BEYOND THE CHURCH DOORS
THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES OF COLUMNS ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR MINISTERS OUTSIDE OF ALL SOULS

GALEN GENGUERICH, Senior Minsister
In his doctoral dissertation “Comprehensive Commitments and the Public World: Tillich, Rawls and Whitehead on the Nature of Justice,” our Senior Minister, the Rev. Dr. Galen Guengerich, addressed writings on the subject by three visionary thinkers. Galen examined and compared their varying points of view on the essence, meaning and function of justice in a democratic, pluralistic society. Each theorist’s work is enriched by a differing philosophical foundation. Examining and evaluating these treatises, which apply to “the nature of justice,” and the attendant research was a monumental undertaking. To read a one page summary of Galen’s thesis and conclusions as well as the dissertation in its entirety, go to Galen’s page on the All Souls website:
www.allsoulsnyc.org/whoweare/ministers/galen.html.

Tillich, Rawls and Whitehead are among the great philosophers of the twentieth century. Paul Tillich was a theologian and philosopher. He was Professor of Theology at the University of Frankfurt. In 1933, he fled Nazi Germany as did many other intellectuals. A leader in systematic theology with leanings toward existentialism, his views are described as being between “liberalism and neo-orthodoxy.” The remainder of his distinguished career was spent at Union Theological Seminary where he produced a significant volume of writings. John Rawls was Professor of Political Philosophy at Harvard University and among his many publications, are A Theory of Justice, Political Liberalism and Justice as Fairness: A Restatement. President Bill Clinton said of Rawls, “He helped a whole generation of learned Americans revive their faith in democracy itself.” Alfred North Whitehead taught Mathematics, Physics and the Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University and co-authored with one of his pupils, Bertrand Russell, the Principia Mathematica. Whitehead also taught at both University College and Imperial College in London and in 1924, was invited to teach Philosophy at Harvard. His prodigious intellect was engaged by other disciplines as well including theology, metaphysics, education and culture.

Rather than creating a book out of his dissertation, which was completed three years ago at the University of Chicago, Dr. Guengerich spends some of his time outside his pastoral commitments at All Souls working to highlight the multi-faceted work of Alfred North Whitehead. “There is an Essential Paul Tillich,” he said. “Since the 1950s many of Whitehead’s writings have been out of print. There needs to be an Essential Alfred North Whitehead, and I plan to do it.”

Galen’s article in the February 2007 issue of “UU World,” “A Theology of Gratitude,” proposes a substantive definition of Unitarian Universalism. He argues that to condense the denomination’s essence to “believing what one wishes” trivializes our faith. “You don’t go to Carnegie Hall to not hear a concert,” he writes. In this essay, Dr. Guengerich not only describes his views on the meaning and purpose of religion and what Unitarian-Universalism is at the core, but also delves into metaphysics and the meaning of life in relation to the rest of the universe. He explains that reduced to the level of atoms we are meaningless, but when the atoms interact combined with our experiences, “You are you.” He urges us to remember that we should reconsider the emphasis on self-reliance and realize how truly dependent we are on others and all elements of the universe. “A sense of awe and a sense of obligation—religion’s basic impulses—are both experiences of transcendence, of being part of something much larger than ourselves. … (This) should engender in us a discipline of gratitude. … (One should) learn gratitude as a daily practice.” Galen’s future plans include pursuing this avenue of thought, which as time allows, may also develop into a book.

Galen at the Interfaith Alliance Foundation Dinner this past November with Holly Atkinson and Zoë and honoree George Clooney.

Dr. Guengerich serves on the national Board of Directors of The Interfaith Alliance Foundation, established in 1994. The Foundation’s purpose is to advocate and educate, unite and promote democratic values, religious freedom and to abolish religious and racial discrimination and thwart the efforts of extremist groups such as those of the religious right. This past fall, Galen was co-chair of the organization’s annual Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Awards Dinner. The honorees were the actor and filmmaker George Clooney and his father Nick Clooney, a journalist, for their documentary film “Darfur.”

The Advisory Board of Musica Viva of New York also benefits from Galen’s deep and informed interest in music. The highly acclaimed group founded and directed by All Souls Minister of Music Walter Klauss presents several concerts every year at All Souls and performs in Europe periodically.

Until recently, Dr. Guengerich was also a member of the national Board of Dads and Daughters, an organization that through a variety of educational materials advocates and supports greater participation by fathers in their daughters’ lives. The organization’s fundamental objective is to enhance the image and self esteem of girls and women beginning in the family and extending outward to the educational, social and business spheres. One of Galen’s favorite extra-theological activities is to host All Souls at Sundown on the first Sunday of each month at 6:00PM in the Sanctuary. Leading jazz musicians perform and Dr. Guengerich reads selected poems written by a wide range of poets. On the first and third Sunday of each month, he may be heard on Morning Meditation on radio station WQXR.