Racial Justice Ministries in Congregations - Services and Resources

We are regularly reminded that systemic racism is still very much alive not only in the United States but also within Unitarian Universalism. Here we  outline resources for congregational leaders looking to better understand Euro-centrism and white supremacy and to address systemic racism both within and beyond their congregations.

Staff Services

New England Region staff provides coaching, consulting, facilitation and training services to congregations ready to take their next steps on their racial justice journey -- whether they have been working on these issues for decades or are just beginning to awaken. Congregational leaders are encouraged to contact Meck Groot, Justice Ministries Lead, to explore options for working together.

Growing Racial and Cultural Equity (G.R.A.C.E.)

G.R.A.C.E. is a learning community of congregational leaders committed to growing congregational capacity to create and engage in multicultural, anti-racist ministries. Originally led by "the G.R.A.C.E. Team," the learning community is in a period of transition as NER staff discerns how best to support this work. You are welcome to join the G.R.A.C.E. Facebook Group where the learning community can connect and share.

Recent and Upcoming Learning Opportunities

• Mosaic Makers: Toward Vital Anti-Racist, Multicultural Ministries This first New England Regional Mosaic Makers gathering will include dynamic worship, the co-creation of brave space, brief presentations, and lots of opportunity for rich conversation as we explore and experience together some ways to do anti-racist, multicultural ministry in and with our congregations. Go to link for more details and registration. (May 18, 2019)

NER Web Conversations and Presentations

• Centering the Margins in Outreach: a webinar presented by Marchaé Grair and Anna Bethea for people interested in bringing an inclusive lens to their work related to outreach, membership, or communications within Unitarian Universalism. (February 13, 2019) Recording
• The Richness and Challenge of the Journey: a conversation with leaders at the North Parish of North Andover Unitarian Universalist in which they describe various things that they have done with and through the congregation over many years to address racial injustice and what they learned in the process. (April 19, 2018) Recording 
• Beyond Banners: a conversation facilitated by members of the G.R.A.C.E. team to explore with participants what might come after a congregation hangs a Black Lives Matter banner.  (April 10, 2017) Recording 
• Waking Up to Whiteness in Our Congregations: a conversation led by the G.R.A.C.E. team for people looking for ways to inspire and support their congregations to look at congregational culture to see how whiteness may be limiting their ministries and welcome. (February 28, 2017) Recording| Follow up resources
• Banners 101: led by members of the G.R.A.C.E. team, this webinar is for those wondering what to consider, how to get congregational support, and what a good process might be in getting a congregation to hang a Black Lives Matter banner. (February 9, 2017) Follow up resources

Worship Resources

• Black Lives Matter Worship Collection
• Compassion for Refugees Collection
• Worship Materials on Immigration

Connecting to UU Groups

• Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU)
• Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) - see DRUUMM's Call For Renewal
• Allies for Racial Equity (ARE)

Learning Together: UU Curricula

Building the World We Dream About: a Unitarian Universalist program that seeks to transform how people from different racial/ethnic groups understand and relate to one another. Includes 24 two-hour workshops, with Taking It Home activities, reflections, and readings to be done between workshops. Creates opportunities for participants to practice dreaming our world otherwise, and then commit to new, intentional ways of being.

Building the World We Dream About for Young Adults: This 8-part version of Building the World We Dream About is tailored to the experiences of young adults whose life situations and congregational involvement are somewhat fluid and does not assume participants are part of the same congregation, or even members of a congregation. Offers a process by which young adults can engage in honest and open conversations about race, better understand their own ethnic and racial identity and journey, and learn the practical skills they need in their own lives right now as they make their way in an increasingly multicultural world.

Beloved Conversations: An experiential curriculum that provides a space to re-form/fuse the brokenness of racism into new patterns of thought and behavior ushering in social and spiritual healing. New ways of being are learned through the actions of conversation and probing dialogue. The program consists of a 1.5 day retreat, facilitated by a Fahs Collaborative staff person, that launches the curriculum, followed by 8 two-hour sessions of guided dialogue and experiential exercises facilitated by members of the congregation.

Learning Together: non-UU Curricula

• White Privilege: Let's Talk - from the United Church of Christ
• Witnessing Whiteness by Shelly Tochluk 
• Waking Up to Whiteness: Dharma and Racism Study Curriculum - from Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center
• White Awake Workshops and Study Groups