Workshop 3: The Response to Slavery

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Part of Resistance and Transformation: Unitarian Universalist Social Justice History

In This Section

Introduction
From Resistance and Transformation

As the Unitarian denomination should be ashamed of its antislavery conduct as a religious body, so it should be justly proud of the men and women who as individuals chose love of freedom over thoughts of expediency. — Douglas Stange, in “Patterns of Antislavery among American Unitarians,…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 10 Activity 1: The Response to Slavery 15 Activity 2: Values in Conflict 30 Activity 3: Nonviolent Resistance to Slavery 15 Activity 4: Journaling 10 Faith in Action: Multiple Strategies Closing 10 Alternate Activity 1: Imaginary Debate between…
Spiritual Preparation
From Resistance and Transformation

After you read the workshop plan, return to Handout 1, Collaboration or Confrontation? Are you comfortable with the different responses Unitarians and Universalists had toward slavery? Why or why not?…
Welcoming and Entering
From Resistance and Transformation

Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Name tags for participants (durable or single-use), and bold markers Workshop 1, Handout 1, Schedule Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Have copies of Workshop 1, Handout 1, Schedule on hand for those who need one. Using the…
Opening
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Timepiece (minutes) Chime or bell Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the UUA hymnbook, for all participants Optional: Cloth for worship/centering table…
Activity 1: The Response to Slavery
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Channing and the Response to Slavery” Leader Resource 1, William Ellery Channing, Portrait Optional: Computer and digital projector Preparation for Activity Read the story. Make copies for participants….
Activity 2: Values in Conflict
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Collaboration or Confrontation? Leader Resource 2, Theodore Parker, Portrait Leader Resource 3, Ezra Stiles Gannett, Portrait Optional: Computer and digital projector Preparation for Activity Review Handout 1. Make copies for participants.
Activity 3: Nonviolent Resistance to Slavery
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Adin Ballou and Christian Non-Resistance Leader Resource 4, Adin Ballou, Portrait Optional: Computer and digital projector Preparation for Activity Review Handout 2. Make copies for participants. Prepare to project Leader Resource 4 or…
Activity 4: Journaling
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Participant journals (Workshop 1) Writing paper and pens/pencils Alternate writing materials such as color pencils or markers Preparation for Activity Write these questions on newsprint, and post: Were there surprises in today’s workshop? Is your…
Closing
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Worship or centering table and chalice Participant journals Writing materials, including paper, pens, pencils, color pencils, and markers Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Customize the Taking It Home section of this workshop and copy…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Resistance and Transformation

Take a few moments right after the workshop to ask each other: What went well? What did not? Why? What do you think was the best moment of the workshop? Why? Did anything surprise you? Review the next workshop. Are there any questions to research or logistics to arrange between workshops? Make a…
Faith In Action: Multiple Strategies
From Resistance and Transformation

Description of Activity Form groups of three. Invite each group to choose a contemporary social justice issue. You might suggest equal marriage, peacemaking, ethical eating, fair housing, or another issue important to your community and congregation….
Alternate Activity 1: Imaginary Debate between Parker and Gannett
From Resistance and Transformation

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 5, Imagining a Parker/Gannett Debate Preparation for Activity Assign roles in advance of the workshop. Co-facilitators may want to play Parker and Gannett, or especially enthusiastic group members may be invited to take on this…
Taking It Home: The Response to Slavery
From Resistance and Transformation

As the Unitarian denomination should be ashamed of its antislavery conduct as a religious body, so it should be justly proud of the men and women who as individuals chose love of freedom over thoughts of expediency. — Douglas Stange, in “Patterns of Antislavery among American Unitarians,…
Channing and the Response to Slavery
From Resistance and Transformation

Slavery has often been called America’s original sin. Yet, white American Unitarians, like most white Americans, were slow to speak out against slavery as an immoral institution. The Unitarian minister William Ellery Channing (1780-1842) was no exception. Channing was a major voice for American…
Handout 1: Collaboration or Confrontation
From Resistance and Transformation

The passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 caused considerable conflict among the Unitarians of Boston. The Fugitive Slave Law required that runaway slaves be returned to their so-called masters. It also criminalized anyone who aided or harbored runaways….
Handout 2: Adin Ballou and Christian Non-Resistance
From Resistance and Transformation

Adin Ballou (1803-1890) was in varying turns both a Unitarian and a Universalist minister. He was actively involved in the movement to abolish slavery beginning in the late 1830s, until the abolition of slavery following the Civil War. He was also a leading theorist for the New England…
Leader Resource 1: William Ellery Channing, Portrait
From Resistance and Transformation

From the Unitarian Universalist Association archives.
Leader Resource 2: Theodore Parker, Portrait
From Resistance and Transformation

From the Unitarian Universalist Association archives.
Leader Resource 3: Ezra Stiles Gannett, Portrait
From Resistance and Transformation

From the Unitarian Universalist Association archives.
Leader Resource 4: Adin Ballou, Portrait
From Resistance and Transformation

From the Unitarian Universalist Association archives.
Leader Resource 5: Imagining a Parker-Gannett Debate
From Resistance and Transformation

You will present a mock debate between two great Unitarians of the 19th century, Theodore Parker and Ezra Stiles Gannett. Both men were esteemed preachers who spoke eloquently and passionately for their cause. Review their arguments for and against the Fugitive Slave Law, and dive in!…
Find Out More
From Resistance and Transformation

Find brief biographies online, in the Unitarian Universalist Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography: Adin Ballou William Ellery Channing Ezra Stiles Gannett Theodore Parker Learn more about Ballou on the Friends of Adin Ballou website….