The Providence Journal has a nice spotlight on Unitarian Rev. Donald Cameron, the new minister of the historic First Unitarian Church in Rhode Island. Cameron, who has a long history working in the civil rights movement recently had to deal with some controversy over the first Pagan Pride Day event at his new church.

“Two weeks after Mr. Cameron arrived, the church was thrust into the spotlight by reports it was hosting the state’s first Pagan Pride Day. While the move was seen by the church’s critics as a sign of how the Unitarians had strayed from biblical religion, Mr. Cameron said he was more upset with suggestions that members of the church themselves thought the church should not be hosting such an event. Mr. Cameron says he doesn’t want people to get the impression that Unitarians aren’t open to other beliefs. On the contrary, he says, ‘We are the church of all souls. We’re an inclusive religion. We want you to be your own theologians, and to be the final authority of what you believe. I have sometimes told people in sermons, ‘If you believe in everything I say, you are in the wrong church.’ We celebrate diversity and want to model that diversity without divisiveness.’”

Cameron’s church had made the news over a letter circulated to the parish (and the media) complaining of “flaky” Pagans being allowed to use the church for their pride event (an issue that generated a lot of conversation). It is nice to finally hear from the head of that church on the issue (surprising that nobody who reported on the letter asked for his opinion before now), and to know that he sees his work for civil rights and his acceptance of Pagans in one continuum. Who knows? Maybe men like Cameron will help make the notion of a congregational Paganism (for those who want it) a reality.

Tags: Paganism