Message from the Director of Religious Exploration: Pluralism & Preemptive Radical Inclusion

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Happy May, friends!

“If we look around our church, what do you think we have that would make people coming for the first time feel welcomed and included? For this reflection, I am going to describe some people who might come here for the first time. After I describe them, I would like you to think of a way we could welcome that person. Ready? Great, here we go! 

A person who speaks no or little English. A person who is new to the area. A person who is visually impaired. A person who has never been to a UU congregation before. A person who uses a wheelchair or crutches. A person who does not or cannot speak. A person who misses their family. A person you recognize as new to the church.

Our pluralistic faith calls us to be inclusive and make sure no one is excluded or finds themselves outside the circle.”

This reflection is adapted from this month’s Soul Matters resources. It is a resource for elementary RE, and it felt important to share because we do a lot at UUCT to try to anticipate and meet the needs of not just our diverse members and friends, but also diverse newcomers. What can you think of that our church already has or that we already do to make any of these hypothetical people feel more welcome? Let’s celebrate that! This is the power of pluralism in our community! Our UU faith reminds us that we should not only anticipate diversity in our communities, but invite it and celebrate it. 

In Date with Death Club, we call this type of thinking “preemptive radical inclusion”. It means assuming that everyone of all kinds of wonderful, diverse identities are already in the room, whether we know it or not. It means being proactively welcoming, especially to those who are regularly excluded from or marginalized within society, and sometimes centering their experience ahead of those with privileged identities.

Pluralism in our UU communities asks us to center these reflections. “While we cannot be all things to all people, we can strive to be as inclusive as possible and to notice with grace or equanimity (not defensiveness) when we are not.”

RE Updates

  • Nursery and Elementary Sunday RE: Volunteers needed for Sundays! Please contact me to sign up.
  • Youth Group: Join us on 5/4/24 from 6-9pm for a May the 4th Youth Event! This evening will include snacks, a couple of crafts/activities, a movie, and maybe a bonfire! 
  • Adult RE: Date with Death Club wraps up its Spring sessions on 5/9 with Grief: Loving & Losing, Learning & Living.
  • Summer programming: Save the date! 7/1-7/3 will be a Mini-Harmony Camp! Let me know how you’d like to help with this three day adventure at UUCT. In addition to volunteers that supervise and guide the youth, we are also seeking folks to lead workshops/activities/games.