Rus Funk Speaking at First UU of Louisville

From the Director

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind since the election. I’ve had the opportunity to facilitate a number of events to hold space for people of faith to be in community with each other in response to the re-election of Donald Trump. I am feeling, and hearing a wash of varying emotions mostly centered around dread and fear. I know us, and many of us have a tendancey to start our reactions to the election, and the gallop down the trail to envision the worst case scnearios of what we all think is likely going to happen. Based on Trump’s promises, and the choices he is making for cabinet positions, it will be bad.

And there is real value to taking a moment to stay in the moment. We will have time to plan, to dissect what happened, to make difficult decisions…and to ACT. I encourage you all, as you prepare for the holidays, to take time to breathe, fully enjoy the time with loved ones that this season calls us to do. I also use this time to engage in some reflection of the year we’re leaving, and prepare for the year ahead. There is lots of good to reflect upon, even the midst of how terrifying and harmful things look for the coming months.

I recently came across this resource, “Tending the soil: Lessons for Organizing” In it, Ricardo Levins Morales makes a key point that “the soil is more important than the seed.” — the seeds being our efforts, activities, programs, initiatives; and the soil being “the compost of believes, ideas, values and narratives.” I am practicing his suggestion to “tend to the soil” by focusing on stirring and nurturing the beliefs, values and narratives… and the relationships that will allow the seeds I’m seeking to plan to flourish.

The seeds I am seeking to plant right now our the seeds of resistance (more on this below). This resistance, however, is based on what it is that we are seeking, not what we are against. As adrienne maree brown states “what we pay attention to grows.” One way that I am practicing resistance is to continue to focus on loving, valuing humanity, working in and on communities where all people are encouraged and supported to flourish.

I wish you all a blessed Holiday season, and look forward to working even more closely with you in the coming weeks and months!

Support our efforts to Develop Resistance

The Justice Center is developing some resources and activities to develop our collective capacity to resist what promises to be a challenging and harmful several years. By “capacity” we are focusing on confidence, comfort, willingness and skills. The Justice Center will be starting some initiatives at All Peoples along with working with other congregations and community organizations to both support developing these capacities on the individual level, and create ways to support each other and engage in collective resistance.

The Justice Center is offering a facilitated conversation entitled “How we Resist” on Sunday Jan 19 at 9:30 AM. This conversation will be held in “the Hearth Room” at All Peoples Congregation (4934 Brownsboro Road). All are invited! This 75 minute conversation will explore what resistance looks like, how many of us are already engaging in resistance, and how to ground our resistance in what we are seeking, rather than what we’re opposing.

We’ll have additional offerings in the weeks to come.

And if you all know of other ways that we can engage in resistance, develop our comfort in resisting, come together to practice resistance… please let me know and we’ll promote them through in whatever ways we can.

We are launching our end of year funding appeal. The Justice Center relies on the generous support of donors (like many of you) to continue our work. Developing and facilitating these resistance efforts is time and energy intensive. We have a goal of raising $5000 by the end of the year to help launch this effort in January. Please consider the Justice Center as you are thinking about your end of year donations. You can donate securely by going here.

Introducing our Advocacy Series

The Justice Center has created a three part series examining policy advocacy. This series is designed for congregations and is designed to help congregations become more confident and willing to engage in meaningful policy advocacy.

Session 1: Overview of Advocacy Provides a general overview of defining what policy advocacy is, what congregations are allowed based on IRS guidelines, the difference between lobbying and advocacy, and the distinction between administrative and legislative policy.

Session 2: Relational Advocacy Most of our faith traditions emphasize the importance of relationships. This value is no different in advocacy. In this session, we explore how to engage in a relationship with our elected officials that are based on the relationship, rather than the policy agenda.

Session 3: Accountable Advocacy Reflects on how to engage in advocacy efforts that are accountable to our values, the policy goals that we’re seeking to achieve, and most importantly, to the people who are likely to be most impacted by the policy.

This series is available to your congregation or community organization. We are not, however, able to offer this series at no charge. If you are interested in learning more about this series and exploring how to bring it to you congregation or community group, please contact us at justicecenter@allpeoplesuu.com.

Interfaith Environmental Action Network

IEAN is planning an environmental action summit this spring.. This summit will be an opportunity to deepen our relationships with each other, share some of what we (as congregations and communities of faith) have learned in our efforts to become more environmentally sustaniable, and begin crafting a collective agenda. Stay tuned for more details to come.

Partner Events and Opportunities

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

KFTC is offering a couple of events in support of ensuring voting rights in the Commonwealth, and announce the 2025 We Love Voting Rights Day. CHeck on tbhe links below for more information and how to register:

Voting Rights Issue Introduction Webinar – December 9 – https://www.mobilize.us/kftc/event/402891/

Voting Rights Rally and Lobby Day – February 11 – https://www.mobilize.us/kftc/event/745226/

Support the Justice Center

For more information about the Justice Center and our efforts,

contact Rus Funk, Director at justicecenter@allpeoplesuu.com

ALL PEOPLES
a Unitarian Universalist Congregation
4936 Brownsboro Rd
Louisville KY 40222
office@allpeoplesuu.com
Phone: (502) 425-6943
Office Hours:		9 am – 4 pm M-Th
		9 am – 1 pm Fri

Contact Us

All Peoples

Sunday Service: 11:00am