| Davies
has been officially recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association
(UUA) as a Welcoming Congregation. Nearly 60% of the Unitarian Universalist
congregations
in the United States have received that recognition.
Becoming a Welcoming Congregation was a natural following to the
congregation’s
decision to become an intentionally racially diverse congregation. That choice
was made tentatively in the early 1990's and more definitively as the congregation
moved forward to be racially and ethnically diverse. A major part of that experience
was a desire to reflect the ethnic makeup of the surrounding community and to
enter into dialogue and conversation with each other. The congregation grew in
diversity and called its first African American minister, The Rev. John T. Crestwell,
Jr., in 2005.
At a Jubilee Workshop in March 2006, three of the six breakout groups independently
suggested that Davies should become a Welcoming Congregation. The time was right
and the church was ready.
“Standing on the Side of Love”
Rev. Crestwell delivered a defining sermon, "Standing
on the Side of Love," and his message was enthusiastically received by the congregation. He subsequently
was invited to and spoke in Annapolis about the need for change in the State
of Maryland's legal support of all couples. In the context of the historic denunciation
of homosexuals by African American evangelical ministers in major local black
churches, Rev. Crestwell’s public stand was noteworthy.
Since the 1960s, Davies has always had a strong focus on civil rights and justice.
The congregation has always been accepting and nurturing of members of the BGLT
community without any intentional decision to be welcoming of them. The church
fulfilled the requirements, voted and approved unanimously, and petitioned the
UUA to make official what it historically had always been.
Learning from others
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring (UUCSS) became a Welcoming
Congregation more than ten years ago. Davies was just beginning the process,
and the church had recently become intentionally racially diverse. The two congregations
could learn from each other.
Each congregation hosted the other for weekend workshops. Davies took advantage
of the Silver Spring Church's experience of being a Welcoming Congregation. Reciprocally,
UUCSS sent members to Davies to learn about Davies anti-racism work and its growth
in diversity.
Becoming a Welcoming Congregation
The church, through the leadership of its Religious Education Director, offered
the "Our
Whole Lives" sexuality curriculum to middle school students both in the church and in the
community. The church also held a series of eight workshops which were attended
by approximately one-third of the congregation. "Ma Vie en Rose," a Belgian movie, was shown, followed by discussion. The discussions for both
the workshops and the movie were open, sometimes uncomfortable, but never contentious.
One church member said, “It felt as though we had learned the skill of sharing thoughtfully and listening
carefully from our discussions on race and ethnicity. There was a sense that
welcoming of people with all of the diverse kinds of sexuality that go with the
human condition would be part our emerging cultural and racial diversity.”
Next Steps
One major focus, besides continuing to be welcoming to lgbt newcomers, has been
to lobby in the State Capital for the adoption of equal marriage
status legislation.
A group of our members lobbied in 2008 in Annapolis. |
