Widening the Circle of Concern

Copyright
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Copyright © 2020 by the Unitarian Universalist Association. All rights reserved.
Preface
From Widening the Circle of Concern

At a gathering convened by UUA co-presidents Rev. Sofia Betancourt, Rev. William Sinkford, and Dr. Leon Spencer in Atlanta in 2017, UU leaders of color were asked to share their insights into how the Association could continue moving forward in the midst of another racially charged moment.
A Note Addressing the Pandemic
From Widening the Circle of Concern

This report was completed in February 2020, prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Many aspects of how we are as people of faith have changed, and the economic context we assumed for this report has been altered. Yet as we reviewed the content for publication, we were all unanimous in our belief...
Members and Staff of the Commission on Institutional Change
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Members and Staff of the Commission on Institutional Change
Acknowledgments
From Widening the Circle of Concern

So many hours of conversation and hours of testimony have occurred during these three years.
Introduction
From Widening the Circle of Concern

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Commission on Institutional Change is charged with supporting long-term cultural and institutional change that redeems the essential promise and ideals of Unitarian Universalism. Appointed by the UUA Board of Trustees in 2017 for a period of two...
Methodology
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Components of our work included: Call for Testimony, Focus Groups, Collaboratory, Outside Audit, Surveys, Social Science Research Tools
Trends
From Widening the Circle of Concern

The world around us is different than it was a decade ago. Or even five years ago. The question is, how will our “living tradition” keep up with the times? What choices will we make—or fail to make—and how will that affect the relevancy and the survival of our faith?
Theology
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Unitarian Universalism, as a living faith tradition, must expand its foundations into an expansive faith community tied together by covenantal relations.
Governance
From Widening the Circle of Concern

When we talk about governance, we are talking about power. When we talk about power combined with prejudice, we are talking about oppression.
Congregations and Communities
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Many of our congregation's inability to address issues of inclusion, equity, and diversity, contributes to dwindling membership and participation.
Hospitality and Inclusion
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Unitarian Universalists continue to repel many of the people who would otherwise provide the resources to fuel our continued growth.
Living Our Values in the World
From Widening the Circle of Concern

The work of becoming more equitable, inclusive, and diverse within our congregations is justice work.
Religious Professionals
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Expanding on the findings related to Religious Professionals after review of the Southern Regional Lead Spring 2017 hiring process.
Educating for Liberation
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Unconscious bias, left unaddressed, creates personal, interpersonal, and organizational practices that privilege some and oppress others.
Innovations and Risk-Taking
From Widening the Circle of Concern

We live in a world of change. The pace of change is now at an unprecedented level accelerated by shifts in global economics and demographics.
Restoration and Reparations
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Any discussion on reparations must begin with an acknowledgment of the ongoing genocide, oppression, and exploitation...
Accountability and Resources
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Many people of color did not wish to share their individual experiences with the Commission because their stories had been told and retold to no avail.
Final Thoughts
From Widening the Circle of Concern

In spite of the promise of our movement, we still need to address the bias and oppression within our systems to build resilience in our living tradition.
Distinctions and Definitions
From Widening the Circle of Concern

In our work toward the beloved community, a search for a common language and clarity around the meaning of the words and terms used by those with diverging opinions is crucial. The work of the Commission on Institutional Change indicates that there will probably be no consensus on language, and yet...
Appendix I: Findings Related to the Southern Regional Lead Hiring Decision, Spring 2017
From Widening the Circle of Concern

When appointed during the 2017 General Assembly, the Commission on Institutional Change was charged with working to identify and propose redress to issu...
Appendix II: Recommendations
From Widening the Circle of Concern

Collected recommendations from all sections of this report.
Notes
From Widening the Circle of Concern

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