The following open letter was published and signed by nearly 500 white Unitarian Universalist ministers after the Rev. Todd Eklof, minister of the Spokane UU Church, distributed a self-published treatise that included vitriolic rhetoric about several marginalized groups within Unitarian Universalism. Several hundred copies of the treatise were distributed by Rev. Eklof and members of the Spokane congregation during General Assembly in Spokane.
As attendees began to understand what was happening, many groups convened to talk about how to respond. Many people sought in-person conversations with Rev. Eklof and/or members of the congregation; others to offer healing to their constituencies experiencing grief, anger, and trauma. Several groups also chose to craft public responses affirming that the contents of the publication do not reflect the beliefs or the aspirations of the vast majority of Unitarian Universalists. We encourage you to read the powerful responses from DRUUMM (Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries, our national group for UUs of color and Indigenous UUs), the newly formed People of Color & Indigenous chapter of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association, and ARE (Allies for Racial Equity). Rev. Ashley Horan, MUUSJA Executive Director, has agreed to host the letter from white UU ministers on this blog.
With sadness and anger, we, the undersigned, join our voices with the chorus of Unitarian Universalists speaking up to name the harm caused by yesterday’s release of The Gadfly Papers: Three Inconvenient Essays by One Pesky Minister, written and self-published by our colleague the Rev. Todd F. Eklof and distributed at the 2019 General Assembly in Spokane, Washington. As white ministers, we write today to make clear that this treatise does not represent us or our values, nor does it represent our vision for the ministry or for Unitarian Universalism. We deeply regret the harm this publication has already caused, and we know that this is another (intentionally provocative) incident that comes on the heels of months, years, generations of harm toward our colleagues of color. (We also acknowledge the harm in the treatise directed toward LGBTQ+ people, religious educators, people with disabilities, and others–many of whom are also people of color at the intersections of multiple identities.)
Rev. Eklof names the “sadness, fear, and anger I sometimes feel about what’s going on in my religion” (p. 126) as one of his primary motivations for writing. We, too, have sadness, fear, and anger: sadness at the pervasiveness of harm being done to our members, religious professionals, and colleagues of color; our fear that the explosive resistance to facing white supremacy culture within our faith will cause even more harm; and our anger that the brilliance, compassion, power, and moral imagination of our people have yet again been channeled into responding to harm, rather than nurturing a truly liberatory Unitarian Universalism.
What, we wonder, would be possible if the creative energy of our leaders were freed up from reacting to instances of resistance and harm, and instead were channeled into imagining, building, and experimenting with practices that embodied the kind of liberation and wholeness that is the core yearning of our faith?
We recognize that a zealous commitment to “logic” and “reason” over all other forms of knowing is one of the foundational stones of White Supremacy Culture. Instead of accepting the frame of Rev. Eklof’s arguments and debunking them, we instead affirm the following:
- White Supremacy Culture (WSC) is alive and well within Unitarian Universalism. The impacts of WSC are pervasive and harmful, and while all of us are spiritually harmed within such a dehumanizing system, the primary impacts fall upon people of color and Indigenous people (POCI). This treatise, itself, is a manifestation of WSC, and is causing harm to our siblings of color, as well as to the integrity of our ministry.
- We believe our siblings of color as the experts in their own life experiences. They have done the emotional labor of testifying, again and again, to the consistent marginalization, aggression, and traumatization that they experience in UUism, and are pleading with us to face and dismantle the systems and structures that enable such harm to continue. We are grateful for this painful truth-telling, which comes at great personal and professional risk, and affirm that we witness and believe their experiences, and commit to addressing harm. All politics are identity politics, and when the default is white supremacist patriarchy, we must trust the experience of those who are targeted.
- When unjust power structures–and those who benefit from them–are exposed and critiqued, backlash is predictable. We often conflate critiques of our behavior with condemnations of our personhood. Here, however, we affirm that Unitarian Universalist ministers must act in solidarity with those harmed by the power structures, while also unequivocally declaring that although all people have inherent worth and dignity, all behaviors and ideas do not. Ideas and language can indeed be forms of violence, and can cause real harm. It is disingenuous at best, and malicious at worst, to argue that those who have been targeted by systemic violence have an obligation to bear witness to “ideas and words” that demean and diminish their personhood and discount their lived experience. The predictable “freedom of speech” arguments are commonly weaponized to perpetuate oppression and inflict further harm.
- Neither the perspectives espoused in this publication, nor the harmful process by which it was distributed, represent our understanding of competent, compassionate, courageous UU ministry. As we continue the painful but necessary process of confronting WSC in Unitarian Universalism, white ministers are being asked to take a hard look at ourselves — individually, congregationally, denominationally — and to practice new and more liberatory ways of embodying our faith. A deep commitment to racial justice and dismantling white supremacy is a core competency of our calling as ministers, and those who cannot or will not commit to developing the musculature of resiliency, humility, and lifelong learning required may indeed find that UUism is no longer the appropriate home for their ministries. We plead with our white colleagues who are struggling to acknowledge the realities of WSC in our faith to remain at the table and lean into this work with us, with an open heart to transformation and repair.
We yearn for the day when Unitarian Universalism fully embodies the liberated and liberating promises of our theology, and we are committed to listening to the deep wisdom of those who have been pushed to the margins as they call us toward such a faithful future. And as we work toward that day, we, the undersigned white ministers, recognize that it is our responsibility to not only speak out against this particular harm and support processes of reparation and healing in its wake, but to actively recommit to the holy work of racial justice and dismantling all forms of oppression as a central spiritual discipline and praxis of our ministries.
