1. What is the eighth principle?

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.

2. What does that mean?

The eighth principle strives to build a diverse multicultural religious community by dismantling racism and other oppressions in our cultural systems and ourselves.

3. How do we do that?

This is work is NOT ABOUT PROJECTS. It is about participating in thought provoking activities the committee will present and being mindful of how you are thinking. Projects come after the enlightenment. We can’t present ourselves in a project to people of color if we haven’t looked at how we behave with them.

4. Don’t our other principles in our covenant cover this?

No. This is about looking at how we are a product of the white system we grew up in. How did we absorb their structure and how do we display it in our everyday activities?

5. Why now?

The consciousness of America has been awakened in the recent murders of people of color and recent racist behaviors of our American systems. If not now, when?

6. We have gone through so many changes around here.

Elwood retiring, two interim ministers, a new settled minister, a name change why do we have to change something else. Don’t look it as a change but an addition to our work as UUs.

7. I don’t want anyone to think I am a racist.

You are not. You are a product of how you were raised in America’s white systems whether you are white or a person of color.

8. What kind of activities are there? Are there going to be encounter groups?

No. This is not therapy! We are going to present movies, plays, books, open campus classes, workshops, etc. The emphasis on the eighth principle is listening to each other with compassion and love and not criticizing. To check in with ourselves and become mindful of what we have become and how we can change. Change begins with awareness.

9. How will this help the future of the church?

We need to set an example for our church children and young adults as well as future members to show them we are on the side of racial justice. It is an excellent way to attract younger church members and insure the future of our church.

If you have any more questions please feel free to email Lisa Austin at lpaustin502@gmail.com. All questions and comments are welcome.