ANTIRACISM MINUTE (edited from October 24)
Good morning. I am Rose Edington, a retired UU minister, happy to be here today!
During the Black Lives Matter planning retreat (Saturday, October 12), we discussed the question – do we still need the Antiracism Minute?
The short answer is -- Yes!
The longer answer is – Yes, but, we’re wondering if they need to be part of every Sunday service.
It’s good to wonder. Meanwhile, I’ll share my experience as a relative newcomer to BUF. When you started sharing antiracism minutes, you didn’t know who would show up at BUF with ears thankful to hear them.
You didn’t know me from Eve when I showed up and greatly appreciated this special minute of this service. You can’t tell from looking at me that I am part of a multicultural family, and that your minute immediately helped me feel more welcome and willing to be involved here.
I am delighted to know that the full name of the group responsible for this minute is the Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team. It tells me that this is a congregation where ministry is not left only to the professionals, but that everyone is involved in mutual ministry. One area that most easily involves everyone in mutual ministry is in welcoming those who come through the door—or these days onto the zoom screen.
UU religious professional CC Beal captured what a lot of us feel when it comes to practicing the ministry of welcoming, especially as we work on living up to our first principle to respect the worth and dignity of every person, and the covenant to create beloved community.
Beal said – assume who you want to welcome is here already. If you’re acting like they are, they’re more likely to feel welcome because you are ready for them.
With your antiracism minute I felt like you were committed to having a family like mine feel welcome before we ever showed up. Yet, as a retired UU minister, I am aware that congregational dynamics and emphases change over time. To my very affirming -- Yes, this minute is needed -- I also add:
We need to consider if other kinds of BUF ministries need a minute.
Yes, it is okay to designate a specific Sunday or two a month to the antiracism minute and to hear voices from other ministries going on in this vibrant, caring congregation.
As the months unfold and I feel less of a newbie, I’m excited to see what happens as together, we widen the circle and deepen our commitment to beloved community – affirming one another on the journey and welcoming those yet to come.
Thank you.
(If this doesn’t sound exactly like what you heard Sunday morning, that’s because it isn’t. Most of it is, but I’m taking personal editorial privilege to leave out antiracism training information that can be found elsewhere and to recognize my awareness of ongoing discussion around the minute.)
