Widening the Circle of Concern
Antiracism & Anti-Oppression Group
January 25, 2023
Our minister resigned because we are not the people we thought we were. We are not prepared to do the ministry we want to do. We could not partner with our minister to do the work we asked her to do.
That is really heartbreaking. And, tragically, predictable.
When we began studying the Widening the Circle of Concern report, many of our white participants said the same thing: "This doesn't really apply to us, none of this would happen here."
But it does. We have caused harm to people of color in our congregation. We continue to cause harm to people of color in our congregation.
If we could have seen ourselves in the WCOC report a few years ago, maybe we would have made the changes we needed to then. Maybe we would have treated it like the emergency that it is. Maybe we wouldn't be where we are today.
This week, the WCOC team started to work on a vision of where we go from here. I have an idea of how we can make tomorrow different, but I'm not going to tell you about it this week.
This week, I want to let us feel how sad and disappointing this is.
If you are white, I want you to remember three things this week.
1) Remember how many times we've told people of color that we were different, that we would be different. And yet we are not.
2) Do not ask one of our BIPOC members to do the emotional labor of helping you feel better. Don't ask them to give you hope. Don't ask them for forgiveness.
3) Do not quit, do not give up hope.
If you are a person of color:
I reaffirm my commitment to building a beloved community that feeds your spirit and celebrates all that you are.
If you missed Renée Brill's important and very informative sermon on WCOC on Sunday, January 15th, you can watch the complete service on YouTube or the sermon and the WCOC moment on Facebook.
Please contact Sherri Randall via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be included on the Zoom meeting notification list, and/or with any questions you have about what we're up to.
Widening the Circle of Concern
Antiracism & Anti-Oppression Group
January 10, 2023
This week's Monday meeting was short but productive. After brief discussion of a new in-person White Allies group that is forming, with plans to meet at church twice a month during the Sunday lunch hour, Renée Brill went back to work polishing the sermon she's recording for the 15th. We also submitted a quick (10-minute) discussion exercise that we hope to see included on the agenda for the Board Meeting on the 22nd.
Finally, please contact Sherri Randall via
Widening the Circle of Concern
Antiracism & Anti-Oppression Group
January 3, 2023
Hello and Happy New Year, all!
First a quick reminder: The WCOC Work Group is currently meeting at 3:00 pm Central on Mondays. We are happy to report that we kicked off the new year with a fantastic brain-storming session this week. We have several new types of "Widening Moment" explorations that we will be rolling out as our part of the Sunday Service in the coming months.
We also want to join Renée in celebrating her baby's first antiracism steps at the tender age of 3 1/2 months! During our brain-storming session, Stennett burbled in to remind us about researching for BIPOC-led groups dedicated to maternal health & affordable child care. Yay!
Renée will be back in our pulpit (via video) on January 15th, by the way, with a sermon about systemic "footprints." Stay tuned to the eBlast for more info on that next week.
Finally, please contact Sherri Randall via
Widening the Circle of Concern Update as of October 3rd
Sherri will be on out of town for a few days, but the 6:00 pm work group will still be opening on Monday evening. Renèe is using that time to prepare the training curriculum, and people who show up might get to see her new baby!
For our Widening Moment reflection during the month of October, we would like you to consider: How would your day change if you actively gifted compassion to others? Photos of the many thoughtful responses to our prompts in August and September will be available on the church website soon!
Widening the Circle of Concern Update as of Sept 26th
WCOC Training - UNSAVE The Date.
Although the training classes are not currently active, the 6:00 pm work group will still be meeting on Monday evenings on Zoom. Renée is using this time to prepare the training. curriculum, and people who show up might get to see her new baby!
Starting this Sunday, we will have a new prompt for our Widening Moment reflection. During the month of October we would like you to consider: How would your day change if you actively gifted compassion to others?
Photos of the many thoughtful responses to our prompts in August and September will be available on the church website soon!
Widening the Circle of Concern
New Training starts September 26th!
Repeating this message to make sure everyone sees this important news and signs up for the new program.
Starting at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 26, 2022, the UUCOC Widening the Circle of Concern anti-racism group will begin a new 12-week training program on Zoom. Attend from the comfort of your own home! Bring your dinner plate (or bowl or whatever!) and let's break bread together as we work on breaking down systemic oppression. Invest time each week in being part of the essential work of building a beloved community, and help elevate UUCOC from being a "Multiculturally Aware Congregation" to becoming a truly "Anti-Racist Congregation."
