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Goals
- Explore accountability to the work and resourcing of antiracist anti-oppressive multicultural practices, through the lens of the COIC report and findings.
- Apply the recommendations to the context of your community.
Materials
- Chalice and something with which to light it
- A copy of Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change (2020)
- The text of the covenant guidelines to which the group has agreed, on newsprint if in person or accessible as electronic text to share if meeting online
- Newsprint and markers (if in-person) or a computer to record discussion contributions
Preparation
- Read the Accountability and Resources chapter.
- Identify a recorder for this session.
- Prepare a chalice and something with which to light it.
- Post the group covenant. (If in person, post newsprint; if online, plan to “share screen” and/or post the covenant guidelines or a link to them in the chat.)
Chalice Lighting
Read the words of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, from the COIC report, p. 129.
Take sackcloth of the darkest dye,
And shroud the pulpits round!
Servants of Him that cannot lie,
Sit mourning on the ground.
Let holy horror blanch each cheek,
Pale every brow with fears;
And rocks and stones, if ye could speak,
Ye well might melt to tears!
Let sorrow breathe in every tone,
In every strain ye raise;
Insult not God's majestic throne
With th' mockery of praise.
A "reverend" man, whose light should be
The guide of age and youth,
Brings to the shrine of Slavery
The sacrifice of truth!
For the direst wrong by man imposed,
Since Sodom's fearful cry,
The word of life has been unclos'd,
To give your God the lie.
Oh! when ye pray for heathen lands,
And plead for their dark shores,
Remember Slavery's cruel hands
Make heathens at your doors!
As you light the chalice, invite the group into a moment of quiet to honor this 19th century abolitionist, Black UU ancestor who went unrecognized for so long.
Discussion
Take a moment to review the group’s covenant. Ask the group if anything should be added or amended. If there is consensus, add or amend the covenant and save the changes.
Make sure a recorder from the group is ready to document discussion.
Explain and assign roles for the group to create a ranked order of priority actions between this meeting and the next:
- A facilitator or another participant will review the cumulative notes from all of the sessions’ discussions and make a list of the possible next actions the group has generated. On the list, this person will identify those actions which have already been taken and send this list to all participants.
- Each person in the group will review the list, select which actions should be top priority, and return their priorities to one person who will compile everyone’s priorities to create a ranking, and prepare to share the ranking with the group at the next meeting.
Share, from p. 128: “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.” Ask the group: What feeling family (mad, sad, glad or scared) is evoked in you when you hear this, and why?
State that this chapter of the report emphasizes that we need accountability measures that are systematic, rather than personal apologies, because systemic change will help prevent harm from reoccurring. Discuss:
- Where do you see opportunities for systemic change (i.e. change built into the policies and practices, norms and customs of official bodies such as boards)?
- How is the commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion stated in the congregation’s identity documents such as by-laws, mission statement, and policies?
- Is anti-oppression work part of the regular practices of the congregation?
- If so, who engages in this work and who does not?
- Is it a requirement for leadership?
On p. 132, the COIC report calls for “accountable community partnerships.” Lead a discussion using these questions:
- Where are the accountable community partnerships of your community to be found currently; that is, how does your congregation follow the lead of those most affected by economic, political, and other forms of oppression?
- What practices and actions assure that these partnerships are maintained?
- How does the congregation financially support organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)?
- Has the congregation conducted an anti-oppression audit?
- If so, when and how?
- How have its recommendations been implemented?
- In what additional ways does the congregation report on its progress toward becoming more diverse, equitable, and inclusive?
Closing and Next Actions
Invite the group into a closing ritual: Ask volunteers to read aloud the Take-Aways at the end of the Accountability and Resources chapter. You may extinguish the chalice while participants read.
Remind the group that both study and action are the purposes of this group. Offer a quick check-out by asking the following questions, inviting each participant to take a moment to reflect and then to respond in one sentence to any question:
- What is one idea you want to continue to think about before our next discussion?
- What are the short-term actions that we should consider or take to translate this discussion into action?
- What are the longer scope actions?
- What is one action you can take to demonstrate greater accountability to BIPOC and other marginalized peoples?