In faith and solidarity,
Ariel Aaronson-Eves, Ministerial Aspirant, Seattle, WA
Rev. Ann Marie Alderman, First Unitarian, Plainfield, NJ
Rev. Kierstin Homblette Allen, Affiliated Community Minister, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, FL
Rev. Margaret H Allen, UU Fellowship at Stonybrook, NY
Rev. Dr. Linda Anderson, Affiliated Community Minister, UU Fellowship at Stony Brook, NY
Rev. Neal Anderson, Pleasant Hill, CA
Rev. Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone, Community Minister & Peace Educator, Rosendale, NY
Rev. Karen Armina, Minister, James Reeb UU Congregation, Madison, WI
Rev. Wayne B. Arnason, Retired, Charlottesville, VA
Rev. Charlotte Arsenault, Minister, Georgia Mountains UU Church, Dahlonega, GA.
Rev. Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson, First Parish Church in Beverly, MA
Rev. Sue Ayer, Retired, Portland, OR
Elizabeth Assenza, Affiliated Community Minister, First Church in Jamaica Plain, UU, Boston, MA
Rev. Rachel Allen Baker, Minister, UU Congregation of Las Vegas, NV
Rev. Beth Banks, Senior Minister, UU Church of Davis, CA
Rev. Anne Barker, Minister, Westwood Unitarian Society, Edmonton, AB
Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, President, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. Erica Baron, UU Catskills, Kingston, NY
Rev. Dr. Linda Barnes, Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Plymouth, NH
Rev. Meg Barnhouse, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, Texas
Rev. Tracie Barrett, parish minister
Rev. Wendy Bartel and Rev. Lynn Gardner, Co-ministers UU Society of Schenectady, NY
Rev. Darcy Baxter, Minister, UU Fellowship of Stanislaus County, Modesto, CA
Rev. Mandy Beal, Senior Minister, Birmingham Unitarian Church, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Rev. Margaret L. Beard, Fort Myers, Florida
Rev. Dr. Mark Belletini, Minister Emeritus, First UU Church, Columbus, OH
Rev. Amy Beltaine, Minister of Spiritual Direction, Portland, OR
Rev. Jade D. Benson, Interim Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church in Livermore, CA
Rev. Roger Bertschausen, Minister Emeritus, Fox Valley UU Fellowship, Appleton, WI
Rev. Emily DeTar Birt, Consulting Minister of the Unitarian Church of Staten Island
Rev, Emilie Boggis, Beacon Unitarian Church, Summit NJ
Rev. Laura Bogle, Minister, Foothills UU Fellowship, TN
Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen, Interim Senior Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, TX
Rev. Lisa Bovee-Kemper, Minister, Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Greenville, SC
Jamie Elaine Boyce, Congregational Life Director, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, Morristown, NJ
Rev. Lora Brandis, Minister, Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church, Carrollton, TX
Rev. Dr. David Breeden, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Carin Bringelson, candidate for UU ministry, Madison, WI
Rev. Julie Brock, Minister, Community UUs in Brighton, MI
Holly Brown, M. Div., Candidate for ministry, Delaware, OH
Rev. Sue Browning, UU Fellowship at Easton (MD) and UUs of the Chester River (MD)
Emily Bruce, Candidate for UU Ministry, New Haven, CT
Rev. Elizabeth Bukey, Minister, First Church in Jamaica Plain, UU, Boston, MA
Rev Lucy A. Bunch, Minister Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
Rev. Ashley Burczak, Affiliated Community Minister at the UU Church of Silver Spring, MD
Rev. Terri Burnor, Interim Ministry Team, UU Church of Minnetonka, MN, and community minister based in St. Paul, MN
Rev. Laurie Bushbaum, Retired
Katie Byron, Candidate for UU Ministry, Boston, MA
Rev. Nic Cable, Minister, UU Congregation of Columbus, IN
Rev. Sarah Caine, Assistant Minister, UU Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton, VA
Isabel Call, outgoing Intern Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, WA
Rev. Lyn Stangland Cameron, minister emerita, UU Church in Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls, ID
Rev. Lane Campbell, Lead Minister, First Universalist Church of Rochester, NY
Rev. Lara K-J Campbell, Minister, First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, Kennebunk, ME
Rev. Madelyn E. Campbell, Interim Minister, Channing Memorial Church, Ellicott City, MD
Rev. Dr. Rita Capezzi, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato, MN
cristy cardinal, Aspirant to Unitarian Universalist Ministry, Ypsilanti, MI
Stevie K Carmody, Emerging Adult Ministry Associate, UUA
Rev. Tom Capo. Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami FL
Rev. Erik David Carlson, Bradford Community Church UU, Kenosha, WI
Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson, Candidate for UU Ministry, Director of Religious Education First Unitarian Society, Milwaukee, WI
Rev. Elizabeth Carrier-Ladd, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie
Rev. Seth Carrier-Ladd, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie
Rachel Carter, Intern Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Eau Claire, WI
Rev. Deborah Cayer, Lead Minister, Eno River UU Fellowship, Durham, NC
Julie Cecil, UU Chaplain in Preliminary Fellowship
Rev. Meghan Conrad Cefalu, Del Mar, CA
Pastor Kris Cervantes, UU Fellowship of Waco, TX
Jill Cowie, minister Harvard UU Church
Rev. Lyn Cox, Interim Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, MD
Rev. Brian Chenowith, Minister, UU Church of Lexington, KY
Rev. Eric Cherry, Minister, First Universalist Society in Franklin, MA
Rev Barbara Child, Nashville, Indiana.
