Denny Davidoff introduced the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy as a special friend, in addition to his official role as the Executive Director of the Interfaith Alliance. She noted that her work on the board and as a Vice President at large of the Interfaith Alliance has been a major part of her own Interfaith witness. It is one of the ways she has practiced her own faith: "being a Unitarian Universalist outside our walls."
Among Dr. Gaddy's books is Faith and Politics: What's a Christian to do? He has had a background in Parish Ministry, in church organizaiton, in interfaith work; he has been a member of the General Council of the Cooperative Baptist Council, President of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and has served as Chair of the Pastoral Lealdershipi Commission of the Baptist World Alliance.
The full text of his address is available on-line; our summary follows:
Dr. Gaddy emphasized the role that Unitarian Universalists have played in the Interfaith Alliance, in many states and on the Interfaith Alliance's national boards. He also noted that his central theme for the evening, walking together is a central one in Unitarian Universalism, appearing in covenants as far back as 1629. The rest of his talk was an investigation into the substance of that theme.
"The concept of walking together informs our vision of spirituality, insisting that the life of faith is a shared journey." On this shared journey of the faithful, many travel but none have arrived. The problems begin to arise, both theologically and socially when one group believes it has arrived, for this story has no end.
When you declare a story ended, you have to defend it, even into violence. Those who write the end of spiritual vision run this risk in the U.S. today, to the extent of using government to impose their vision.
Walking together therefore becomes a spiritual path. Being part of a faith community, as we walk together, we learn about ourselves and others. We carry our concerns with us here at GA. But despite our weariness, we can walk and walk together.
By our walking together itself we offer hope to others as we walk together as a community. As we walk, we heal ourselves and we heal others. In fact, community seems essential for life itself. Quoting a scientist he noted "The future either will be ecumenical or there will be no future."
The Interfaith Alliance takes faith seriously, and takes Interfaith dialog seriously. Faith traditions from all over the world recognize the importance of community and from that sense of community again comes that thread of walking together.
"Walking together means moving beyond tolerance to practicing acceptance." For tolerance only grudgingly gives space to other beliefs, whereas acceptance recognizes the possibility of change inherent in walking together. Many of the threats to freedom cloak themselves in the language of freedom. Institutionalizing religion is a threat to the religious freedom of all.
Those promoting religious freedom need not abandon labels such as "pro-American," "pro-family," or "pro-morality;" we must not let others redefine these terms and appropriate them for their own ends.
Dr. Gaddy closed with a meditation on how God walks with all of us.
