Workshop 9: Tolerance

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of A Place of Wholeness

In This Section

Introduction
From A Place of Wholeness

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. — Audre Lorde, writer, poet, and activist The idea of tolerance has always been central to the Unitarian Universalist faith. This is true as early as 1568 with King Sigismund’s…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: Tolerance — Radical for Its Time 10 Activity 2: Story — Unitarian Universalist Racial Justice Timeline 30 Activity 3: The Other Perspective 15 Activity 4: (In)Tolerance and Being Yourself 15 Activity 5: I Believe, I Feel, I Act 5…
Spiritual Preparation
From A Place of Wholeness

Find a quiet space and light a chalice. Remember that the flaming chalice symbol was developed in an atmosphere of intolerance during World War II. Today, it represents the warmth of caring community and the spirit of love and tolerance. Reflect on the role of tolerance, pluralism, and…
Welcoming and Entering
From A Place of Wholeness

Materials for Activity Journals for new participants Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Have journals available for visitors or participants who do not have one. Set out some supplies for them to personalize the journals during the Welcoming and Entering time. Write the Welcome…
Opening
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Focus table and cloth Chalice, candle and matches Five smooth stones about the size of a fist Handout 1, Responsive Reading — Five Smooth Stones from Workshop 1 for all participants Preparation for Activity Set up focus table with an attractive clot…
Activity 1: Tolerance - Radical for Its Time
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write “Tolerance” and “Celebrating Pluralism” on two separate pieces of newsprint. Description of Activity Participants explore both the historical and contemporary meanings of tolerance within…
Activity 2: Story - Unitarian Universalist Racial Justice Timeline
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Two copies of the story “Unitarian Universalist Racial Justice Timeline” Preparation for Activity Cut apart the narratives of one copy of the story, so each narrative can be given to a participant volunteer….
Activity 3: The Other Perspective
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Blank paper — at least one sheet per participant Pens or pencils Description of Activity This activity helps participants practice tolerance of many perspectives….
Activity 4: (In)Tolerance and Being Yourself
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers and tape Participants’ faith journals Pens or pencils Preparation for Activity Write the discussion questions on newsprint and post. Research organizations in your community that anonymously support youth, such as youth hotlines,…
Activity 5: I Believe, I Feel, I Act
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Participants’ faith journals Pens or pencils Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Write “I Believe (world view), I Feel (loyalty of my heart), and I Act (way of life)” and the theme questions on newsprint. Description of Activity…
Closing
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Singing the Journey for all participants Copies of Taking It Home Optional: A piano or a recorded version of the song Preparation for Activity Optional: Arrange for musical accompaniment. Description of Activity To close the workshop, ask…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From A Place of Wholeness

Talk with your co-leader about the workshop. What do you think went well? What might you have done differently? Did you learn anything about your working relationship or how you lead an activity that would be important to note for future workshops? Thinking about the content of the workshop, what…
Faith In Action: Congregational Timeline
From A Place of Wholeness

Materials for Activity Roll of large paper or pad of newsprint Markers and tape Preparation for Activity Cut a piece of large paper several feet long and post it horizontally (or post five sheets of newsprint). Draw a horizontal line across the center….
Alternate Activity 1: The Lunch Room
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Blank paper, two sheets for each participant Pens or pencils Description of Activity This activity explores how tolerance and intolerance lead to divisions in settings like the school lunchroom and how participants can cross boundaries and build…
Alternate Activity 2: Creating Multicultural Community
From A Place of Wholeness

Activity time: 40 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of Handout 2, Tell Me Your Name, The One That You Call Yourself, for all participants Leader Resource 1, Multicultural Community Diagram Newsprint, markers and tape Crayons, colored pencils and other drawing implements Preparation for Activi…
Taking It Home: Tolerance
From A Place of Wholeness

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. — Audre Lorde, writer, poet, and activist In Today’s Workshop… We explored issues of identity, tolerance, and intolerance. We learned about the historical and theological…
Unitarian Universalist Racial Justice Timeline
From A Place of Wholeness

Copy the story, and distribute the individual narratives to participants to read aloud. Eliza Cabot Follen My name is Eliza Lee Cabot Follen. In the early 19th century, I was an active member of abolitionist societies in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts along with my husband, a Unitarian…
Handout 1: Tell Me Your Name, The One You Call Yourself
From A Place of Wholeness

This handout was developed by Laura Spencer as part of the Mosaic Project, a two-year study about how the Unitarian Universalist Association can better support youth and young adults of color.Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 1: Multicultural Community Diagram
From A Place of Wholeness

This diagram was developed by Laura Spencer as part of the Mosaic Project, a two-year study about how the Unitarian Universalist Association can better support youth and young adults of color. Draw the diagram on pieces of newsprint. You will need one diagram for every four participants. Printing…
Find Out More About Tolerance
From A Place of Wholeness

Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, has activities and resources for teachers and young people of all ages that address issues of tolerance, diversity, and social justice. “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” And Other Conversations About…