After careful consideration of fellow TJers’ thoughtful comments, the history professor’s talk on Jefferson (Dr. Calvert), and re-reading Dr. King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, I now contend we cannot wait any longer to seek a new name for our TJ community.
These excerpts from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail caught my attention:
He also referred to the broader scope of history, when “‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ Declaring that African Americans had waited for these God-given and constitutional rights long enough, King quoted Chief Justice Earl Warren, who said in 1958 that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.” Listing numerous ongoing injustices toward black people, including himself, King said, “Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, ‘Wait.’ Along similar lines, King also lamented the “myth concerning time,” by which white moderates assumed that progress toward equal rights was inevitable, so assertive activism was unnecessary. King called it a “tragic misconception of time” to assume that its mere passage “will inevitably cure all ills.” Progress takes time as well as the “tireless efforts” of dedicated people of good will.
King asserted that the white church needed to take a principled stand or risk being “dismissed as an irrelevant social club.”
I hope we redouble our efforts to learn about the experience of being African American in Louisville and be part of Building the Beloved Community.
Highest Regards,
Dennis Neyman
I want to share with you my personal journey on this name change thing, that is – the question of whether we should change our name from Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church to something else.
The first time I heard the idea that we should consider a name change was in Fall of 2018. Nearly simultaneously, Rev. Jeff suggested it and Sharon Dittmar from the UUA Mid-America region asked Tony (last year’s BOT President) if we’d thought about changing our name. My reaction was – really??! Do we really need to think about this? So much else on our plates…. Plus, Thomas Jefferson was a hero for me. I grew up in Baltimore – one of my fondest childhood memories is of visiting Monticello when I was 10 years old. I applied to the University of Virginia the first year that they accepted women. Tom and I go way back.
At the Board retreat this summer, the name change was the number one thing that Board members wanted us to act on in the 2019-2020 year. No, I didn’t vote for it and was kind of surprised. But I’m all about listening, and I heard what folks had to say. Over this past year and more, I have moved in favor of the name change, for three reasons:
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Sharon Dittmar shared several articles with us. Most notable is the Smithsonian article (we’ve sent the link out several times, here it is again: https://bit.ly/31Gya1q I finally got that there was nothing benevolent about Jefferson’s slave ownership. He realized that slaveholding was his most profitable endeavor. He had young boys whipped. And then there was Sally Hemmings. One might say he was a product of his time, but others in his time railed against slavery. I cannot justify having our church, especially with its social justice focus, be named after this guy.
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There are those who feel that the name of our church is a real turn-off to others in our community. I’ve heard that African Americans make a wide circle around booths we have at festivals. I hear Coco and other people younger than I who say that we must change our name because of the disconnect between our social justice focus and Jefferson as slave holder. One of our newer members said that it took her months to visit our church because it is named after Thomas Jefferson. Our name communicates who we are to others in our wider community. We need a name that speaks to what we stand for.
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Among the articles Sharon Dittmar (UUA Mid-America region) shared with us was the history of the (now) Southern Region that used to be named the Thomas Jefferson region. It took them 15 years and three separate votes before they finally changed their name. But change it they did. I don’t want the same turmoil for us. I believe that if we don’t change it now, it will keep on coming back and we’ll debate it until we finally get there. I’d rather we just be done with it!
The final decision is the Congregation’s, not the Board’s. As a member of the congregation, I believe this is something we need to do, and we need to do it now.
With love for our community,
Deborah Potts Novgorodoff
Thanks to the email from Reverend David Bumbaugh (see below), I changed my opinion about a name change for TJUC from “Do not change” to “change.” My original inclination was to stay with Jefferson because his contributions to this nation are exemplary. He was in many ways a model man of the period known as “the enlightenment.” Nevertheless, Reverend Bumbaugh’s reply to my inquiry regarding the name change was compelling and I found I had to agree with him. The twin points that some of Jefferson’s contemporaries did free their slaves, but he chose to keep slaves because it was in his own best interests is a powerful argument. One final point is that to name a church after any person brings with it the distinct possibility something will one day be learned about the person which is negative and controversial. Better to not name a church after a person. I recommend reading Reverend Bumbaugh’s note.
Bob Schultz
Bob,
Thank you for your note. Your question about the naming or renaming of your church has caused me to think carefully about the matter. I am somewhat surprised where I have come out.
