Rev. Linda Huff: I am an ordained minister (20 years) of the Congregational - United Church of Christ Denomination. I have served churches in Maine and Connecticut. The last five years have been devoted to the work of being an Intentional Interim for congregations who are in transition working with conflict resolution, strategic planning, and establishing goals. I have always been associated with organized religion and have some exposure to various Christian traditions. I graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 1984. My involvement with the Urantia Book was after I was ordained. I have been reading for 14 years. I use the UB as background reading and study for sermon preparation. I attended the Parliament of World Religions in July 2004.

 

Lee Loots: I have been reading the UB since the mid-seventies, and it is the most important book in my life. I met my former husband in a UB group. After we divorced, I raised my sons (then six and eight) more or less alone. My sons were early on exposed to UB teachings. I taught community college speech communication courses. But I had keenly felt the call to ministry at age 14. My father's transition in 1990 ultimately served as a catalyst to launch my seminary enrollment at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. I entered seminary both to deepen and broaden my own faith understanding, as well as to learn new forms of service. I served five churches, spent a year as a chaplain trainee in a hospital, and did an internship on the crisis-suicide hotline. I had all kinds of great training but I found that I was not a good fit for the "stand apart" role of the pastor. For many reasons, I returned to college teaching, with a new dedication to making it into a ministry. My mission became to create a passion for critical thinking in any communication course, hoping to illuminate to students how much better their lives can be by taking up the adventure of thinking well. I truly love teaching. Church possibilities still intrigue, me, too though I care little about denominational ties. Within the United Church of Christ, I have recently begun exploring options, asking for guidance as I go.

 

Ken Raveill: My professional background is largely in Publications, Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Photography. During W.W.II I was in the US Army Air Corps where I made motion pictures, and was classified as a ground photographer. I have a Bachelor's Degree with a major in motion pictures, from the University of California at Los Angeles. I worked in films for a number of years. My wife and I found the Urantia Book in 1977. We started reading with Part 4. It took us a year, the first time, to read the book. We have been active members of the Heart of America Urantia Society from its founding, and have sponsored a local Urantia study group for twelve years. It would take pages to describe the many ways the Urantia Book's teachings has blessed our lives. Even then, words alone could not express the peace and comfort we have found by the study of the Urantia book. I sincerely thank God daily for the gift of the Fifth Epochal Revelation.

 

Stephen Zendt: At sixty-two years of age, I have spent half my lifetime studying The Urantia Book. Originally studying and working in the theatre, radio and TV, I found the UB as my life crumbled post divorce and nervous breakdown. The power of the discovery of what I had been searching for has led me into a very different existence from my earlier years. I've had a lot of involvement with the UB Fellowship over the years, and have been privileged to work on some programs and projects of which I am very happy to participate. I live in Northern California and serve as President of our local Society, GOLDEN GATE CIRCLE.