See the "Anti-Racism Rubric for UU Congregations" https://www.uusc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anti-Racism-Rubric-for-UU-Congregations.pdf
Our goal for this session is to help people become more skilled at talking about racism and white supremacy culture, and to give participants the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in a safe environment. This is NOT another round of reading the WCOC REPORT from UUA; we are planning and preparing a training curriculum with new materials. Sign up now by contacting Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of August 29th
WCOC Update
Widening the Circle of Concern
New Training starts September 26th!
Starting at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 26, 2022, the UUCOC Widening the Circle of Concern anti-racism group will begin a new 12-week training program on Zoom. Attend from the comfort of your own home! Bring your dinner plate (or bowl or whatever!) and let's break bread together as we work on breaking down systemic oppression. Invest time each week in being part of the essential work of building a beloved community, and help elevate UUCOC from being a "Multiculturally Aware Congregation" to becoming a truly "Anti-Racist Congregation."
See the "Anti-Racism Rubric for UU Congregations" https://www.uusc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anti-Racism-Rubric-for-UU-Congregations.pdf
Our goal for this session is to help people become more skilled at talking about racism and white supremacy culture, and to give participants the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in a safe environment. This is NOT another round of reading the WCOC REPORT from UUA; we are planning and preparing a training curriculum with new materials. Sign up now by contacting Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of August 22nd
WCOC Update
Starting at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 26, 2022, the UUCOC Widening the Circle of Concern anti-racism group will begin a new 12-week training program on Zoom. Attend from the comfort of your own home! Invest an hour each week in being part of this essential work of building a beloved community, that elevates UUCOC from being a "Multiculturally Aware Congregation" to becoming a truly "Anti-Racist Congregation."
See the "Anti-Racism Rubric for UU Congregations": https://www.uusc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anti-Racism-Rubric-for-UU-Congregations.pdf
Are you uncomfortable having anti-racist conversations? Do you want to be better able to engage in anti-racist work? Do you want to know how to talk to your extended family about difficult subjects? We will be training people to initiate, facilitate, and participate in difficult conversations about racism and white supremacy. Save the date!
Do you want to know what you should do to help if you witness a microaggression? Or what you should do to repair the situation if you've been the cause of a microaggression? Do you want people of color to feel safe, welcomed and loved in our congregation? Save the date!
Our goal is to help people become more skilled at talking about racism and white supremacy culture, and to give participants the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in a safe environment. Sign up now by contacting Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of August 15th
Are you uncomfortable having anti-racist conversations? Do you want to be better able to engage in anti-racist work? Do you want to know how to talk to your extended family about difficult subjects? Save the date!
Do you want to know what you should do to help if you witness a microagression? Or what you should do to repair the situation if you've been the cause of a microagression? Do you want people of color to feel safe, welcomed and loved in our congregation? Save the date!
Starting at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 26, 2022, the UUCOC Widening the Circle of Concern study group will begin a new 12-week study & discussion program on Zoom. Attend from the comfort of your own home! Invest an hour each week in being part of this essential work of building a beloved community, that elevates UUCOC from being a "Multiculturally Aware Congregation" to becoming a truly "Anti-Racist Congregation."
See the "Anti-Racism Rubric for UU Congregations" https://www.uusc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Anti-Racism-Rubric-for-UU-Congregations.pdf
Sign up now by contacting Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of August 9th
Hello, all. Sherri here with a couple of crucial updates about our weekly Widening the Circle of Concern work/study groups:
First of all, this week the group realized that the section of the REPORT covering "Distinctions and Definitions" is too deep and rich a vein of vital material to relegate to the tag-end of the current study & discussion group. Instead, we will be developing a new study group curriculum. When we reboot the study group in September, we will be focusing on this section of the REPORT in depth. We will also be providing training on how to be a co-facilitator for anti-racism discussions of this sort.
"What? Wait..." you say, "I can't do that!" That's okay. We are not asking or expecting anyone to commit to co-facilitating a study group just yet. What we *are* hoping is that by attending the sessions, you will at least be better prepared to help people engage with this topic no matter the venue-- whether it's eventually lending a hand with a church study group, or speaking to your values at dinner with friends, family, or colleagues.
