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Goals
- Discuss relationships with and between religious professionals, through the lens of the COIC report and findings.
- Apply the findings 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 Religious Professionals 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.)
- Optional: Read the anthology of writings by UU religious professionals of color, Centering: Navigating Race and Authenticity, and consider recommending it to the group.
Chalice Lighting
Share these words, from “I Too Am Beautiful” by Kristen Harper, published in UU World:
My inner spirit wrote: “I have spent my life watching you, seeing your accomplishments, living the way I think you want me to. I have watched the way you move and the way you talk. I have listened to your story and learned your history. I have sat patiently as you explained your politics, your religion, your philosophy of life. I have walked with you on a journey of faith waiting for my turn to share, to explain, to lead.”
Look at me - I am black and you are white, but (and) I too am beautiful.
Look at my face, my hair, my clothes - they may be different but aren’t they (they are) worthy of your gaze?
Look at my walk, the way my hips sway to the music in my soul, the way my proud neck tilts to the sun, yes look at me
Look at my darkness, it contains light and love, rebirth and growth
Look at my pain, don’t turn away
Look at the way you see me, I am human, I have tears and fears, I have laughter and joy
Look at me and walk with me - I too am beautiful.
Now share this piece, by Rev. Leslie Takahashi:
Walk the maze within your heart: guide your steps into its questioning curves.
The labyrinth is a puzzle leading you deeper into your own truths.
Listen in the twists and turns.
Listen in the openness within all searching.
Listen: a wisdom within you calls to a wisdom beyond you and in that dialogue lies peace.
Light the chalice.
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.
Share, from p. 87 of the COIC report, “Religious professionals of color are essential to a more equitable, inclusive and diverse Unitarian Universalism.” The presence of diverse faces and voices as religious educators in Unitarian Universalist congregations and communities models a commitment to diverse community. Diversity of Unitarian Universalist religious leadership iswelcoming and invitational.
Now read this quote from the dedication that William Sinkford, a past president of the UUA, wrote for the book, To Wake, To Rise: Meditations on Justice and Resilience:
...to Pauline Warfield Lewis, the religious educator at First Unitarian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, who welcomed me into Unitarian Universalism in 1960. Mrs. Lewis was the only African American at the initial gathering of the Liberal Religious Educators Director’s Association meeting in 1955. She inspired generations of young people by modeling a commitment to diverse community and to the blessings of pluralism, grounded in concrete and specific love and care for one another.
Now say, “The COIC Report names benefits to Unitarian Universalism and our faith communities of a healthy representation of people of color in religious professional roles. However, the report also names difficulties religious professionals of color face in establishing and maintaining careers in our faith.”Read this quote from p. 87 of the report:
In order to ensure inclusivity, equity, and diversity within the body of religious professionals, we need to take specific steps to ensure the quality of livelihood for religious professionals who are Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, and other ministers (religious professionals) from oppressed groups. It is not consistent with our values to harm, abuse, or damage the health and well-being of our employees.
Together, process these questions:
- Do any religious professionals of color serve your community, in capacities such as minister, religious educator, musician, membership professional, or administrator? How do you know an individual holds an identity of color?
- If you do, have the bodies that supervise them (e.g., board, committees on ministry or personnel) read this chapter?
- What groups or individual leaders in your congregation have the most influence on the recommended actions outlined in this chapter? How can you encourage them to become engaged?
- How do your congregation’s hiring practices and policies support or not support religious professionals from “marginalized/traditionally under-represented communities/identities”?
- Do you know of policies and practices to minimize micro-aggressions? Trauma? Disrespect? Harm? Abuse?
- Does your congregation or community support or encourage the participation of religious professionals of color in supportive collegial groups? Finding Our Way Home? UU Professional Chapters for Identity Groups?
Closing and Next Actions
Invite the group into a closing ritual: Ask volunteers to read aloud the Take-Aways at the end of the Religious Professionals 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 an element that makes the hard work meaningful and worthwhile for this group?