Rev. Beth Chronister, Minister of Justice and Care, University Unitarian, Seattle, WA
Kristina Church, Candidate, Ministerial Intern,Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst, NY
Rev. Catharine Clarenbach, Affiliated Community Minister, UU Congregation of Atlanta, GA
Rev. Amy Williams Clark, Minister, Cedarhurst UUs, Finksburg, MD
Rev. Peggy Clarke, Senior Minister, Community Church of New York
Rev. Frank Clarkson, Minister, UU Church of Haverhill, MA
Abigail Clauhs, Affiliated Community Minister, First Unitarian Church of Portland, OR
Rev. Jessica Clay, Minister, First Parish Brewster Unitarian Universalist, Brewster, MA
Rev. Kelli Clement, Assistant Minister, First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, MN, and Minister, St. Croix Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, St. Croix Falls, WI
Rev. Jim Coakley, Minister, Open Circle UU Fellowship, Fond du Lac, WI
Rev. Jon Coffee, Community Minister, Knoxville, TN
Rev. Jason Cook, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Fullerton, CA
Rev. Caitlin Cotter Coillberg, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charleston, WV
Rev. Kenneth W. Collier, Minister Emeritus, Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, CA
Rev. Heather Concannon, Minister of Faith Formation, Unitarian Universalist Area Church at First Parish in Sherborn, MA
Emily Conger, Longmont Unitarian Universalist Presence, Longmont, CO
D. Scott Cooper, Minister and Hospital Chaplain, Dallas, Texas
Joel Courtney, Intern Minister, Cascade Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Wenatchee, WA
Rev. Rebecca C. “Beckett” Coppola, Minister, Kingston Unitarian Fellowship, Kingston, ON
Rev. Beth Dana, Minister of Congregational Life, First Unitarian Church of Dallas, TX
Rev. Christine Dance, Incoming Minister, UU Congregation of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, AZ
Rev. Jennifer S. Dant, BCC Chaplain, Naples, Florida
Rev. Diana Davies, Lead Minister, First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, OK
Rev. Amy DeBeck, pastor, UU Fellowship of Elkhart, Elkhart, IN
Rev. Kimberley Debus, Community Minister of the Arts & Worship, Round Lake, NY
Rev. Sean Parker Dennison, Developmental Minister, Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Ashland, OR
Rev Nathan Detering, Senior Minister, UU Area Church at First Parish in Sherborn, MA
Rev. Frances Deverell, Retired, Nanaimo, BC
Jaimie Dingus, Intern Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, MA.
Rev. Monica Dobbins, Assistant Minister, First Unitarian Church, Salt Lake City
Rev. Donna Dolham, Interim Minister, Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Denton, Texas
Rev. Megan Dowdell, Assistant Professor of Ethics and Society, Starr King School for the Ministry, Los Angeles, CA
Rev. Diane Dowgiert, Interim Minister, Unitarian Universalist Society, Coralville, IA
Rev. Dylan Doyle-Burke, Assistant Minister, First Universalist Church of Denver, Denver, CO
Rev. Jane Dwinell, retired
Charley Earp, preliminary fellowship, Evanston, IL
Rev. Nica Eaton-Guinn, Minister, Chalice UU Fellowship of the Conejo Valley, CA
Rev. Cathey Edwards, Minister, Hope Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
Dayna Edwards, Ministerial Aspirant, Bowie, MD
Rev. Kathleen Ellis, Spiritual Director, Austin, TX
Rev. Alison Wilbur Eskildsen, UU Fellowship of Athens, GA
Rev. Leslie Ahuvah Fails, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks, AK
Rev. Allison Farnum, Evanston, IL
Rev. Suzanne Fast, affiliated community minister, UU Church of Fort Myers, FL
Rev Debra Faulk, Minister, Unitarian Church of Calgary, UUMA Collegial Development Team, Calgary, Alberta
Rev. Michelle Favreault, Oakland, CA
Rev. Dr. Sandra Fees, Minister, First UU Church of Berks County, PA
Rev. Brian Ferguson, Minister, Wildflower UU Church, Austin, TX
Rev. James Field, Affiliated Community Minister, Palomar UU Fellowship, CA
Nicholas Filzen, Student Minister, Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, CA
Rev. Tony Fisher, Minister, UU Congregation of Greater Naples, FL
Rev. T. J. FitzGerald, Minister, First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, HI
Rev. Megan Foley, Regional Lead, Central East Region, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Mary Foran, Spiritual Director, Affiliated Community Minister, First Unitarian Church of Oakland, CA
Dr. Jesse Ford, Aspirant, Starr King School for the Ministry, UU Fellowship of Corvallis, OR
Rev. Julie Forest, Affiliated First UU San Diego, San Diego, CA
Rev. Dawn Fortune, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore, Galloway, NJ
Rev. Shawna Foster, Minister, Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist, Carbondale, Colorado
Rev. Jim Foti, Assistant Minister, First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Rev. Alexa Fraser, Interim, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Sterling, VA
Rev. April Frazier, hospice chaplain, Affiliated Community Minister, Shoreline UU Church, WA
Rev. Amy Freedman, Minister of Religious Education, First Parish in Concord, MA
Rev. Valerie Freseman, Minister, First Universalist Church of Southold, NY
Rev. Peter A. Friedrichs, Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, Media, PA
Sally Fritsche, Ministerial Intern, First Parish in Needham – UU, Needham, MA
Rev. Rebecca Froom, Minister, United First Parish Church, Quincy, MA
Rev. Dr. Stephen Hempstead Furrer, Minister, East Shore Unitarian Church, Bellevue, WA
Rev. Kali Fyre, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover, MA
The Rev. Barbara H. Gadon, Lead Minister, Eliot Unitarian Chapel, Kirkwood, MO
Rev. Jack Gaede, Assistant Minister, White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, Mahtomedi, MN
