Identity-Based Ministries
Identity-Based Ministries seeks to make Unitarian Universalism a welcoming, inclusive, empowering, and just faith for Unitarian Universalists who identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender; economically oppressed; Latina/Latino and Hispanic; multiracial families; people of color; and people with disabilities. Ministries of this staff group focus on advocacy, education, and support related to policies, practices, and programs that support leadership development, community building, and organizing among constituents identified above. In addition, Identity-Based Ministries works collaboratively with Unitarian Universalist Association staff groups, and consults with continental committees, affiliates, and constituents to develop resources that educate congregations about how to dismantle institutional and cultural ableism, classism, heterosexism/ homophobia, and racism.Programs and Services
Identity-Based Ministries' resources include leadership development and community building/organizing materials, educational curricula, workshops, worship and ceremonial guides, and information referrals. An essential service is consultation for ministers, religious professionals, and lay leaders who are engaged in anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural transformation of congregations.
Programs for congregations include accessibility education and consultation, Beyond Categorical Thinking, Welcoming Congregation, and Living the Welcoming Congregation. An assessment of our ministry to youth and young adults of color and/or Latina/o and Hispanic descent is currently being conducted. The Mosaic Project will use one-on-one interviews and online surveys to gather input from these youth and young adults, their families, and those that strive to minister to them.
A new program currently being field tested is Building the World We Dream About, a welcoming congregation curriculum that focuses on ways to affirm and include persons who identify as people of color and/or Latina/Latino and Hispanic and ministries that support families of color and multiracial families.
Identity-Based Ministries
Accessibilities
Devorah GreensteinProgram Coordinator for the Office of Accessibility Concerns
(617) 948-6451
dgreenstein @ uua.org
BGLT Concerns
Tracy AhlquistProgram Coordinator, IDBM and Office of BGLT Concerns
(617) 948-6475
tahlquist @ uua.org
Keith Kron
Director, Office of BGLT Concerns
(360) 319-3076
kkron @ uua.org
Racial & Ethnic Concerns
Sofia BetancourtDirector of Office of Racial & Ethnic Concerns
(617) 948-4277
sbetancourt @ uua.org
Alicia Forde
Program Coordinator for Multicultural Congregations
(617) 283-8776
aforde @ uua.org
Laura Spencer
Program Associate for Racial & Ethnic Concerns: Assessment of Youth & Young Adult Ministries
(617) 948-4278
lspencer @ uua.org
For more information contact idbm @ uua.org.
Last updated on Monday, May 19, 2008.