Second, effective immediately, our meeting night is changing to MONDAY, instead of Tuesday. The work group will next meet at 6:00 pm on Monday, August 15th, to start prepping for the study group reboot, which will kick-off at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 26th. I close this note with thanks and kudos to everyone who has participated in our WCOC work/study groups to date. The systems of White Supremacy weren't built in a day, and they won't be dismantled overnight... or by any single person working alone. We are in this together, and I thank you for that.
To join us on Zoom for the ongoing work group and/or to sign up for the September study group, contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of August 2nd
Short report this week as the cumulative effects of the the heat are taking a toll. A couple of us continued work during the 6:00 pm hour to prepare for this month's interactive Widening the Moment engagement, but the 7:00 pm study group needed a break. We will reconvene as scheduled next week.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the WCOC REPORT, it can be found here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of July 26th
6:00 pm work group:
We continued working on the process for a more interactive form of Widening the Moment engagement in August.
7:00 pm study group:
We continued our co-reading of the section on DISTINCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS, with a lively discussion of the 2nd entry ("Racial Justice ≠ Equality"). The conversation ranged from simple illustrations, such as shown in the video linked below, to more complicated questions about topics like Affirmative Action. So... as mentioned last week, even though we are now working our way through the "end" of the REPORT, we invite you to join us at our next meeting, August 2nd, as we continue this vital study and discussion. "Equity and Equality" - Rising Tide Center https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCS7Rus4_-Y
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the WCOC REPORT, it can be found here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of July 19th
6:00 pm work group:
Sunday worship elements for Widening the Circle Moment were finalized for the rest of this month, and we planned out most of the process for a more interactive form of engagement in August.
7:00 pm study group:
We began our co-reading of the section on DISTINCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS. Two things quickly became clear-- first, it would have served well to lay down these markers at the beginning of the REPORT, instead of tacked on at the end. Second, this section is loaded with rich discussion material! Although we opened with a relatively quick read-through of the first handful of entries, we soon decided to go back and use each individual entry as its own discussion prompt, and the remainder of the hour took us through only the first entry! So-- even though we are now working our way thru the "end" of the REPORT, we invite you to join us at our next meeting, July 25th, as we continue this vital study and discussion.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the WCOC REPORT, it can be found here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of July 12th
The 6:00 pm work group continued planning and development of Sunday worship elements for Widening the Moment. As part of that discussion, Kathy Grey pointed out the excellent website of Rev. Clovis Lewis, theologian, anti-racist, and musician: https://clovicelewis.weebly.com/ Rev. Lewis' cello work is also featured in the music video "DWB (Driving While Black)", by friend of the church and musical satirist Roy Zimmerman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhk0nKCGe34
The 7:00 pm study group, with only two attendees available this week due to various schedule conflicts (Tami Hillberry having a baby, for example!), chose to defer our co-reading section on DISTINCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS to our meeting on July 19th.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the WCOC REPORT, it can be found here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of July 5th
Renée Brill hosted this week's meeting. (Thanks, Renée!) During the 6:00 - 7:00 pm work group hour, we continued development of Widening Moments for incorporation into Sunday worship. We also discussed cycles of racial microaggression, and common (White) reactions that serve to bolster systemic racism instead of mindfully addressing and redressing the harm. Recommended reading, this excellent and accessible article from Psychology Today:
"You’ve Committed a Microaggression—Now What?," by Dr. Monnica T Williams, University of Ottawa
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culturally-speaking/202005/you-ve-committed-microaggression-now-what
During the 7:00 - 8:00 pm study hour, we completed the audiobook version of the REPORT (yay, us!) by listening to the chapters ACCOUNTABILTY AND RESOURCES, and FINAL THOUGHTS. We agreed to continue through the supplementary material at the end of the book at our next meeting(s), and briefly brainstormed about future study hour options.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the WCOC REPORT, it can be found here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of June 28th
During the work group hour we brainstormed our Widening Moment plans for the coming month.
In the study group we completed the chapter on RESTORATION AND REPARATIONS and had such a lively discussion that we ran almost an hour over our scheduled time.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the WCOC REPORT, it can be found here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of June 21st
The WCOC work/study groups did NOT be meet Tuesday, June 21st, so that all who desired could attend the Summer Solstice celebration at UUCOC.
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Announcements & Summary of June 14th
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The WCOC work/study groups will NOT be meeting next Tuesday, June 21st, so that all who desire may attend the Summer Solstice celebration at UUCOC. We will resume our regular schedule on June 28th.