Rev. Emily Gage, Minister of Faith Development, Unity Temple UU Congregation, Oak Park, IL
Rev. Dr. Charles A. Gaines, Retired, Tucson, AZ
The Rev. James Galasinski, Minister, UU Church of Canton, NY
Rev. Jeffrey B. Gamblee, Retired
Rebecca Gant, Candidate for UU Ministry, Lawrence, KS
Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz, Assistant Minister, Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco and Minister, Faithful Fools Street Ministry, San Francisco
Rev. Debra Garfinkel, Tulsa, OK
Revs. Elaine G. & Axel H. Gehrmann, co-ministers, UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel, CA
Rev. Jude Geiger, Minister, UU Fellowship of Huntington, NY
Rev. Gail R. Geisenhainer, Minister Emerita, First Unitarian Universalist Congregation Ann Arbor, MI
Sierra-Marie Gerfao, Candidate for Ministry, New Haven, CT
Rev. Paige Getty, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD
Rev. John Gibbons, Senior Minister, First Parish in Bedford, MA
Joel Gilbertson-White, Interfaith Chaplain, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
Rev. Forrest Gilmore, Community Minister and Executive Director, Bloomington, IN
Rev. Erin Gingrich, Associate Minister, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, IA
Rev. Karen Fraser Gitlitz, Parish Minister, Saskatoon Unitarians, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Rev. Mandy Goheen, Director of Prison Ministry Church of the Larger Fellowship, AL, Incoming Minister, UU Church of Chattanooga, TN
Rev. Keith Goheen BCC, Chaplain, Lewes, DE
Rev. Sara Goodman, Assistant Minister, White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, Mahtomedi MN
Rev. Molly Housh Gordon, Minister, UU Church of Columbia, Missouri
Rev. Jennifer Gracen, UU Fellowship of DeKalb, Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty
Rev Dee Graham, Affiliated Community Minister, UU Church of Sarasota
Rev. Jo Green, Interim Minister, Mission Peak UU Congregation, Fremont, CA
Rev. Dr. Carl Gregg, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Frederick, Maryland
Rev. Rob Gregson, Executive Director, UU FaithAction NJ
Rev. Mary Grigolia, contract minister, Oberlin UU Fellowship & Olmsted UU Congregation, OH
Rev. Roger C. Grugel, Director of Chaplain Services, Moorings Park, Naples, Florida
Gemma Guenther, Ministerial Aspirant, Plainfield, IL
Rev. Karen Gustafson, Minister Emerita, Duluth, MN
Rev. Lissa Gundlach, Senior Minister, Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, Pasadena, CA
Rev. Carol S. Haag, retired, Murray Grove Sustainability Committee Chair
Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner, Reston, VA
Alex Haider-Winnett, Campus Minister UU Church of Davis, CA
Cricket Z Hall, seminarian, lay leader for West Fork Unitarian Universalists, Clarksburg, WV
Rev. Michael F. Hall, minister, Keene Unitarian Universalist Church, NH
Rev Jennifer Hamlin-Navias, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY
Rev. Fred L Hammond, Developmental Minister, Manatee U U Fellowship, Bradenton, FL
Rev. Allen Harden, Minister, UU Congregation of Rock Valley, Rockton, IL
Rev. Linda A. Hart, Tahoma UU Congregation, Washington
Rev. Elizabeth Harding, affiliated community minister, Second Unitarian Church, Chicago, Il
Rev. Dr. Cathy Harrington, Interim Minister, UU Fellowship of Gainesville
Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg, Fox Valley UU Fellowship, Appleton, WI
Rev. Kali Fyre, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover, Andover, MA
Rev. Erika Hewitt, Minister, Midcoast UU Fellowship, Damariscotta ME
Rev. Christiane Heyde, Community Minister, affiliated with Mountain Vista UU, Tucson, AZ
Rev. Dr. Jodi Cohen Hayashida, First Universalist Church, Auburn ME
Rev. Christina Hockman, Minister, UU Church of Corpus Christi, TX
Rev. Lara Hoke, Minister, First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA
Rev. Alex Holt, Accredited Interim Minister, Westside UU Congregation, West Seattle, WA
Rev. Lynn Hopkins, Minister, UU Fellowship of Montgomery, AL
Rev. Ashley Horan, Executive Director of MUUSJA – The MN UU Social Justice Alliance; Curriculum Developer, Beloved Conversations
Everett Howe, M.Div., Candidate for Ministry
Rev. Sylvia L. Howe, Emerita, First Parish in Beverly, MA
Krista Weber Huang, Minister, San Marcos UU Fellowship, TX
Tara K. Humphries, UU Aspirant and seminarian at Yale Divinity School/Andover Newton Seminary, New Haven, CT
Elizabeth M. Ide, Called Minister of First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist, MA
Rev. Lucy M Ijams, VNA & Hospice Spiritual Care Coordinator/Bereavement Counselor, Bennington, VT
Rev. Jennifer Innis, Interim Co-Minister, UU Society of Geneva, IL
Rev. Dr. Susanne Intriligator, Minister, Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, Melrose, MA
Rev. Monica D. Jacobson Tennessen, Minister, First Parish Church of Kingston, MA
Rev. Kevin W. Jagoe, Minister, BuxMont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Warrington, PA
Rev. Heather Janules, Winchester Unitarian Society, Winchester, MA
Rev. Virginia Jarocha-Ernst, UU Congregation of Monmouth County, Lincroft NJ
Rev. Jill Jarvis, UU minister in Kansas City, MO
Rev. Bruce R. Russell-Jayne, Retired, Carmel, IN
Rev. Chris Jimmerson, Minister for Program Development, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin
The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson, Senior Minister, The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL
Reverend Karen G. Johnston, Settled Minister, The Unitarian Society, A UU Congregation, East Brunswick, NJ
Rev. Anthony P. Johnson, Minister, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, PA
Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson, Minister, Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Vista CA
Jennifer Beth Johnson, Candidate for UU Ministry, Franklin, MA
The Rev. Dr. Myke Johnson, Minister Emerita, Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, Portland, ME
Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, Developmental Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Manhattan, Kansas
Rev. Ken Jones, UU Church of Yakima, WA and Kittitas Valley UU Congregation Ellensburg, WA
Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of San Jose, CA
Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae, Minister, Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma, CA
Rev. Eric Kaminetzky, Senior Minister, Edmonds UU Congregation, Edmonds, WA
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango, CO
Rica Kaufel, Candidate, Intern Minister at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, Costa Mesa, CA
Rev. Rob Keithan, Minister of Social Justice, All Souls Church Unitarian, Washington, DC
Rev. Jennifer Kelleher, Lebanon, NJ
Rev. Kellie Kelly, Minister, Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Dayton, OH
Rev. Eleanor P. Kilpatrick, Campbell, CA
Rev. Naomi King, Lovell, Maine
Rev. Cecilia Kingman, Minister for Faith and Justice, Edmonds UU Congregation, Edmonds, WA
Rev. Tera Klein, Pastor, Throop Unitarian Universalist, Pasadena, CA
Rev. Alix Klingenberg, UU Minister living in Medford, MA
Monica Kling-Garcia, Ministerial Aspirant, Milwaukee, WI
Rev. David M Kohlmeier, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth, MA
Rev. Kristen Kuriga, Minister, Saltwater UU Church, Des Moines, WA
Rev. Tim Kutzmark, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, CA
Lisa Kynvi, Aspirant, Starr King School for the Ministry, First Parish of Framingham, MA
Bridget Laflin, Ministerial Aspirant, Shoreline, WA
Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum, First Parish Church of Stow & Acton, Stow, MA
Rev. Paul Langston-Daley, Minister, Bell Street Chapel, Providence, RI
Rev. Sadie Lansdale, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro, NC
Dr. Michelle Lattanzio, Community Minister, Winfield, IL
Rev. Bob LaVallee, Minister, South Valley UU Society, Cottonwood Heights, UT
Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
Rev. Beth Lefever, minister, Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church, Cordova, TN
Rev. Charlotte Lehmann, Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, Manassas, VA
Rev. Christina Leone-Tracy, Senior Minister, Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Appleton, WI
Rev. Paul Howe L’Herrou, Retired, Member of First UU Church of Columbus, Ohio
Rev. Alice King, Leesburg, VA
Rev. Naomi King, Lovell, ME
Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, Associate Professor, Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago, IL
Rev Kate Landis, minister, Shoreline UU Church, Shoreline WA
Rev. Beth Lefever, minister, Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church, Cordova, TN
Rev. Dr. Rodney Lemery, Minister, Worthy Now Prison Network, Church of the Larger Fellowship, Boston, MA
Rev. Dr. Sarah Lenzi, Minister, Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ
Rev. Julianne Lepp, UU Church of Eau Claire, WI
Jim Lewis, chaplain, San Francisco Bay Area
Becky Leyser, Spiritual Director, Berkeley, CA
Arran Liddel, Ministerial Aspirant and DRE, Victoria, BC
Rev. Jeanne Lloyd, Shoreline UU Society, Madison, CT
Rev. Julie Lombard, Northshore UU Church Danvers, MA
Rev. Rachel Lonberg, minister, People’s Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan
Rev. Kate Lore, Quimper UU Fellowship, Port Townsend, WA
Rev. Edith A. Love, community minister, streets of Memphis, Tennessee
Rev. Joanna Lubkin, Affiliated Community Minister, Arlington Street Church, Boston, MA
Rev. Christe Lunsford, Gainesville FL
Rev. Suzelle Lynch, Senior Minister, UU Church West, Brookfield, WI
Rev. Shay MacKay, minister at Sanford UU Church and the UU Church of Saco-Biddeford, ME
Rev. Dr. Sue Magidson, Affiliated Community Minister, UU Church of Berkeley, CA
Rev. Jim Magaw, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills, Pittsburgh, PA
Rev. Kristin Maier, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northfield, Northfield, MN
Rev. Anthony Makar, Senior Minister, West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, Rocky River, OH
Rev. Marcia Marino, retired, Franklin, WI
Rev. Anne Marsh, Minister Emerita, UU Church of Canton, NY
Karyn Marsh, Seminaria, Starr King School for the Ministry
Rev. Lyn Marshall, Minister of Lifespan Faith Development, Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord, NH
Rev. Leslie Becknell Marx, Community Minister for Liberation Leadership, Affiliated with West Hills UU Fellowship, Portland, OR
Rev. Anne Mason, Minister, First Parish in Lexington, MA
Kim Mason, Minister, First Unitarian Church of St. Louis, MO
Rev. Megan Mathieson, Minister, SouthWest UU Church, North Royalton, OH
Rev. Jill McAllister, Senior Minister, UU Fellowship of Corvallis, OR
Rev. Dennis McCarty, Minister Emeritus Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus, IN
Rev. Doug McCusker, Minister Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, VA
Justin M McCreary, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson, MS
Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, Senior Minister, River Road Unitarian Universalist Cong., Bethesda, MD
Rev. Julia McKay, Minister, High Plains Church UU, Colorado Springs, CO
Rev. Patrick McLaughlin, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, NH
Rev. Diana K. McLean, Minister, Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, NH
