An Online, All-Congregational workshop
Sunday afternoon, March 20th, 1:00 to 4:30
Register Here
Background:
At its February meeting, at the request of UUS:E’s Social Justice / Anti-Oppression Committee, the UUS:E Policy Board agreed to place a vote to adopt the 8th Unitarian Universalist principle on the agenda for our May 15th Annual Meeting. In order to prepare for that vote, we have invited Paula Cole Jones, one of the principal architects of the 8th Principle movement, to lead us in this compelling workshop.
We Unitarian Universalists are called to build the Beloved Community. The UU Principles guide us in this our pursuit of this calling, but do they go far enough, and are they deep enough, to create such a community? Is it time for an 8th principle that directs us to attend to the unfinished business of dismantling racism and oppression in our congregations, our Association, and in our wider community? With a positive vote in May, UUS:E would be joining more than 140 UU congregations around the country who have answered “yes” to this question and have adopted the 8th principle.
The 8th Principle affirms and promotes 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.
The Workshop:
Ms. Cole Jones’ workshop will introduce the 8th principle and offer new insights for creating a congregational culture of inclusion. The workshop will:
- introduce strategies to achieve long term cultural change;
- share a framework for how collaboration and accountability shape the racial and social justice history of institutions in the United States;
- engage participants in an interactive experience of the transformative power of the 8th
The workshop will take place in Zoom over two 90-minute blocks, separated by a 30 minute break. We are asking people to pre-register and pay a workshop fee of $20. Please note: nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. Please contact Rev. Josh at [email protected] if you would like financial assistance.
