Rev. Celeste hosts Rev Abigail Schairer as her guest. They discuss Freedom as a divine birthright whether or not we experience it in our minds or bodies. We remain spiritually free regardless of conditions during this pandemic. Abigail is grateful that she lives outside of Seattle where it is not densely populated. However, as an extrovert, she’s been feeling stir crazy!
Rev. Abigail has always had an awareness that she can accept Freedom. Her mother was born on the 4th of July and encouraged Abigail to express herself freely. Her parents encouraged her to be authentic.
The reverends discussed how Stanford University supports advanced degrees. Abigail worked at Stanford in Development and Marketing. And Stanford paid for her ministerial school education to support her in doing her work at Stanford.
Abigail knew she wanted to be a minister ever since the first time she walked into Center for Spiritual Living San Jose (cslsj.org), but she thought it would be a second career. However, she went quickly into the pulpit at CSL Peninsula (https://www.cslpeninsula.org/) shortly after graduating from the Holmes Institute (http://holmesinstitute.edu/).
Rev. Abigail discusses the intrinsic qualities that get taught out of people.
Rev. Celeste asked Rev. Abigail if the United States is living upon to its promise of freedom. They agreed it is not. Abigail revisited the Declaration of Independence in advance of the show and noted that women, Black people and others were not part of this equation. And after reading through it, she realized that our nation is treating people the same way the framers complained about as the basis for their claim of independence from Britain. And even though gains have been made (e.g., Civil Rights, Gay Rights and Women’s Rights), it’s not the dream.
Rev. Celeste told Rev. Abigail about the Women’s Declaration of Independence (https://g.co/kgs/g6kdfi) where the pronouns are balanced out for gender equity. This document was signed by 68 women and 32 men in 1848.
Rev. Celeste states the reason we have any liberties is because, as a democracy, the people insisted on them.
Rev. Abigail founded the NextGen Retreat (nextgenretreat..org) for an age group (18-35) that needs to be nurtured for those between high school and college or those who are becoming new parents. The retreat is set up to be taught by leaders in the same age range teaching people how to become leaders. There are also social justice and social engagement activities for this group. They work on healing the planet and living in a way that benefits everyone.
Rev. Abigail is the Associate Minister at CSL Seattle (spiritualliving.org).