UUA General Assembly
June 22-26, 2022
General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. This year's Assembly is taking place both live in Portland, Oregon, and as a virtual event with robust programming. (Videos of over 50 on-demand workshops and worship services are already available to GA registrants in the GA App powered by Whova.) Dr. Ibram X. Kendi will deliver the 2022 Ware Lecture! For those not attending in person, full virtual registration is required to live-stream that event on June 25, or access the video on-demand when it is posted.
Full Virtual Registration for this year's GA is $275, but there are still some financial assistance options available thru both NTUUC and here at UUCOC.
If you are a UUCOC congregant who would like financial assistance to attend the virtual GA, please start by going to the NTUUC "Registration Assistance" webpage and completing the brief application there to qualify for up to $125 in financial aid.
https://ntuuc.org/dollars-cents/registration-assistance
If you are a congregant who identifies as BIPOC and would like additional assistance, please send an email to Sherri at
SUMMARY for June 14th
We had a fantastic meeting on Tuesday night, and it was great seeing Renee Brill join us from her new home in Maine. During the work hour, we came up with a rich well of ideas for ongoing development of the WIDENING MOMENT part of Sunday worship, and discussed the information outlined in the announcements above.
This week's study group listened to the first half of the chapter on "Restoration and Reparations". This is yet another part of the REPORT that generated a wealth of discussion (and a discussion of wealth!) that-- if addressed with honesty and openness-- is essential to our work toward creating beloved community. I leave you now with these words from Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of “The Case for Reparations” --
“What is needed is an airing of family secrets, a settling with old ghosts. What is needed is a healing of the American psyche and the banishment of white guilt. What I’m talking about is more than recompense for past injustices—more than a handout, a payoff, hush money, or a reluctant bribe. What I’m talking about is a national reckoning that would lead to spiritual renewal.”
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of June 7th
Last night the work group finalized plans for participation in worship services during the month of June. We also reviewed our (substantial!) progress towards completion of Phase 1, as outlined during the recent Spring Parish Meeting. During the study hour we listened to the section on "Innovations and Risk-Taking," followed by the "White Counter Narrative Avatar." Our follow -up discussion focused on determining the difference between committing harmful acts of cultural appropriation versus fostering genuine RELATIONSHIPS of multicultural appreciation.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of May 31st
Two of our WCOC stalwarts had schedule conflicts during the work hour this evening, but Sherri met with Beth Ferree and Kathy Grey to touch base on various aspects of Widening the Circle. Also, Renee met earlier in the day with Rev. Deneen to coordinate plans for incorporating this work into weekly worship service.
During the study hour, attendees listened to the section on "Educating for Liberation" and the "White Accomplice Avatar" testimony. As usual, the material was chock full of thought-provoking observations. One part that we discussed at length had to do with this paragraph--
"One barrier to doing anti-oppression work can be shame and the expectation that the goal is to make people feel guilty. In fact, the goal is to allow people to change, and guilt is not an effective agent for change. The nature of history and facts makes it easy to center an approach on what has actually happened. Shame is never the goal of antiracism work—and it is a frequent by-product because of conditioning in a ‘mastery’ culture that one is supposed to be ‘learned,’ not ‘learning.’"
- - and it bears repeating (again!) that the goal is NOT to make people feel guilty or ashamed about what's past.. The goal is to know better so that we can do better now, and in the future.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of May 24th
This week we worked on how to best incorporate our weekly congregational engagement into the Order of Service, in a way that respects that sacred space and the vital significance of this material.
During the study session, we listened to the sections entitled "Religious Professional of Color Avatar" and "Religious Professionals." We then talked about the importance of making sure that our new minister gets the support they need both within our congregation and externally, from ministerial peer groups.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
If you missed Tami Hillberry's presentation at the Parish Meeting, you can watch it now on the WCOC section of our Social Justice page on the church website:
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of May 17th
This week's work group was brimming with energy & enthusiasm as we discussed the results of the Spring Parish meeting, allocated tasks for putting our plans into action, and reached agreement on some points that will need further clarification.