Rev. Morgan R. McLean, Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, CA
Rev. Wendy McNiven, retired, Courtenay, BC, Canada
Emily Melcher, Minister, UUCongregation of Whidbey Island, Freeland, WA
Rev. Barbara Meyers, Affiliated Community Minister, Mission Peak UU Congregation, Fremont, California
Rev. Mira Mickiewicz, First Unitarian Church of Portland, OR
Rev. Alison B. Miller, Minister, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, NJ
Rev. Beth Miller, pre-interim Sr. Minister, Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, LA
Rev. David A. Miller, Senior Minister, UU Congregation of Fairfax, Oakton, VA
Rev. Joel Miller, Interim Senior Minister, AIM, PTS, First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY
Rev. Annie Gonzalez Milliken, Parish Minister, First Parish in Bedford, MA
Rev. Susan Milnor, Interim Senior Minister, First UU Society of Burlington, VT
Rev. Andrée Mol, Called Minister, Central Unitarian Church, Paramus NJ
Rev. Mary M. Moore, Interim Senior Minister, UU Church of Bloomington-Normal, IL
Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern, Parish Minister, UU Church of Palo Alto, CA
Rev. Makanah Morriss, retired, Forest, VA
Rev. Robert Morriss, retired, Forest, VA
Rosemary Morrison, Interim Minister, UU Church of Tippecanoe County, West Lafayette, IN
Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Rev. Amy Moses-Lagos, minister, Free Church Unitarian, Blaine, Washington
Elizabeth Mount, UU Minister from Denver, Colorado
Dr. Scott Theodore Mulder, Intern Minister, UU Fellowship of Boca Raton, FL
Rev. Bill Neely, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, NJ
The Rev Rosemarie Newberry, UU Congregation of Queens, NY
Rev. Janet Newton, Minister, First Parish Church of Berlin, MA
Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, WI
Rev. Katie Norris, Community Minister, Richmond, CA
Rev. Theresa Novak, Minister Emerita UU Church Ogden, UT, Affiliated Minister, UU Congregation of Marin, San Rafael, CA
Rev. Otto O’Connor, Minister, First Parish in Malden, MA
Rev. Paul Oakley, Minister, UU Fellowship of Waynesboro, VA
Rev. Samaya Oakley, Minister, South Fraser Unitarians, Surrey, BC, Canada
Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan, Minister, UU Fellowship of Topeka, Topeka KS
Rev. Dara Olandt, Assistant Minister, UUCongregation, Santa Rosa, CA, Chaplain/Director of Spiritual & Religious Life, Oakland, CA
Rev. David Carl Olson, Lead Minister, First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Universalist & Unitarian), MD
Rev. Sasha Ostrom, Assistant Minister, UU Fellowship of Raleigh, NC
Rev. Carolyn Owen-Towle, San Diego, CA
Rev. Tom Owen-Towle, San Diego, CA
Rev. Kathleen Owens, Lead Minister, First UU Church of San Diego, CA
Rev. Jane Page, UUs of Coastal Georgia (Brunswick) and UU Fellowship of Statesboro, GA
Rev. Shelley Page, Interim Minister, Anchorage UU Fellowship, AK
Dr. Tovis Page, Ministerial Aspirant and Program Coordinator for the Faith Leaders Solidarity Cohort in San Mateo County, CA
Terri Pahucki, Candidate for UU Ministry, Wappingers Falls, NYRev. Allison Palm, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua, NH
Rev. Kayla Parker, Minister of Congregational Life, All Souls Unitarian Church, Indianapolis, IN
Lauren Pasco, Candidate for the ministry, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Epiphany Paris, Ministerial Aspirant and Seminarian, Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago, IL
Rev Jim Parrish, Minister, UU Fayetteville, AR.
Rev. Janet Parsons, Minister, Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, Gloucester, MA
Rev. Carolyn Patierno, Minister, All Souls UU Congregation, New London, CT
Rev. Jenny Peek, Pocatello UU Fellowship, Pocatello, ID
Rev. Lisa Perry-Wood, Senior Minister, First Parish in Brookline, Brookline, MA
Rev. Sarah Person, Minister, First UU Society of Middleborough, MA
Rev. Barbara Pescan, Retired
Rev. Clare L. Petersberger, The Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, Lutherville, MD
Emma Peterson, pastor of Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalist in Cedar Falls, IA
Heather Petit, Aspirant, Newark, DE
Eleanor Piez, incoming Chaplain Resident/Community Minister, Alexandria, VA
Rev. Pam Philips, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg, VA
Rev. Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader, Washington Ethical Society, Washington, DC
Lora Powell-Haney, Ministerial Intern, Towson Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Sarah Prickett, Developmental Minister, Northwoods UU Church, The Woodland, TX
Rev. Steven Protzman, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, Kent, OH
Kristen Psaki, Assistant Minister for Beloved Community, Foothills Unitarian Church, Fort Collins, CO
Rev. Jean Pupke, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church, Richmond VA
Jen Raffensperger, Candidate for UU ministry, Bowie, MD
Rev. Dr. Susan Veronica Rak, Retired , Asbury Park NJ
Rev. Lindi Ramsden, Director of Partnerships and Emerging Programs, Visiting Assistant Professor of Faith and Public Life, Starr King School for the Ministry, Berkeley, CA
Rev. Laura Randall, Community Minister, Boston, MA
Rev. Kären Rasmussen, Director, No Child Goes Hungry, Annandale, VA
Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee, minister, Northlake UU Church, Kirkland, WA
Rev. Donna Renfro, Minister, UU Church Brazos Valley, Bryan/College Station, TX
Rev. Dennis Reynolds, retired, Eugene, OR
Rev. Mark S. Richards, Hospice Chaplain, Egg Harbor, WI
Rev. Sarah C. Richards, Minister, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, Carbondale IL
Rev. Erica Richmond, Community Minister, Hartford, CT
Rev Ian W. Riddell, Minister of Music and Worship Arts, First UU Church of San Deigo
