Just Empowerment

Today, I was privileged to attend the workshop, "How to Build Spirituality into Social Justice Work," given by Rev. Marilyn Sewell and Kate Lore of First Unitarian Church in Portland, Ore.

Attendees learned a clear headed, positive, and powerful approach to doing social justice within Unitarian Universalism. I will try to summarize it here. Visit the church's website to learn more.

• Mission. Have a mission larger than ourselves, our own needs.
• Resources. Commit larger resources of the church.
• Questions. Deepen our questioning: study, read, debate.
• Spirit.Build spiritual components into every meeting.
• Support. Offer support, especially through small groups.
• Joy. Be joyous in our work.

It is a seemingly simple recipe that can be challenging to put into practice. Kate, First Unitarian's full-time social justice director, shared with us the social justice council structure that makes this model work for them.

I found their focus on conflict resolution within the social justice program especially interesting. Members of the social justice council participated in a workshop on nonviolent conflict resolution. And the Public Conversations Project has been a great resource to them. The lesson is that our programs are stronger when we as a community are stronger. By being comfortable with conflict and being able to transform or resolve conflict successfully, we strengthen our communities, become stronger leaders, and are able to do so much more.

As example of the success of the First Unitarian method, they discussed the congregation's involvement in the Drumbeat for Darfur campaign. The short story is that after UUSC President Charlie Clements delivered a sermon posing spiritual questions and providing real actions to take on Darfur, Kate held a follow-up meeting for those moved to action. Eighty people attended! This social justice issue's fit within the congregation was clear.

Subgroups were formed, each leading a wide range of activities, including researching the genocide, inviting a Darfuri refugee to speak, and participating in UUSC's full day Drumbeat for Darfur activists' training here at GA.

The congregation continues to be highly active in the global struggle to end the genocide of our times. Within such an empowered social justice structure, their efforts are fulfilling, their actions are effective, and the whole congregation is involved.

I hope today's workshop helps spur a movement toward more empowered social justice programs throughout the UU community.