The study group opened with a brief segment entitled "Minister of Color Avatar," which recounted the testimony of a Black female minister outlining some of the ways in which she has experienced racially-biased harm within Unitarian Universalism. You can read/listen to that here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening/hospitality-inclusion/minister-color-avatar
We then continued through the section on "Living Our Values in the World." Here's one of the many excellent points made in this section:
"A frequent criticism of anti-oppression and hospitality work is that people are tired of us focusing internally, “navel-gazing,” rather than working on issues in the world. Yet greater awareness of the practices within our own institutions is complementary work to our justice. We cannot do accountable justice work if we are not able to remain in good relationship with those most affected by the conditions of injustice."
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
If you missed Tami Hillberry's presentation at the Parish Meeting, you can watch it now on the WCOC section of our Social Justice page on the church website:
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of May 10th
The work group had a lively meeting wrapping up details of our upcoming presentation. We were also delighted to welcome Johnnie Chatman back from her travels.
During the study hour, we listened to the short but impactful chapter on HOSPITALITY AND INCLUSION. Check it out at link below:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening/hospitality-inclusion
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of May 3rd
Sherri and Tami continued preparations for the Parish meeting. The study group did not meet this evening. We will resume our listening and discussion with the short chapter on HOSPITALITY AND INCLUSION at 7:00 pm next Tuesday, May 10th. (This would be a GREAT night for folks to sit in, even if they haven't attended other study sessions. The audio is less than 30 minutes!)
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of April 26th
The work group continued preparing for the Parish meeting, and the study group finished the chapter on Congregations and Communities. Both meetings generated lively discussion.
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of April 19th
The group did not meet this week as everyone was working on individual projects. Please watch for updates.
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of April 12th
Reminder: The Widening the Circle work & study groups are now meeting on TUESDAY nights instead of on Sundays. Our next work group meeting will be on Tuesday, April 19th, at 6:00 pm, immediately followed by the study group meeting at 7:00 pm. You do not have to attend the study group to attend the work group, or vice versa.
This week, work group discussion took precedence for the entirety of the allotted time as Sherri, Renee, Tami and Johnnie continued planning and preparation for next month's Spring Parish Meeting. When the study group meets again, we will resume engagement with WIDENING THE CIRCLE OF CONCERN: REPORT OF THE UUA COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE where we last left off, starting with the section on "The First Parish of Malden, Massachusetts: A Case Study," in the chapter on Congregations and Communities.
In the meanwhile, if you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of April 5th
Reminder: The Widening the Circle work & study groups are now meeting on TUESDAY nights instead of on Sundays. Our next work group meeting will be on Tuesday, April 12th, at 6:00 pm, immediately followed by the study group meeting at 7:00 pm. You do not have to attend the study group to attend the work group, or vice versa!
This week the study group started on the "Congregations and Communities" section from WIDENING THE CIRCLE OF CONCERN: REPORT OF THE UUA COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. We covered nearly 30 minutes of audio, followed by a lively discussion. As a result, I'd like to share two things in particular this week. First, a striking excerpt from this section of the REPORT --
[Start of excerpt]
... If we wish to preserve Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist traditions, our conversations and research suggest that our congregations must center themselves in the communal and covenantal and not primarily the comfort and familiarity of the social club. This change must be accomplished with some speed and agility.
This example from SUBMITTED TESTIMONY illustrates the tensions:
We have begun engaging in a process of visioning for our congregation. And one of the first actions [was] we gave everyone an… opportunity to write or draw or something, some part of where they hoped our congregation would go. And then people were given little blue stickers, two little dots, so that they could attach the dots to the things that they liked…. So one of the things that I wrote in that process was that I would like the congregation to commit itself to antiracism.
And a lot of people wrote that they wanted to see the congregation become more diverse, and there were a lot of blue dots next to becoming more diverse. There were no blue dots next to becoming antiracist. Or maybe I said ending white supremacy culture…. How are we going to become more diverse, assuming that diverse means racially diverse, unless we commit ourselves to acting against racism? So it seems to me there’s a disconnect there, and that might be a way of expressing that disconnect and therefore the struggle so that it’s easier for someone to say, “Yeah, I want to diversify as long as I don’t have to actually do anything to change myself, as long as the congregation doesn’t have to change.” And I suspect that’s kind of a struggle that a lot of people are going through.
