Minutes - Business/Planning Meeting December 6, 2021

BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

Minutes - Business/Planning Meeting

December 6, 2021

 

Present:  Rupert Ayton, Murray Bennett, Lauralee Carbone, David Curley, Naomi Gary, Mel Hoover, Judy Kasper, Tom Kirchner, Cat McIntyre, Henry Ohana

 

1.Anti-Racism Minutes:  We discussed the changes that Rev. Barbara has requested in anti-racism minutes, beginning now until the end of her ministerial duty while Rev. Paul is on sabbatical. Though invited, Rev. Barbara did not attend the meeting.

 

We agreed to not do anti-racism minutes on December 19, and December 26. Rupert Ayton will offer a two-minute clip Joy Harjo poetry video to Su Livingston for January 2.  Cat forwarded it to Su after tonight’s meeting.  

 

December 12     Henry Ohana

January 2           2 minute Joy Harjo video  (no anti-racism speaker)

January 9           Rupert Ayton

January 23         Rose Edington

 

We would like to continue anti-racism minutes every Sunday, keeping them to two minutes. Another useful method to involve the congregation would be to have longer presentations by representatives of other groups (Community to Community, Immigrant rights, Native American connections, and/or other categories of oppression), with speakers describing their personal histories with racism and oppression.

 

Anti-racism speakers for January 16 and 30 will be enlisted at the January Black Lives Matter Ministry Action team meeting on January 3. 

 

2.Program Meeting.  David suggested a thorough review of the Black Lives Matter monthly programs to establish some continuity, engage more members of the congregation, etc. Cat sent out the link to the program meeting (Dec. 13) noting that would be the purpose of the program that night.

 

3.January Training. The first training will take place towards the end of January; Deb Cruz is renegotiating length and dates with Courtney Wooten. Most of the BUF board of trustees have signed up, as well as members from the Blaine and Mt. Vernon congregations. Training slots are mostly filled already.

 

The January 16 Sunday service, now in the planning stage, may include the Blaine and Mt. Vernon congregations. 

 

4.Rubric for Accountability Committee. The rubric report is nearly complete, with help from Mel Hoover and Rose Edington. David Curley drew this up and will present it to the BUF Operations Team on December 17. It is due to the Accountability group on January 30; will discuss this again at our next business meeting, January 3.

 

5.New facilitator(s). Cat again asked for volunteer(s) to take over her co-facilitator role by March, so that she can pass on the Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team archives.

 

Next Program Meeting on Zoom:                    December 13, 7 pm

Next Business Planning Meeting on zoom:   January 3, 2022, 6 pm

 

Respectfully submitted

Cat McIntyre, co-facilitator

AntiRacism Minute 12/5/21 Claire Lending

 Hello, I am Claire Lending and I will talk a few minutes about my Unitarian Universalist and Antiracist journey. 

 

Many years ago, after I moved to Alabama to be a professor, I found a UU Fellowship which allowed me to relax and feel comfortable in a veryconservative place. The principles and purposes aligned with my beliefs and most of all I found a community of like-minded people. I feel so comfortable as a UU. 

 

In contrast, my antiracism journey in the last fouryears mostly makes me feel uncomfortable. I learned that almost all I know about history is through a White Supremacist lens. The more I read and listen, the more disturbing things I learn about the country I live in. 

 

Even harder for me, I realize all the White privilege I have. My education and childhood comfort came from my Father’s ability to go to college with the GI Bill (as he was White) and the fact that I was able to go to good schools due to my Whiteneighborhood. I am also an avid reader of fiction and it never occurred to me I mostly read White authors with White characters. 

 

When I close my eyes to the real world around me and the many privileges I experience because I am White, I am not living my UU values. But by opening my eyes I am using this newfound knowledge to grow. I am starting to catch up on my learning about the world. I am enjoying reading books written by Black authors. I am learning and working with others, both at BUF and at work, to try to create a more equitable society. This work and collaboration, though very new in my life, is helping me to grow as a person. Beginning this journey, even though it is uncomfortable, is fulfilling and it brings me joy.

