“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
As part of putting this principle into practice, a number of our congregants have spent the past six months reflecting on our physical spaces, both inside and outside the church building. They’ve been looking carefully at what hangs on our walls and resides in our hallways in an effort to create a space that welcomes everyone, today, in 2023. What historical meaning do these things have? How do we find a way for us to own our history as a community, all parts of that history? What do we keep, store, change, invent and create to make this a welcoming space that nurtures all of our spirits and reflects our commitment to the 8th principle!
To engage everyone in the process of answering the questions above, a small “Welcoming and Owning Our History” group has created a survey that provides information about artifacts and images, articulates concerns, and solicits your opinion. It also asks you to consider your experience in the various spaces of the church, given your individual physical needs. All of the questions are important and all of your responses are, too, whether you are new to the church or have been part of this community for many years. The survey should take about 15 minutes of your time. It will be sent out on March 19th, with the hope that you will complete it by April 2nd.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your thoughts with us!