United By What?

Written by: Kate Snyder, Executive Assistant

If you have ever received any printed material from EECM, or checked out our website, you will have noticed a prominently featured motto – United By Faith, Dedicated To Service. This is the EECM “slogan”, for lack of a better word, an attempt to encapsulate the heart of who we are into a short, memorable phrase. It lends itself well to t-shirts and bumper stickers.

However, in the year that I have been working for EECM, I have encountered numerous furrowed or quizzically-raised eyebrows when people hear this motto. Behind the questioning looks is a question: “how can you be united by faith if you are an interfaith organization?” It’s a valid question. In our society today, we see more examples of religions in conflict than in harmony; faith has become a divisive issue rather than one which brings people together. As an organization that embraces diversity of religious belief, what does it mean to say that we are “United by Faith?”

I have my own thoughts on the subject, but you hear my thoughts often enough! Instead, over the next week or so I am going to be posting responses to this question that I have received from several leaders and members of congregations involved with EECM. I asked them to address the issue in a paragraph or two and they have responded with thoughtful, meaningful reflection. I hope you will enjoy their responses as much as I have. Stay tuned!