Anti-Oppression Work

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Racial Justice, LGBTQiA, Indigenous & More

 

Building Beloved Community

The Building Beloved Community Committee is moving forward from the foundation work other East Shore groups have done before us. Specifically:

This congregation voted to adopt an additional 8th Principle to our UU faith’s 7 principles in 2022. Now a redo of our UU faith’s shared values, also known as Article 2, is scheduled for a vote by UU congregations during the annual gathering of UU congregations – GA – in June 2024. 

We encourage East Shore congregants to engage in transformational work around anti-racism and healing. Most recently, several book discussions have been held and our Black Lives Matter flashtances continue to occur.

We are supporting and encouraging ourselves in our personal journeys by participating in a formal program called Beloved Conversations (the Among and Within versions) both as individuals and together as a cohort from ESUC.

Going forward, Building a Beloved Community will evaluate and consider how to implement multi-cultural, anti-oppressive practices in East Shore’s governance and membership. Work has already been done on best practices for welcoming new members and governance changes related to membership requirements.

We aim to collaborate with other groups at East Shore using a multi-cultural, anti-oppression lens as we all learn about healing, and work to transform our community. Most notably, we work with Welcoming Congregations and Indigenous Connections.

To get involved in any of our Anti-Oppression work, contact Nicole.

Our Initiatives
Resources & Recommendations
8th Principle Work
News & Opinion Pieces

Upcoming Events

Join us for one of our upcoming events as we live our values!

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Our Initiatives

Change Is Coming

In less than 3 minutes you can view and learn about Article II (where Unitarian Universalist values are expressed), from several of your own fellow East Shorians.

Black Lives Matter Flash Stances

Inspired by his 2015 trip to Selma, AL to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, church member Manuel (Manny) Brown felt called to action. He was further inspired when he attended the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly (yearly UU convention) a few months later when our governing body urged UUs across our country to support the Black Lives Matter Movement. Since then, a group of members meets most Sundays all over the eastside to share the message and spark conversations.

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Welcoming Congregations

We know that religious spaces haven’t always been welcoming places for all people, especially when it comes to gender and sexuality. We are out to change that. East Shore Unitarian Church renewed their Welcoming Congregations status in 2023. 

Welcoming Congregation Program helps us learn how to undo homophobia and transphobia in our hearts and minds, our congregations, and our communities.

The work of welcome is never done. Join us in doing this important work to make all feel welcome.

Join the Work

Indigenous Connections

If you are interested in learning more about indigenous-settler history and the challenges indigenous communities currently face, consider joining a subgroup of the 8th Principle Team. We are currently brainstorming ideas for programs, field trips, speakers, actions, and discussion groups for books and films.  We welcome your presence and ideas!  For the next several months, we will meet on zoom every other Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to share ideas, resources and reflections.

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Resources

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Our 8th Principle Work

Adopted 8th Principle

On June 13, 2021, the members of East Shore Unitarian Church voted overwhelmingly to adopt the 8th Principle.
In doing so, we became one of the first 100 congregations to adopt this principle.

“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”

For testimonials from our members on why we support the 8th Principle, watch the video below (you will see 8 testimonials) or find them on our YouTube Channel.

News & Opinion Pieces

E Ala E Mural At East Shore

East Shore is blessed to receive and display the “E Ala E” Mural in the Sanctuary. It is the culmination of a collaborative process between Guatemalan Social Artist, Melanie Schambach, and hundreds...

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