AntiRacism Minute 11/28/21 Donna Starr

 Donna Starr from  Blaine Free Church UU

 

Growing up in Pacific Palisades, California in the 40's and 50's, I had only one occasion that I can remember with an interaction with anyone black.  One day I was surf fishing with my Dad for our dinner.  He had given me a very rare pack of chewing gum, Chicklets, little candy coated pieces.  

 

Down the beach I noticed a little girl who was with her father, also surf fishing for dinner.   I ran to her to offer her a piece of gum.  She looked up at me with abject terror in her eyes and turned to run away, crying.  Her father dropped his pole and ran to comfort her.   Only then did I notice that he was not a white man.  I returned to my  Dad, very confused at why she was scared of ME!

 

Most of life has been spent in monoculture communities.  My experience with the black community is limited, and though I do not think I have a problem with racism, I look forward to attending the anti-racism workshops offered through BUF in later January. 

 

I believe this country has huge problems of disparate justice, education, business practices , and broad historically bound mistakes.   There are questions I have and need to know how to dialogue without mistakenly using racist speech and enlarging my world of understanding. 

AntiRacism Minute 11/7/2021-Naomi Gary

Hi, I’m Naomi Gary and this is my Black Lives MatterSpiritual Awakening moment!

When my first baby was just 6 weeks old, my husband and I travelled back to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama to visit his family.

It was the first time I’d ever been inside a real authentic Southern Black Church. It was fantastic!

Mount Mariah Missionary Baptist Church is on the corner of Beall and Mildred in the neighborhood calledNorth Pratt. They have a Facebook page and I suggest you find it 

 

It’s also across the street from my husband’s family home. He told me stories of dead bodies laid out on their couch waiting for the funeral. He told me a lot,but actually being in this very spiritual place changed me forever!

Ahhhhh Ummmmmmmmmm AhhhhhhhhUmmmmmmmmm as we walk in there is a deep humming. Everyone is dressed beautifully in bright colors and patterns. The ladies all wear beautiful hats. 

Ahhhhh Ummmmmmmmmm AhhhhhhhhUmmmmmmmmm even my baby starts hummingAhhhhh Ummmmmmmmmm AhhhhhhhhUmmmmmmmmm …I’m in complete awe.

I’m the only white person in this church. I’m the only white person within five miles of this church. Everyone was nice but they stared! It helped me understand how my husband felt most of the time being the only black person in a room back in Southern California.

There was a full band …Piano, organ, drums, electric guitar, etc.  The preacher was almost singing. It all started slowly but came to a crescendo multiple times. People stood up in the aisles and women feinted or as my husband told me “got happy”. Everyone used a decorative paper fan to cool off. The fan was also usedto emphasize what the preacher said. AMEN! The whole service lasted for several hours and everyone participated in one way or the other.

This was the single most spiritual event I have ever participated in…and for everyone else it was just a normal Sunday at church… Black Churches Matter…Black Lives Matter!!!

Team Charter - October 2021

BUF Black Lives Matter

Ministry Action Team Charter

amended October 2021

 

1. Mission and Goals.  Based on the adoption of the Covenant for a Beloved Community at the BUF Congregational meeting on November 15, 2020, The Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team will plan and undertake actions that journey 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 in our institutions.

​We acknowledge that injustice and oppression spiritually damage both the oppressed and oppressor. We acknowledge that racism has many targets, and that different forms of racism have developed different histories of stereotyping and oppression. We also acknowledge that racism is linked to other forms of oppression, especially oppressions based on class, gender, and sexual orientation.  

​

​2. Membership. The following eleven people regularly attend business meetings: David Curley, Cat McIntyre, Henry Ohana, Judy Kasper, Lauralee Carbone, Claire Lending, Murray Bennett, Barbara Gilday, Tom Kirchner, Naomi Gary, and AmoretHeise. In addition, we have a mailing list of 47 people and a Rapid Response phone tree of 68 people(including duplicates of mailing list). In October-November 2021, we will survey the mailing list to ascertain whether they want to continue to be on the phone tree, how would they like to be a part of Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team, and whether they would like to join the leadership of the team.