Rev. Kimi Riegel, Minister, Northwest UU of Southfield, MI
Rev. Meg Riley, Senior Minister, Church of the Larger Fellowship
Rev. Ruth Rinehart, JUUST Living, Lakewood, CO
Rev. Cathy Rion Starr, Co-Minister, Unitarian Society of Hartford, CT
Rev. Heather Rion Starr, Co-Minister, Unitarian Society of Hartford, Consulting Minister, UU Cong. of Danbury, CT
The Reverend Meghann Robern, minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg, Manitoba
Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris, Interim Minister, First Parish in Framingham, Framingham, MA
Rev. Millie Rochester, retired
Rev. Jonathan Rogers, Interim Minister, Northwest UU Congregation, Sandy Springs, GA
Theresa Rohlck, M.Div., Candidate for the UU Ministry, Ann Arbor, MI
Rev. Kathleen C. Rolenz, Interim Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, MD
Rev. Carol Rosine, Minister Emerita, First Universalist Society, Franklin, MA
Rev. Dr. Nori J. Rost, All Souls, Colorado Springs, CO
Rev. Chris Rothbauer, Minister, Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Auburn, AL
The Rev. Mr. Chip Roush, First Unitarian Church, South Bend, IN
Rev. Scott Rudolph, settled minister, UU Fellowship of Central Oregon, Bend, OR
Leslie Runnels, Aspirant, First UU Church of New Orleans
Rev. Bethany Russell-Lowe, Settled Minister, UU Church of Tucson, AZ
Rev. Nathan Ryan, Associate Minister, Unitarian Church Baton Rouge, LA
Rev. Victoria Safford, Lead Minister, White Bear UU Church, Mahtomedi, MN
Rev. ReBecca Sala, Affiliated Community Minister, UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester, Mt. Kisco, NY
Rev. Kent Saleska, Hopkins, MN
Rev. Anya Sammler-Michael, Senior Co-Minister, UU Congregation at Montclair, NJ
Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael, Senior Co-Minister, UU Congregation at Montclair, NJ
Rev. Misha Sanders, Minister, Northwest UU Congregation, Sandy Springs, GA
Tiffany Sapp, Chaplain Resident, Johnson City, TN
Rev. Christian Schmidt, Senior Co-Minister, UU Church of Berkeley, in Kensington, CA
Rev. Kristin Grassel Schmidt, Senior Co-Minister, UU Church of Berkeley, in Kensington, CA
Jill Schwendeman, ministerial aspirant, Stillwater, MN
Rev. Karen Lee Scrivo, community minister in Maryland
Rev. Catie Scudera, Minister, First Parish in Needham (MA), Unitarian Universalist
Greta Jo Seidohl, Candidate for Ministry, M.Div., Forest Hills, NY
Rev. Catherine Senghas, Hospice Chaplain, Boston, MA
Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly, Minister, Fort Wayne, IN
Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister, Cascade UU Fellowship, Wenatchee, WA
Rev. Lise Adams Sherry, Minister, First Parish of Norwell – UU, Norwell, MA
Rev. Cyndi Simpson, Minister, Second Unitarian Church of Omaha, NE
Rev. McKinley Sims, Minister, UU Church of the Restoration, Philadelphia, PA
Sarah Skochko, Intern Minister at the UU Church in Eugene, OR
Rev. Laura Smidzik, Minister, Michael Servetus Unitarian Society, Fridley, MN
Rev. Jane B. Smith, Called Minister of Channing Memorial Church, UU in Ellicott City, MD
Rev. Susan M. Smith, UU Congregation of Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rev. KC Slack, Minister, UU Church of the Verdugo Hills, La Crescenta, CA
Sara Smalley, Community Minister, Minneapolis, MN
Rev. D. Michael Smith, Lewes, DE
Rev. Diana Smith, Interim Minister, Woodinville UU Church, Woodinville, WA
Rev. Dr. Joshua Snyder, Minister, First UU Church, San Antonio, TX
Laura Solomon, Psy.D., Seminarian, Ministerial Aspirant, incoming intern Washington Ethical Society, Washington, DC
Rev. Suzi Spangenberg, Associate Minister, Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, San Francisco, CA
Rev. Ellen Spero, Minister, First Parish of Chelmsford, MA
Rev. Erin Splaine, Minister, The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, Newton, MA
Rev. Kristina Spaude, Staff Chaplain, Northumberland, PA
Rev. Colleen Squires, Minister, All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI
Rev. Marcia Stanard, minister, UU Congregation at Willamette Falls, Oregon City, OR
Rev. Pallas Stanford, Retired, Colorado Springs, CO
Rev. Jessica Star Rockers, Minister, Kitsap UU Fellowship, Bremerton, WA
Lincoln William Statler, MASC, UUSCM Board of Directors, Hospice Chaplain in Oakland, CA
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church, Rochester, MN
Robin Stillwater, Intern Minister, UU Community Church of Santa Monica, CA
Juniper Stinnett, ministerial aspirant and Youth Programs Coordinator, Tennessee Valley UU Church, Oak Ridge, TN
Rev. Aaron Stockwell, Interim Minister, UU Congregation of Lawrence, KS
Rev. Julie Stoneberg, Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, Peterborough, Ontario
Rev. Taryn Strauss, Acting Senior Minister, UU Congregation of Atlanta, GA
Rev. Yvonne Schumacher Strejcek, retired, Walnut Creek, CA
Rev. Dr. Elizabeth M. Strong, Emerita, First Parish UU Church, Ashby, MA
Kristy Stuart, Candidate for UU Ministry, Perry, MI
Rev. Justine Sullivan, Interim Minister, Coastal Virginia UUs, Virginia Beach, VA
Nadine Swahnberg, community minister affiliated, Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO
Rev. Jan Taddeo, Minister, UU Congregation of Gwinnett, Lawrenceville, GA
Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner, Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Summit, NJ
Rev. Kevin Tarsa, Minister, UU Community of the Mountains, Grass Valley, CA
Rev. Douglas Taylor, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Binghamton, NY
Rev. Julie Taylor, Chicago, IL
Rev. Krista Taves UU Fellowship of La Crosse WI, Unitarian Church of Quincy IL
Rev. Sam Teitel, Minister, The Church of the River, Memphis, TN.
