Questions for Discussion/Reflection

1. Have you ever had to wear a “suit” (costume, mask, façade, etc.) that didn’t fit you? What were the circumstances? How did the experience feel?
2. Do we Unitarian Universalists expect our UU leaders (lay, ordained, or both) to present (i.e., show up) in a certain way? Think of the speech, tone, dress, style, demeanor, content, substantive approach, socio-economic class location, education-level, etc. that we might expect Unitarian Universalist leaders to embody. What are those expectations? Please be specific in your reflections.
3. In what ways are these expectations (regarding how one shows up) in alignment or not in alignment with our UU commitment to diversity?
4. What is Unitarian Universalism’s relationship to “experts” and “expertise?” What assumptions and understandings underpin this relationship to experts and expertise? In what ways does this set of assumptions and understandings support or hinder our efforts at nurturing diversity within Unitarian Universalist leadership circles?