An Authentic Life 1.1 for pdf - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

I met with Don Stalhutt, a UCC minister and
community organizer I knew when we belonged to
the same church in Berkeley during my seminary
days. We had lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Martinez
where he organized. He gave me tips for the interview
I scheduled with the community organization
he founded in San Francisco and other organizations
I’d meet with. He was one of my ministry role models
since seminary. I went into the church wanting to
work for peace, justice, and integrity of creation.
Church based community organizing is an effective
way of doing that. I met some leading Bay Area organizers
and labor leaders, but nothing clicked leading
to a job offer.
I got to know Inez, Linda, and her partner
Miguel better. We had a pleasant Thanksgiving celebration
with some of their neighbors. I enjoyed big
city life for a little while and hoped I’d find something
eventually.
By the end of the year (1998), Jack returned
again at the request of the Pastoral Relations Committee.
The church wasn’t pleased with me as their pastor
and wanted me to leave. Jack negotiated for me to
stay six months at full pay while I looked for another
position and performed only essential duties. Living
in Valley City wasn’t an advantage when doing a national
job search, especially in the Bay Area and other
progressive urban areas. I continued looking for nonparish
ministries. However, after a couple of months,
Jack suggested I give pastoral ministry one more try.
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