Nurturing Inclusivity in Our Congregations

We support Unitarian Universalist congregations in building and sustaining justice-seeking, inclusive, multicultural and multigenerational faith communities. We hope you will find these resources helpful in making your congregation more welcoming and inclusive of all people who yearn for a liberal religious home.

General Resources to Help Nurture Inclusivity

Unitarian Universalists are called to recognize that being inclusive of all means taking intentional steps to expand our understanding of who “we” are and how we welcome each other to the table.

• Multicultural Welcome: A Resource for Greeters
• Inclusive language guidance
• Welcome and nondiscrimination statements

Age Diversity and Family Diversity

Our congregations strive to affirm and support the infinite variety of families, as well as building relationships across generations and being welcoming and inclusive of members of all ages.

Children & Families

• What does multigenerational community look like?
• Resources to nurture multigenerational congregations
• Reflection questions for creating family-affirming programming
• Religious education resources on anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multicultural ministry

Youth & Young Adults

• What does youth-inclusive community look like?: A Drive Time Essay
• What does young adult-inclusive community look like?: A Drive Time Essay
• Resources on youth ministry
• Resources on young adult ministry

Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Our congregations strive to be places where people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures see their cultural identities reflected and affirmed in every aspect of congregational life.

• What does multicultural community look like?
• Why do we need a dialogue on race and ethnicity?: A Drive Time Essay
• “Misconceptions About Becoming More Multicultural” from the First Unitarian Church of Richmond
• Ten ways to deepen your multicultural ministries
• More resources on multicultural ministries and racial justice

Diversity of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Our congregations work to promote acceptance, inclusion, understanding, and equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons of all ages, abilities, colors, and genders inside and outside our walls.

• What does an LGBTQ-affirming community look like?
• Becoming an LGBTQ welcoming congregation: A Drive Time Essay
• Why focus "welcome" on LGBTQ people?
• Ten ways to be more welcoming of LGBTQ people
• More resources on LGBTQ welcome and equality

Diversity of Ability and Disability

Our congregations strive to be places where people of all abilities and disabilities are welcomed, valued, and affirmed, so that we are inclusive of people with differing levels of mobility, vision, and hearing, people with invisible disabilities, and those with learning and/or psychiatric disabilities.

• What does accessible community look like?: A Drive Time Essay
• Including people with disabilities: A Drive Time Essay
• Resources on welcome and inclusion around disability and accessibility

Diversity of Class Backgrounds and Economic Means

Our congregations are called to welcome, value, and affirm diversity of class background, financial means, and educational attainment amongst our members.

• Exploring class in your congregation: A workshop series
• Resources on economic justice