By Helen "HP" Rivers
Dear Westside,
As many of you know, I have been a proud member of Westside since I was just 17 years old in 2011. This community has loved me, sheltered me and helped me build the confidence to chase my dreams. You may also know that I have been working towards becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister since 2019. One thing you may not know about me is that I really hate rules. I really hate rules, especially when they don’t make any sense. Sometimes, however, I understand exactly why the rules are what they are, even if I hate them.
There are a lot of rules for becoming a UU minister. Some of them don’t make much sense, and I believe strongly in learning how to do ministry and church in new ways and in critically engaging with expectations and systems that may possibly no longer serve our highest good.
A very common rule in the formation process is that it is not advised that candidates for the ministry complete their internship in the context of their home congregation. This is for a lot of reasons and more than anything because the lines get blurry and it becomes hard to suss out what is ministry, what is being a congregant, what is being a part of the community, and what is being a leader in the community. Since moving back to Knoxville in January I’ve learned this particular rule exists for a reason and makes a lot of sense, even if I’m not personally thrilled about it. I really thought I could be the exception, the one to find a balance and make it work.
However, upon reflection I have found that while I probably could find a way to do it all (because a really special community taught me I can do anything I set my heart and mind to) it is unlikely I can do it all well.
Therefore, I have made the bittersweet decision to distance myself from Westside for the next year while I complete my ministerial internship in the Knoxville area. I am so thankful to be a part of this community and, in order to faithfully serve the larger UU community in Knoxville and beyond at this moment, I need to take some space.
What that means for now is that Henry and I will not participate in Westside as congregants over the next year, though you may see us pop in every now and then. I will not be volunteering in any capacity at Westside and I will be adjusting my boundaries around social media.
Please, please, please be assured if you find that our connections on social media have changed that it is not personal. I still love you all dearly, this is just a weird part of the work I’m called to. In addition to all the weirdness my work brings to my life, one cool part is that my internship is partly based in online ministry through social media, so I can invite you to follow along on my public pages, which I will link below.
Because Westside is still my sponsoring congregation, I will provide regular updates to Rev. Carol that she will relay as she deems appropriate. All I need from Westside for the next year are your prayers, good vibes, well wishes, love, and your understanding that if it was up to me, I would be everywhere all at once, especially with you all.
Goddess willing, we will all get to celebrate with a big party for my ordination this time next year. (I’m hoping it works out for me to be ordained on All Souls Day 2025, with a celebratory Halloween party the night before.)
In the meantime, thank you for your love and prayers and for being a part of my journey.
This community means more to me than you will ever know.
With Love and Gratitude,
Helen “HP” Rivers
Owner & CEO - Blessed Bee by HP Rivers
Aspirant for the Unitarian Universalist Ministry
Associate Pastor - Magnolia Matrimonies
Chaplain - UU Young Adult Revival Network
Community-Based UU Ministry Intern - Knoxville, TN
Proud Member of LREDA (Liberal Religious Educators Association) Since 2019
Proud Member of the UUMA (Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association) Since 2020
Proud Member of Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, Knoxville, TN Since 2011
Public Links:
Website - https://hprivers.com/
Blessed Bee by HP- https://blessedbeebyhp.myshopify.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hp.rivers.art/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/blessedbeebyhp/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@hp_rivers
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