The Reverend Christine Robinson is a life-long UU who has been the minister at First Unitarian, Albuquerque, for almost 25 years. During her tenure the church’s membership has doubled to over 800 members, and is the UUA’s first multi-site congregation, with branches in three small towns in New Mexico. She is interested in the use of new technology to facilitate spiritual growth and has been thinking about how Unitarian Universalism can move into a future, post-religious society.
Christine delivered the 2008 Berry Street Essay, “Imagineering Soul,” to the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and speaks regularly at the UUA’s General Assembly.
In her 2011 Minns Lecture, Christine addressed “The Future of Unitarian Universalism: What’s Possible?” and introduced her talk in this way:
“I want to talk to you this morning about how the religious landscape has changed since the middle of the last century…my lifetime, and what we as Unitarian Universalists have to do if we want to survive, thrive, and serve in this century. I feel urgent about this. I was raised in this faith. I have found a place here during every era of my life, though my theology and spirituality have changed several times. It is hard for me to imagine a good life without Unitarian Universalism. I’m worried about us. After three decades of very modest growth during a population boom; which can only be called a success when compared to our compatriots in the Mainstream faiths which have plummeted in numbers, we’re starting to shrink, too. Unlike the Methodists and the Presbyterians, we were miniscule to start with. It will take very little shrinkage to make us no longer viable as a denomination. So, if I sound cranky at times…it’s the crankiness of fear. The world has changed around us, and if we don’t adjust to those changes, we are going to die off.”
Click here to read the rest of her Minns Lecture, or click here to view the video (30 minutes).
Christine is also the co-author of two books for small group spiritual discussion, Heart to Heart, and Soul to Soul, and a meditation book called The Twittered Tao. She writes the blog “iMinister.”
Christine’s spare time is devoted to a backyard micro farm and to fabric crafts. Her husband, William Baker is a freelance computer programmer, and their son Kevin is a college senior studying in Oakland.
For more information about Rev. Christine and her congregation, visit the First Unitarian Website.