"farewell remarks", Letter by Stephen C. Clapp, 15 June 1998

I made the following remarks during Joys & Sorrows on Sunday:

I have a sorrow. Today marks the end of my active involvement with UUCF. I have resigned from the Social Justice Council, the Lay-Led Worship Committee and the Chorale.

I was deeply disappointed by Jim’s Mother’s Day sermon. Members who criticized the leadership were characterized as troublemakers and told to stop. I am a journalist as well as a UU, and you can imagine my reaction to that idea.

I am also the son of a minister whose career spanned 51 years. I never, ever heard my father speak ill of his detractors, even in private. He could not imagine using his pulpit to denigrate his critics.

Like many others, I have decided to move on. I no longer feel welcome in this sanctuary, and I no longer consider this my spiritual home. However, I do want to thank everyone who has made this, on balance, ten wonderful years.