WVUU
Our Minister
The Reverend Paul Langston-Daley
Rev. Paul Langston-Daley is a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School in Massachusetts and a graduate of the International Institute for Restorative Practices. Prior to serving this church, Rev. Paul served our congregations in Pottstown PA, Santa Cruz CA, Albany, New York and Waltham, Massachusetts. He is originally from the Boston area. Rev. Paul has one son from a previous relationship. (Parker lives in California with his mother.) Paul is currently engaged to Victoria who is a Waldorf teacher.
Rev. Paul brings an open and inclusive message of community to the West Valley Church:
"Because my theological beliefs are varied, I rely on Unitarian Universalist history as well as a variety of other traditions as sources for theological reflection. I have been greatly influenced by the Taoist image of life as a river and Native American beliefs, specifically the ideas of interconnectedness and the impact we have on the world for seven future generations. I sincerely believe, and want to encourage people to discover, that we are each valuable. When we understand and accept our own value, we are better able to share more authentically and to help others to recognize and accept their own value. Authentic relationships honor the web of life and, I believe, help to mend the tears we face as a society.
As a UU minister, I have an obligation to provide the congregation with the basic understanding and exploration of different traditions. This supports those who have grounding in a particular tradition, and may help others discover which traditions provide the grounding and roots they seek. I believe it is vital to hold up the common truths of different traditions in order to support ideas such as love, compassion, peace and equity.
One way I combine my spiritual beliefs and my theology is to share with the congregation my strong calling to teach about social justice issues and human rights. In our UU tradition, we hold the ideal that we each have inherent worth and dignity. Historically, Unitarians and Universalists were a driving force in the abolitionist and suffrage movement. The founders of the Sanitary Commission, which was the predecessor to the Red Cross, were Universalists. Unitarians and Universalists have worked for prison reform, civil rights and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. We are ever conscious of our interconnectedness and the impact of any injustice on the whole of humanity. We are able to create either a positive or a negative change in the way our web is constructed. One of my challenges as a UU minister is to remind myself and the congregation of the impact we have on the interdependent web of life and to continue to strive for a just and equitable world.
