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Goals
- Examine congregational and community-based practices through the lens of the COIC report and findings.
- Apply the COIC 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 online
- Newsprint and markers (if in-person) or a computer to record discussion contributions
Preparation
- Read the Congregations and Communities 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
Light the chalice as you share these words from "Work in Commitment and Love" by Viola Abbitt, from the UUA WorshipWeb.
As we light this chalice [this evening], may it serve to give us clarity of purpose and illumine our way as we set about doing the work of this congregation, in commitment, in cooperation, and in love.
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.
Lead a discussion of these questions:
- The shaded box on p. 47, Recommended Congregational Practices to Increase Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, details six actions that can be taken by congregations. Discuss which of these you are already engaged in and which of these you might like to add.
- An important part of this chapter (shaded box pp. 40-41 and pp. 48-49) is understanding congregational polity and the covenantal understanding of each congregation’s relationship with the UUA and other congregations.
- Discuss how you understand these relationships.
- How well do you think they are understood in the broader congregation?
- What actions can you take to build shared understanding?
- There is a case study of a congregational audit on pp. 52-53.
- Is this something your congregation should consider?
- What might be barriers to implementing this?
- There is a case study of a congregation that intentionally focused on welcoming a younger and more diverse leadership team on p. 45. Read the excerpts from their identity documents and reflect on your own.
- In what ways are they similar and what ways are they different?
- When was your congregational covenant last renewed?
- Which of the suggested actions related to this chapter seem relevant to our community?
- What would be the first task?
- What are the barriers to implementation?
Closing and Next Actions
Invite the group into a closing ritual: Ask volunteers to read aloud the Take-Aways at the end of the Congregations and Communities 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. Ask the following questions and invite each participant to take a moment to reflect and then to respond in one sentence, uninterrupted, to any of these:
- 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 an element that makes the hard work meaningful and worthwhile for this group?