Justice
© Copyright 2017 Art by Roxanne
In the Public Square
Social Justice is an important part of my theology and my ministry. Due to my deep commitment to social justice (particularly around the areas of antiracism, class, gender, and disability), I try to remain current to both the national and the UU news scenes.
In seminary, I had the privilege of taking Public Ethics with the Rev. Bill Schultz (former UUA President, Amnesty International Director, and UU Service Committee Director). In this course, we read a book that dramatically changed how I look at the effectiveness of forms of public protest (rallies, marches, petitions, letters, and calls). In A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, Samantha Power (the US's previous UN Ambassador under President Obama) explains how many government officials and politicians use public protest to determine the interest of the US population. While public protests obviously do not automatically result in change, Power demonstrates that change rarely will come without it.
Because of the effectiveness of public protest, I attend key public actions that align with our UU Principles as much as time allows. In the first year of my congregational internship, I attended the following actions in clergy collar: Women's March (Chicago March), Fight for $15 Airport Action, and Suburban Unity Alliance Unity Rally (post Presidential election). At the Unity Rally, I offered our opening prayer.
As your minister, I would like to strengthen the established relationships the congregation already has with community organizations so that we can help create justice outside our walls. If time allows, I will seek to add relationships with key community partners. Ultimately, I wish to serve as a representative of the congregation and the UUA in our greater community.
In seminary, I had the privilege of taking Public Ethics with the Rev. Bill Schultz (former UUA President, Amnesty International Director, and UU Service Committee Director). In this course, we read a book that dramatically changed how I look at the effectiveness of forms of public protest (rallies, marches, petitions, letters, and calls). In A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, Samantha Power (the US's previous UN Ambassador under President Obama) explains how many government officials and politicians use public protest to determine the interest of the US population. While public protests obviously do not automatically result in change, Power demonstrates that change rarely will come without it.
Because of the effectiveness of public protest, I attend key public actions that align with our UU Principles as much as time allows. In the first year of my congregational internship, I attended the following actions in clergy collar: Women's March (Chicago March), Fight for $15 Airport Action, and Suburban Unity Alliance Unity Rally (post Presidential election). At the Unity Rally, I offered our opening prayer.
As your minister, I would like to strengthen the established relationships the congregation already has with community organizations so that we can help create justice outside our walls. If time allows, I will seek to add relationships with key community partners. Ultimately, I wish to serve as a representative of the congregation and the UUA in our greater community.
Leading Change in Multicultural Settings
In addition to my congregational work, I am the steering committee chair for UU Class Conversations and lead their workshops at UU congregations and denominational conferences. My leadership work with UU Class Conversations has allowed me to bring issues of social justice within our own congregations to our association at both the regional and national levels, helping our congregations create organizational change in multicultural settings. As the steering committee chair, I have actively recruited steering committee members from a broader range of identities than the group I originally joined (race, gender identification, geographic location, and age). In addition, we have initiated relationships with other UU affiliated groups, such as Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM), UUs for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC), and the Safety Pin Box.
For more information on UU Class Conversations, please use the following links:
UU Class Conversations
UUA Economic Justice Resources (including UU Class Conversations)
General Assembly 2017: Living the Intersection of Class and Race
Although my social justice work initially centered on class and disability, it has expanded to include anti-racism as a white ally. I am incredibly indebted to the antiracism training that I have received: People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond: Undoing Racism Workshop; Allies for Racial Equity 2014 Conference; UUMA Who Are Our Neighbors Intercultural Competency Workshop. As a white faith leader, I use social media (see Media) and the pulpit to spread information on systemic racism and raise the voices of black and multiracial movement leaders. I hope to help Unitarian Universalism become more inclusive so that the line between “them” and “us” disappears.
I believe that we have more work to do within our own congregations to spread our vision of Beloved Community outside of our walls. We must reduce the invisible barriers of racism, classism, sexism, and ableism within our movement so that our congregations can truly be inclusive and, ultimately, we can change the world. My contribution to this important work is to help people learn to love themselves and love each other. We must learn to love ourselves and forgive ourselves before we can feel safe enough to love others. While justice may not require us to love our enemies, justice cannot prevail when hatred lies in our hearts. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that love is the only force that can drive out hatred. Love.
In my congregational internship, I also am participating in the Fahs Collaborative Beloved Conversations (a 9-session conversation on race and ethnicity). The ministry team sees this as only one part of building Beloved Community within our congregation. We have also participated in both #UU White Supremacy Teachins and offered other learning and engagement opportunities (13th film screening, book groups, media campaign, and speakers). At the staff level, I have counseled several coworkers who are interested in expanding their understanding of white supremacy culture and strengthen their anti-racism skills. Because of this, I have started an anti-racism staff group that meets twice a month to learn together (with three other participants).