 

3.  Theological Foundation.  Our team believes we are all one with the universe—what affect one of us affects all of us. We see ourselves in all the UU principles and certainly in the Eighth Priniciple, which BUF has adopted as the Covenant of Beloved Community. Our efforts are based on a commitment to spiritual growth, spiritual wholeness and Beloved Community, to justice, equity and compassion.

 

4.  Mission and Vision:  The BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action team supports the SEJC mission by seeking to nurture the social, spiritual and personal development of congregation members in the exploration of how racism and privilege affect our congregation, and our nation.  We acknowledge the targeted violence which impacts black people disproportionately. We work to end racial discrimination and injustice, starting within ourselves and moving out into the world around us.  We support anti-racist congregations and advocate for stopping racist policies like mass imprisonment and attacks on voting rights.  We are committed to harnessing the power of love to dismantle racism and white supremacy across our communities and to creating spaces inclusive of people of all races, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. We work with many partners in support of the Black Lives Matter movements.

 

5.  Timeline:  We expect to exist until BUF becomes a fully inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization in a transformed society. 

 

6.  Measurement of Success.   The Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team will track and report quarterly to the BUF Social and Environmental Justice Committee (SEJC), describing the nature and number of meetings and events held. We also expect to use the Beloved Covenant audit process annually, and incorporate feedback from BIPOC communities on our effectiveness in reaching our goals.

 

7.  Finances:  The Black Lives Matter Ministry Teamrequest funds from BUF SEJC and from private donors to raise $5,000 for anti-racism and allyship training for the congregation in the year 2021. Members of the team also work with “Beloved Community –It’s in Our Hands” to raise additional grant funding to present the trainings in 2022. 

 

8.  Engaging the Congregation:  Here are our annual objectives for the congregational years July 2021 - June 2024:

 

A. Meet twice a month to (a) review and plan activities, and (b) present an educational program.

B. Engage the congregation in consciousness-raising through Anti-racism Minutes, Sunday forums, sermons, informational handouts, and more. Anti-racism minutes will own that racism hurts all of us, and speakers will share what has changed their lives, their personal growth experiences and how their path.

C. We will sit down with BUF staff twice a year to discuss how we can help each other move toward structural change at BUF, transforming the congregation to an anti-racist, multicultural organization.

D. Partner with community groups such as the Racial Justice Coalition, Whatcom Human Rights Task Force, Juneteenth organizers, and others.

E. Work with BUF children's and adults' Religious Education teams to develop and teach anti-racistprograms; e.g. Widening the Circle, book club selections, films, and discussion topics for communities within BUF.

F. Provide members and leadership for the ministry action team formed to implement the Beloved Community Steering Committee.

G. Conduct a survey of congregation, beginning with the BLM mailing list and the Rapid Response phone tree members to invite people personally to meetings.

H. Create posters, banners, tri-fold brochures, etc. to publicize anti-racist activities, programs and ideals.

I. Create occasional spaces (virtual or physical) for ritual, music, art, literature, and humor that helpbuild a Beloved Community and dismantle racism.

J. Communicate to the congregation via BUF News, BUF MidWeek Update, BUF Black Lives Matter Facebook group, BUF Breeze mailing group, and our blog http://blacklivesmatter.blogspot.com 

 

 

9. Ministry Action Team Requirements:  Actively participate with the Social & Environmental Justice Committee by sending a representative to each of three annual SEJC meetings. Report a summary of your activities and accomplishments to SEJC prior to each meeting.  Abide by subcommittee procedures as developed by the BUF Operations Team.   

 

Does your ministry team agree to meet these requirements?  YES

 

Names of Lead Applicants (minimum 5):  David Curley, Cat McIntyre, Henry Ohana, Judy Kasper, Lauralee Carbone, Claire Lending, Murray Bennett, Barbara Gilday, Tom Kirchner, Naomi Gary, AmoretHeise

                                                                                                                          

Primary Contact and their contact information: Cat McIntyre, mcintyrec45@gmail.com

 

Application (or Renewal) Date: November 1, 2021

 

Charter Application Approval date:  __________SEJC      _________BUF Operations Team