Rev. Carmen TenEyck-McDowell, senior staff support specialist, Seattle Children’s Hospital; community minister affiliated with Shoreline UU Church, Seattle, WA
Rev. Abbey Tennis, Lead Minister, First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, PA
Rev. Jamal Tharp, Affiliated Community Minister, The Humboldt UU Fellowship, Community Vision Healing Ministries
Cindy Thoman-Teralzzo, intern minister, UUs of the Cumberland Valley – Boiling Springs, PA
Rev. Linda Thomson, Canadian Unitarian Council, Toronto, ON
Rev. Laura Thompson, Minister, Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship, Bloomington, MN
Rev. Robert P. Throne; retired – member UU Church of the Restoration, Philadelphia PA
Rev. Dr. Michael Tino, Minister, UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester, Mt. Kisco, NY
Rev. Lois E. Van Leer, Developmental Minister, UU Church in Eugene, OR
AJ van Tine, Minister, Sierra Foothills Unitarians Universalists, Auburn, CA
Evan Towle, Candidate for Unitarian Universalist Ministry, Philadelphia, PA
Rev. Sam Trumbore, minister, First Unitarian Universalist Society, Albany, NY
Chaplain (Major) George Tyger, Fort Bragg, NC
Rev. Karen Van Fossan, Minister, UU Church of Bismarck, ND
Rev. Jim VanderWeele, Interim Minister, Northlake UU Church, Kirkland, WA
Rev. Deanna Vandiver, Affiliate Community Minister, Church of the Larger Fellowship
Rev. Hannah Villnave, Minister, UU Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming
Rev. Schuyler Vogel, Senior Minister, Fourth Universalist Society in the City of NY
Rev. Dr. Wendy von Courter, UU Church of Marblehead, MA
Rev. Jennifer “Jo” VonRue, Minister, May Memorial UU Society, Syracuse, NY
James Gibbons Walker, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Southern Maryland, Leonardtown, MD
Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker, Minister, Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church, Alexandria, VA
Rev Marlene Walker, Interim Minister, Olympia Brown UU Church, Racine,WI
Rev. Dr. Michelle A. Walsh, Affiliate Community Minister, United First Parish Church, Quincy, MA
Rev. Beverly Waring, Interim Minister, First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Canton, MA.
Rev. Amy Carol Webb, Minister, River of Grass UU Congregation, Davie, FL
Rev. Ian White Maher, minister, First Parish Church, Ashby, MA
Danielle Webber, Minister, Kelowna Unitarians, Kelowna, B.C. Canada
The Rev.Dave Weissbard, Minister Emeritus, UU Rockford, IL
Rev. Vail Weller, Community Minister, San Mateo, CA
Rev. Kim Wildzewski, Senior Minister, UU Church of Washington Crossing, Titusville, NJ
Rev. Ann Willever, Affiliated Community Minister, First Universalist Society, Franklin, MA
Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Acting Senior Minister, Unitarian Church of Evanston, IL
Rev. Antonia Won, Community Minister, Comox, BC
Rev. Shari Woodbury, Minister, Westside UU Church, Fort Worth, TX
Rev. Emily Wright-Magoon, Minister, UU Church of Midland, TX
Rev. Erin Walter, Community Minister, Austin, TX
Rev. Liz Weber, Community Minister, Arlington Street Church, Boston, MA
Rev. Margaret Weis, Minister, First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, NY
Sharon D. Weld, Candidate for the ministry, Berkeley, CA
Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom; Barboursville, Virginia
Rev. Kimberly M. Wootan, Chaplain Havenwood Heritage Heights, Concord, NH
Rev. Christopher Wulff, Vancouver, BC
Rev. Sharon Wylie, Minister, Chalice UU Congregation, Escondido, CA
Rev. Jami A. Yandle, Community Minister, First Unitarian Church of Toledo, OH
Rev. Crystal Zerfoss, Minister, Community Unitarian Universalist Church, Pasco, WA
Rev. Anastassia Zinke, Senior Minister, All Souls Unitarian Church, Indianapolis, IN
Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, Interim Minister, UU Church of Meadville, PA
Rev. Larry Smith, Chaplain, Cherry Hill, NJ
Rev. Amy Petrie Shaw, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, IA
Names will continue to be added to the list of signers in the coming days. If you are a white Unitarian Universalist minister and would like to add your name to this list, please email rev.ashley.horan@gmail.com with your name, title, ministry setting, and location.
1 thought on “Reprint: An Open Letter from White UU Ministers”
August 4, 2019
Dear ones,
MUUSJA exists to build capacity and interconnections so that we may side with Love, within and among UU congregations. For those in Minnesota and nearby states, I invite you to send us a note about how your congregations are learning about and seeking to become antidotes to the toxins of race and racism, personal & historical & institutional & internalized & intersectional, to toxic whiteness, white supremacy and white fragility, to harm and discrimination based on the -isms of race and class and migration and religion and gender…. We hope to be able to share, lift up and celebrate your work.
Meanwhile, comments on this letter will be accepted and read but they will not be posted (though we will continue to add signatures). Once I was at a UU General Assembly session where the tone and content of debate did not center Love. Suddenly, the moderators simply stopped it — they hit PAUSE —- And someone began to sing:
When I breathe in,
I breathe in Peace.
When I breathe out,
I breathe out Love.
Some of our people cannot breathe.
Some cannot breathe in Peace
where there is too little Justice.
So for now, we need everyone who can
breathe out Love
to breathe out Love.
Thanks & blessings,
Karen
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