[End of excerpt]
The other item I'd like to share this week is a reminder of what we, the congregants of UUCOC discussed and voted on during our Spring Parish meeting in 2021:
"We the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff commit ourselves to the study and dismantling of racism and oppression within our congregation. We commit our congregation and ourselves to the work of anti-racism and anti-oppression. We commit ourselves to listening, to learning and to action. When we fail, we commit ourselves to trying again and again. We covenant to begin this work and to continue until all of us can truly say that that we are a beloved community of justice, equity and compassion.
Because we desire accountability in this work, and because we desire to support and encourage other congregations to take up this work, we vote to add our congregation to the online map of congregations committed to Widening the Circle of Concern."
We, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff, are on that UUA map, and we, the members of the 2022 work & study groups, plan to be talking to y'all more (and more often) about exactly how the work of anti-racism and anti-oppression can better take shape and form within our beloved community.
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of March 29th
The Widening the Circle work & study groups are now meeting on TUESDAY nights instead of on Sundays. Our next work group meeting will be on Tuesday, April 5th, at 6:00 pm, immediately followed by the study group meeting at 7:00 pm. You do not have to attend the study group to attend the work group, or vice versa!
This week's session of the 6:00 pm work group was hampered by technical difficulties (Renee's internet was out) so project discussion was largely rolled into the second half of the study group hour. Although we only covered about 15 minutes of audio material from WIDENING THE CIRCLE OF CONCERN: REPORT OF THE UUA COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, that completed the section on GOVERNANCE and included the extremely thought-provoking narrative in "Lay Leader of Color Avatar."
Among the key take-aways from this material, the REPORT emphasizes that:
"People of color and other marginalized people among us are often called to serve in a variety of capacities in the interest of diversity. Encountering different standards or a lack of multicultural competence in organizations promoting UU values is one of the leading reasons Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color leave Unitarian Universalism."
If you would like to read/listen to any material from the REPORT, it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of March 20th
Moving forward, the Widening the Circle of Concern work & study groups will be meeting on TUESDAY nights instead of on Sundays. Our next work group meeting will be on Tuesday, March 29th, at 6:00 pm, immediately followed by the study group meeting at 7:00 pm. You do not have to attend the study group to attend the work group, or vice versa!
This week's session of the 6:00 pm work group primarily focused on what the "next steps" (and timeline) might look like if there are only 2-3 of us consistently working on the current phase of the project. We also explored ideas for making participation more accessible to other members of the congregation. During the study group hour at 7:00 pm, we continued our group listening & discussion of WIDENING THE CIRCLE OF CONCERN: REPORT OF THE UUA COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
We covered about 30 minutes of audio material on the 20th, continuing our study of the chapter on GOVERNANCE through the section on "Nominating Committees as Agents of Change." As said before, it is NOT required that you be "caught up" to attend the study group meetings. If, however, you would like to read/listen to any material that you've missed it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of March 13th
This week Tami Hillberry totally rocked the "project manager" wrangling of the 6:00pm work group, as she led us in creating a project charter and initial outline toward achieving group goals. During the study group hour at 7:00pm, we continued our group listening & discussion of WIDENING THE CIRCLE OF CONCERN: REPORT OF THE UUA COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
Please note that it is NOT required that you be "caught up" to attend the study group meetings. If, however, you would like to read/listen to any material that you've missed it can be found here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
We listened to approx. 20 minutes of audio material on the 13th, from the end of the "Theology" section thru the first part of the next section-- "Governance: Background and Trends". This was followed by a very lively discussion, in which it was noted (among other things) that the history our denomination has of rejecting power and authority on principle has led to an inability to enact systemic change in a timely manner.
Please contact Sherri Randall at
Widening the Circle of Concern:
Summary of March 6th
During the work group hour at 6:00 pm, Tami Hillberry stepped forward to offer her considerable experience as a project manager to help us better organize the anti-bias work being done here at UUCOC. During the study group hour at 7:00 pm, we continued our group listening & discussion of WIDENING THE CIRCLE OF CONCERN: REPORT OF THE UUA COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE.
We listened to approximately 25 minutes of audio material on the 6th, covering the first part of the "Theology" section, up through the text about "Centering Theology: A Conversation About Faith, Race, and Liberation, Part 4." As part of the discussion, Renee Brill spoke very highly of work done by Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt, and recommended the following 20-minute video from September 2020:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Am7M6d5FA
Please note that it is NOT required that you be "caught up" to attend the study group meetings. If, however, you would like to read/listen to any material that you've missed it can be found here:
https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening
Please contact Sherri Randall at
