Local pastor examines what it means to be spiritual today

BRADENTON -- It’s a word people are using more often than not when they describe their faith – spiritual.

Rev. Bonnie Devlin is open to people's spiritual journey and understands their search for God.

Four years ago, Rev. Bonnie Devlin made a move from a Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregation in Boston, where she served for 18 years, to Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bradenton.

It was a unique circumstance at the church in Bradenton, given the congregation had carried on for 50 years without a pastor.

“I have a love and real respect for history and this church never had a minister in its history,” she said. “I really wanted to be with them as their first minister.”

So Devlin was voted in as the pastor and, in a way, made history for the church.

But fast forward to today, and Devlin will tell you that more and more people are describing their faith as being grounded in spirituality.

“I think that spirituality seems to be more comfortable for people who don’t have a congregation in Florida,” she said. “Less and less people are identifying with organized religion. They will say ‘I am spiritual’ not ‘I am religious.’”

But what does this mean? What does it mean to be a spiritual person in today’s times?

Devlin said she gets it, as a leader in the church and as an educated person paying attention to the changing needs of people of faith.

She’s not your ordinary pastor in the pulpit, let’s just add. She’s an advocate for promoting multicultural awareness and social justice through spirituality and the arts.

Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located at 322 15th Street West in Bradenton. The telephone number to reach Devlin is (941) 746-0067.

Devlin also has two master degrees in education from Rutgers, one doctorate degree from New York University and a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School.

She’s very interested in understanding people and their journey of faith, their spiritual journey.

“Some people don’t want to identify with organized religion,” Devlin said. “They have a deep sense of themselves with the universe and an acceptance of the mystery of the universe.”

But, although they say they do believe in a God of some kind, they don’t want someone telling them what that God is to them, Devlin added.

“They want to find that sense of something, a source of something certain through their own spiritual journey,” she said. “I respect their conflict of being spiritual and not being religious.”

The pastor said she’s reminded of Ralph Waldo Emerson who was, for three years, a UU minister. But he didn’t last long, after sharing with folks his belief that God was within all people.

“Emerson really caused a stir with people,” Devlin said. 

It might be noteworthy to know that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are just two of hundreds of prominent Americans who were UU members back in their day.  

“People are searching to find a religious community that understands their interests as an individual,” she said. “They want a home base and a community where they can search together.”

Erica Newport is a daily reporter for The Bradenton Times. She covers art, culture and community. If you have a story that might interest Erica, please e-mail her using erica.newport@thebradentontimes.com address.  She also takes your questions related to our weekly theme days and provides advice and opinions for our readers.

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