Theme: Welcoming
"What matters is we welcome each body into the sanctuary: so that God might come in as well." - Myke Johnson, UU Minister and ecojustice activist.
BUUC (Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church) is an official Welcoming Congregation of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association). This means our congregation engaged in a process of learning about the lives and experience of people who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) with an aim toward making BUUC a welcoming, affirming and inclusive community. Through this process congregations learn about ways in which churches and other places make LGBTQ feel unwelcome, unwanted, even unsafe. Congregations also learn ways to be more welcoming so that they can help create a place where all people might find a supportive and safe place to practice their faith.
BUUC (Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church) is an official Welcoming Congregation of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association). This means our congregation engaged in a process of learning about the lives and experience of people who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) with an aim toward making BUUC a welcoming, affirming and inclusive community. Through this process congregations learn about ways in which churches and other places make LGBTQ feel unwelcome, unwanted, even unsafe. Congregations also learn ways to be more welcoming so that they can help create a place where all people might find a supportive and safe place to practice their faith.
What does it feel like to be unwelcome?
What are ways LGBTQ or other people made to feel unwelcome, unwanted or unsafe
At home?
At school?
At work?
In churches?
How do you know when you’re welcome somewhere?
How can you as a Unitarian Universalist be welcoming towards others including people who identify as LGBTQ?
What about the congregation?
I enjoyed this article by Matt Kailey from his blog. Matt is the author of "My Child is Transgendered". Matt writes: "Tolerance used to be buzz word in some marginalized communities hoping to gain equality — until people started to realize that “tolerating” something or someone was not a particularly favorable stance. You tolerate mosquitoes if you live in Iowa...
ReplyDeleteYou tolerate things that are unpleasant, but that you must be forced to endure. Once we figured this out, we went for “acceptance.” It sounds a lot better, but is it really that much different? You (eventually) accept a terminal diagnosis. You (eventually) accept the fact that your kid is in love with someone you hate. You (eventually) accept the fact that you got fired, laid off, dumped, or rejected. But acceptance still has its unspoken baggage — “I accept you — in spite of your sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic background, religion, pathetic bank account, unimpressive job, really bad hair.” Acceptance also comes with a disclaimer. Not only that, but the whole idea of acceptance can often be accompanied by a notion of generosity and do-goodliness on the part of the acceptor, who can walk away feeling very self-satisfied that he or she was able to put prejudices aside and accept you for who you are. This still leaves you in the subordinate position — the position of being the one who is accepted. And for this, you are supposed to be grateful?"
I think the word Matt is looking for is "Welcomed". Welcoming to me means wanting and appreciating another. Amy F.
Thank you for sharing, Amy. I agree tolerance and acceptance are closely related and both suggest that who or whatever it is we're tolerating or accepting isn't necessarily welcome. This seems to be the sentiment of some attorneys general in states where same-sex marriage bans have been struck down and the state has decided not to appeal the ruling. Welcoming, as you note, is different. Indeed, the Old English word for welcoming, wilcumian, means to receive another with pleasure. Receiving another with pleasure. This is one way to distinguish a welcoming congregation from an accepting or tolerant congregation. What are some other distinctions?
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is a cross dresser. At school, his way of dressing was not acceptable to the school leaders as he was told to change his clothes to someting more suitable. My friend read the law about dress, made a copy and slipped it under the principal's office. He was not bothered again. High school is a very difficult place if you are at all and outsider. We need to cherish our differences, not demean those who march to a different drummer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the story of your friend. As your comment suggests, true justice is a function of both the law and the heart.
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