UUFC Online Fellowship

[Deanjay]

I hate to be the one to bring this up when we already have so many commttees as it is, but do we need a Diversity Committee? Neal is right, our congregation is very white and well-off. I think many of us would like to see some new people come in who represent some different demographics. We love diversity, but we don't reflect it. We're at the talking about it stage, but I don't see a way to move to the doing about it stage without some organization and people taking responsibility to act. Maybe this falls under Membership, but those folks seem to have a lot on their hands already. Any thoughts?

[MikeAllen]

This to me would also go into the Welcoming Congregation side of things. Although it might be often thought of that the Welcoming Congregation is all about accepting to Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transgenders... it is also about being welcoming to other groups of people such as those groups mentioned by Neal.

[Deanjay]

Good point. I think it's important for visitors to get messages that tell them they ARE welcome. It's a little significant that our UUA president is African American. Maybe we should hang his picture up somewhere so someone who walks in can tell that about us. There are all kinds of things we could display to show we're welcoming in a casual, unconnected way, so we're not in people's faces about it.

[jturnipseed]

There are actually Diversity resources available at the UUA level like films to show to raise everybody's awareness of what diversity means, introducing certain curriculum to use in adult and regular RE, suggested books to read and discuss etc. There is a whole body of work on how to become more diverse--forming partnerships with churches or groups that are different from you,inviting speakers, etc. paying attention to artwork, music, etc (as you suggest, Dean)

Usually it requires a committee or something like it to make this kind of thing happen. Don Mohr and I (who have both had diversity training through the District and the UUA) and David Crockett have talked about forming such a group, but have not, because of overcommitment. Most congregations have one as it has been a major initiative in the UUA and TJ District for several years. I would love to have a conversation about it with you Dean--along with Don and maybe David Crockett (who has been to an Antiracism conference and was Chair of the one we had here.

What say you?
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Judy Turnipseed
Worship Committee Chair
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