April 8, 2018 "Whom You Would Change, First You Must Love..." Rev. Dr. Christine Tata

San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

If we are dedicated to positive social change, and if we are also dedicated to freedoms of speech and thought, this directive is a provoking and difficult challenge: Whom you would change, you must first love. How do we love those who seem only to hate? And even if we do love them, how does that allow us to change their minds or their behavior? Let’s follow the prophetic voice of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the pastoral example of Dr. Viktor Frankl, and look together at the role of radical love in creating radical justice. The Rev. Dr. Christine Tata has been exploring progressive religion and spirituality for as long as she can remember. Starting from early childhood memories of First Unitarian Universalist Church in Dallas, she was ordained in the forward-looking United Church of Christ, serving UCC and UU congregations as minister and consultant for the past two decades. She now writes on platforms such as Medium (https://medium.com/@mct2051) and other forums, and she enjoys serving UU congregations as preacher and worship coach. In all her endeavors, she hopes to engage hearts, minds, and souls—and get people to laugh in church more.