Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis
Anti-Racism Transformation Team (A.R.T.T.)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

History

Like the nation, since the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has been challenged by, has struggled with, and often avoided the painful institutional and personal realities of racism. In a desire to do the right thing, and to begin living by our UU Principles, at the 1997 General Assembly, Unitarian Universalist delegates voted to become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural association. Shortly after the GA vote, Rev. Fred Muir led 70 members of this congregation in a series of four discussions using the newly published Journey Toward Wholeness (JTW) curriculum from the UUA. From this initial awakening to our potential to become an anti-racist congregation, the Journey Toward Wholeness Committee was formed and began this church's commitment to the transformation process.

In the intervening years, the JTW Committee sponsored many anti-racism/multicultural programs and film series, sermons, and Kwanzaa and JTW Sunday services. To deepen their personal understanding of racism, committee members engaged with one another in an in-depth discussion of their understandings and experiences of racism in a six-part Study Circle called, “A Call to Community: An Honest Conversation About Race, Reconciliation and Responsibility.” They continued their learning by reading and discussing various books and articles including Soul Work , that links this important work to our UU spiritual roots, principles and values.

In 1999, UUCA hosted a Creating a Jubilee World I Workshop for 80 people from the Joseph Priestly District that introduced all of us to the insidious nature of institutional racism and the white privilege that white members of our society have enjoyed. In 2001, UUCA jointly held a Jubilee II Workshop with All Souls Church (Washington DC) and UU Church of Arlington. There we gained a common analysis of racism and its individual, institutional, and cultural manifestations.

In addition to seeking greater understanding within our church, UUCA members and the Journey Toward Wholeness Committee reached out to our Annapolis community in many ways, such as:

• Joining with many churches to rally for racial harmony when the Ku Klux Klan came to Annapolis in 1998;

• Joining and actively supporting the NAACP – voter registration drives, the Martin Luther King, Jr. annual dinner and breakfast; and

• Since 2000, providing tutors and mentors for children through Homework Haven.

Formation of A.R.T.T.

In an effort to broaden and deepen our commitment, in the winter of 2003, the UUCA Board invited the Rev. Dr. William Gardner from the UUA Office of Congregational Justice Making to facilitate an exploration and discussion about what it would mean for us to institutionally commit ourselves to becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural congregation. The day was a transforming experience for those present. It helped us to become clear that while UUCA was continuing diversity work both within the congregation and outside in the community, we had not yet examined how our own institutional culture, structure, and systems may be perpetuating white privilege and control. This led the Board to commit financial resources to this endeavor. A Planning and Design Team was formed that focused energy on developing a process for identifying church members to become members of an Anti-Racism Transformation Team (ARTT). The Team was formed in February 2004 and consisted of eighteen members of the congregation who agreed to commit to a minimum of two years of active engagement in this long-term work of helping UUCA take a look, with an anti-racist lens, at its operations as a religious institution.

Activities of the A.R.T.T.

During its first year of operations, the Anti-Racist Transformation Team has received extensive training from the UUA.

• One-day orientation in February 2004, conducted by Rev. Bill Gardiner.

• A 2 ½ day Jubilee II Workshop held at UUCA in March 2004 for A.R.T.T. and Board members.

• A two-day workshop in August 2004 that focused on team development.

• A two-day workshop in October 2004 that focused on strategic planning.

• A 1 ½ day “Train the Trainers” session in January 2005 to prepare members of A.R.T.T. to conduct planned educational sessions with congregational leaders.

• Defining Racism presentation/discussion with UUCA staff on March 1, 2005.

• Defining Racism presentation/discussion with members of UUCA Board of Trustees on March 29, 2005.

In addition to these trainings, the Committee has met twice a month to continue to build its infrastructure and develop a plan of action. This has included developing mission and vision statements, writing a covenant, designing a decision-making process, identifying team roles, and creating a process to recruit and train new members.

Mission Statement

The Anti-Racism Transformation Team (ARTT) is dedicated to transforming the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA) into an intentionally anti-racist, anti-oppressive beloved community. We will partner with every level of the UUCA organization to inspire, energize, and equip our congregation to be a place of safety and comfort for People of Color who will have full voice and power.

ARTT History 6.17.05