I must begin by admitting that over my more than forty years as a parish minister, I have never served a church named for an individual. Every one of the congregations I have served have been named in terms of their geographic location. I notice that over recent years, when churches have changed their names, they seem to be choosing names that reflect their understanding of their mission. Thus, the Unitarian Church in Summit, NJ recently changed its name to Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
One of the reasons I am not a fan of naming a church for some person is because all human beings are a mixed bag. We choose to name a church for a given person because we want to identify with his or her positive attributes. Unfortunately, we sometimes find ourselves identified with that person’s negative attributes as well.
That certainly is true of Jefferson. His words and some of his accomplishments echo down the years. However, his limitations and difficult history become increasingly impossible to ignore. As a young man I was a fan of Jefferson, but over the years I have come to realize that I spent a great deal of energy justifying and excusing his failings. I used to say that Jefferson was a child of his times and his limitations reflected those times and the environment in which he believed. However, the truth is that Jefferson was well aware of the moral problem of the choices he made. He was the one who said, (referring to slaves) “Nothing is more certain in the book of fate than that this people is meant to be free.” He was the one who referred to the issue of slavery as “A fire bell in the night” for the new nation. He was the one who said being a slave holder was like having a wolf by the ears -you can’t continue to hold on and you can’t afford to let go.
The reason Jefferson did not free his slaves was not because he had no contemporary example of people who chose to take that action. He held on to his slaves because he needed them in order to finance his scientific studies, the purchase of books, fine wines, and the never ending building and remodeling of his mansion. He knew his comfort, his life style, his ambitions were made possible because he held fellow human beings in perpetual bondage. And he knew\that it was a morally questionable practice. I honor Jefferson for his accomplishments despite his failings. But, I would not name a church for him.
You make reference to political correctness. Ironically, use of that term, itself, is often a negative example of a kind of political correctness. I remember a time when what is often referenced by that term used to be called politeness-a decision not to use language or behavior that is offensive to others when it serves no other larger value. I am constantly called upon to defend my values and concerns and am usually quite willing to do so, but I try not to use my values and concerns as weapons.
Again, thanks for your message and the challenge to explore these issues.
David (BamBaugh)
I believe that we should change the name of the church to reflect our values without losing our identity as part of the larger community. “Together we have chosen to make a church….” Means that no matter what we are called, it is an important value that we hold, “so that in community we may become what we cannot be when we are isolated and alone.” Our church stands for inclusiveness, another strong value. And our tradition of long promoting justice are all the reasons for a name change without changing our identity.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Adamek, TJ Attendee since 1972/Member since 1975
Thomas Jefferson did many great things for our country. We can continue to honor and respect those achievements. But we also need to acknowledge his part as a slave owner and the financial gains made by him on the backs of slaves. I am uncomfortable with our church being named after a slave owner. By calling ourselves T.J.ers, it’s easy to ignore the meaning of those initials.
I’m excited about the prospect of a more suitable name that more accurately reflects our covenant. We have an opportunity to leave our comfort zone and move forward into a changing society as we assume an appropriate name that more accurately describes what we are about. This is a great time for change with the welcoming of a new settled minister.
Instead of resisting change, let us rejoice in the fact that our congregation is willing to move forward together toward a new and promising future. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to express our thoughts.
Beth Murray
Here are my thoughts-
I’ve never given any thought about the name of our church but now that I’ve learned more details about Thomas Jefferson’s slaves – beyond Sally Hemmings, – I feel strongly that we should change our name.
There are several aspects to this:
A church named after a mortal is very unusual. I’ve attended six different churches in my life and nearly all of them have been named in relation to geography, Blue Hills Baptist Church, South Methodist Church, The First Congregational Church of Plano, etc. Two have been named after Saint John.
Thus, naming a church, or fellowship after a mortal is very unusual and it would be better to choose a name that reflects the values of our congregation and not be offensive to anyone. Also, it might be better to not use the name “Church”. Perhaps we’re a “Fellowship”, “community”, or “Assembly” or even “Society”.
While our values should be inclusive of people of color, it would not do good to choose the name of a mortal person of color. We should stay away from naming ourselves after a mortal.
While we should abandon the name “Thomas Jefferson” we should still find a way to understand and honor the good that he has done and recognize why – if that can be found – the name was originally chosen.
It’s an easy decision to move away from the name of Thomas Jefferson, a mortal. It’s much more difficult to decide on a name that will define who we are beyond geography if we want to go in that direction.
As discussions proceed, they should include a discussion about a new name for our congregation.
Bruce Murray
Feel VERY strongly that the name should be changed.
Sariena Sampson
I support you (the Board) in the church. It is my personal opinion that the name of the church be changed. I am embarrassed by it. If it is not changed, my future membership is in question.
Sincerely,
Barbi Howell