For more information on UU Class Conversations, please use the following links:
UU Class Conversations
UUA Economic Justice Resources (including UU Class Conversations)
General Assembly 2017: Living the Intersection of Class and Race
Although my social justice work initially centered on class and disability, it has expanded to include anti-racism as a white ally. I am incredibly indebted to the antiracism training that I have received: People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond: Undoing Racism Workshop; Allies for Racial Equity 2014 Conference; UUMA Who Are Our Neighbors Intercultural Competency Workshop. As a white faith leader, I use social media (see Media) and the pulpit to spread information on systemic racism and raise the voices of black and multiracial movement leaders. I hope to help Unitarian Universalism become more inclusive so that the line between “them” and “us” disappears.
I believe that we have more work to do within our own congregations to spread our vision of Beloved Community outside of our walls. We must reduce the invisible barriers of racism, classism, sexism, and ableism within our movement so that our congregations can truly be inclusive and, ultimately, we can change the world. My contribution to this important work is to help people learn to love themselves and love each other. We must learn to love ourselves and forgive ourselves before we can feel safe enough to love others. While justice may not require us to love our enemies, justice cannot prevail when hatred lies in our hearts. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that love is the only force that can drive out hatred. Love.
In my congregational internship, I also am participating in the Fahs Collaborative Beloved Conversations (a 9-session conversation on race and ethnicity). The ministry team sees this as only one part of building Beloved Community within our congregation. We have also participated in both #UU White Supremacy Teachins and offered other learning and engagement opportunities (13th film screening, book groups, media campaign, and speakers). At the staff level, I have counseled several coworkers who are interested in expanding their understanding of white supremacy culture and strengthen their anti-racism skills. Because of this, I have started an anti-racism staff group that meets twice a month to learn together (with three other participants).
Justice Organizations I Support
National
Class Action
Equal Justice Initiative
Fight for $15
Movement for Black Lives
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Planned Parenthood
Revolutionary Love
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
Equal Justice Initiative
Fight for $15
Movement for Black Lives
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Planned Parenthood
Revolutionary Love
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
UU Affiliates
Allies for Racial Equity (ARE)
Black Lives of UU (BLUU)
Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
EqUUal Access
Safety Pin Box
Transgender Religious Professionals UUs Together (TRUUsT)
UU Class Conversations
UUs for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC)
UU Service Committee
UU Women’s Federation
Black Lives of UU (BLUU)
Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
EqUUal Access
Safety Pin Box
Transgender Religious Professionals UUs Together (TRUUsT)
UU Class Conversations
UUs for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC)
UU Service Committee
UU Women’s Federation
On My Bookshelf (Or in My Earbuds)
One of the greatest gifts my mother gave to me as a child was her love of books. I have made an electronic list of the important books on my bookshelf, in my electronic reader, and/or playing in my earbuds. These books have significantly influenced my ministerial formation.
You will find my list of justice books below. For significant books on subjects other than justice, please go to my Bookshelf.
You will find my list of justice books below. For significant books on subjects other than justice, please go to my Bookshelf.
- Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi, We Should All Be Feminists
- Anderson, Carol, White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
- Appiah, Kwame Anthony, The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen
- Baldwin, James, I Am Not Your Negro
- Banerjee, Abhijit V., Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty
- Barber, William J., The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement is Overcoming the Politics of Division and Fear
- Coates, Ta-Nehisi, Between the World and Me
- Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne, All the Real Indians Died Off: And 20 Other Myths About Native Americans
- Dyson, Michael Eric, Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America
- Haidt, Jonathan, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
- Hochschild, Arlie Russell, Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
- hooks, bell, Feminism Is For Everybody: Passionate Politics
- Isenberg, Nancy, White Trash: The 400-yearUntold History of Class in America
- Keni, Ibram X, Stamped from the Beginning; The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
- King, Martin Luther, Jr., Stride Towards Freedom: The Montgomery Story
- Korten, David C., The Great Turning: Fromf Empire to Earth Community
- Leondar-Wright, Betsy, Missing Class: Strengthening Social Movement Groups by Seeing Class
- Mitchell, David, Beautiful Trouble: A Toolbox for Revolution
- Pinker, Steven, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
- Power, Samantha, A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide
- Stevenson, Bryan, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption