Get Proximate…

Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, AL, and the 2017 Ware Lecturer, called all Unitarian Universalists to “get proximate to people who are suffering…”. This important message calls us to be “in” relationship. As we seek to dismantle white supremacy, within our own institution, as well as the greater world, we must seek to be in relationship. As Stevenson went on to express, we also need to “change the narrative,” and, I believe, that narrative is changed when each of us does our own individual work of education and consciousness raising. The next step is to be in community with those who are in the process of deconstructing narratives. Deconstruction equals change.

Our MidAmerica Regional staff team is in the process of changing. As we learn and grow, we are hoping to act upon a new narrative that will help dismantle white supremacy within Unitarian Universalism and beyond. We are also inspired by many of the MidAmerica congregations who are being intentional about their efforts to dismantle white supremacy. For instance, from the UU Church of Indianapolis, I was inspired to see that there are monthly messages from their Board of Directors on their efforts to dismantle white supremacy, such as this recent piece from their President, David Jackoway,

Building the Beloved Community

"We cannot as Unitarian Universalists argue about whether racism or a culture of white supremacy exists in our faith. It does, and it is actively harming people of color."

For further inspiration, please check out the dismantle white supremacy page on the UUA website.

We would love to hear more of your congregational narratives as you seek to engage in this important work.

(Photo: UU Church of Indianapolis)