Engaged Diversity

Don Heights Unitarian Congregation

Calling for a Shared Ministry* Team Diverse perspectives Magnify creative ideas Need for broad congregational

ownership Share the vision Involve many

*Ministry is the act of serving. Shared ministry is what we do to serve our congregation and the broader community, individually and together.

Don Heights will dedicate time & energy Don Heights will dedicate time & energy to exploring barriers to being more to exploring barriers to being more welcoming and affirming of diversity welcoming and affirming of diversity

… … diversity of age, ability, sexual diversity of age, ability, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, faith, orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, faith, socio-economic status and theological socio-economic status and theological perspective. perspective.

This shared ministry initiative will include This shared ministry initiative will include Sunday Services, workshops, movies, Sunday Services, workshops, movies, adult programs and social action.adult programs and social action.

The Plan

Recognition this is an ongoing effort

Phase I: Introductory Exploration September 2007 creation of Team October 2007 ~ strategizing November 2007 ~ committee contact January 2008 ~ Implement

Creating the Team

Introduced in the Newsletter & pulpit

Hosted post-service info session

Set planning meeting Shared info with congregation

Strategizing

Involve Committees Sunday Services Adult Programming Social Action Publicity

Visible DiversitiesVisible Diversities

Race Race AgeAge

GenderGender SizeSize

Sometime visibleSometime visible

Other abilitiesOther abilities

Socio-economic statusSocio-economic status

Religious affiliationReligious affiliation

Invisible DiversitiesInvisible DiversitiesSexual orientationSexual orientation

Theological orientationTheological orientation

EducationEducation

Sometimes invisible Sometimes invisible

Other abilitiesOther abilities

Ethnicity/ languageEthnicity/ language

Socio-economic statusSocio-economic status

January Services 2008

January 6thEngaged Diversity: Introduction

 January 13th

Street Health Stories: The Health of the Homeless

Presenters: Erika Khandor & Laura Hanson Socio-economic diversity

January 20thCelebrating the “T” in LGBTQ: One family’s Sacred Journey

Presenter: Joan WileyGender & sexual orientation diversity  

February Black History Month • February 3rd• The Meaning of Drums - The Afrikan

Drums • Presenter & Musician: • Waleed Abdulhamid Kush •  • February 10th• Through the Fire or How Long Can I Be

Afraid? • Speaker: Rev Alicia Forde

• How Diverse Are We, Really?• Service Presenters: Rev. Debra Faulk &

Engaged Diversity Shared Ministry Team•  • February 24th• Black History Month in a Multicultural

Society • Presenter: Caldwell Taylor•  

March Services• March 2nd• Joyful Noise ~ Songs of Diversity• Musicians: Jane Perry & the Joyful Noise Choir•   Musical diversity• March 9th• Ethiopia Connections

• March 16th• Building Your Own Theology• Rev. Debra Faulk & Participants in Building Your Own Theology

Theological Diversity

• March 23rdth• Rise Again ~ Easter• Rev. Debra Faulk & Participants in Building Your Own Theology

Theological Diversity  

• March 30th• Do We Know How to Work Together ~ pulpit shuffle• Rev. Shawn Newton

Theological Diversity

April & May Services• April 6th • The Road to Beloved Community: The Prophetic Imperative

• April 13th History in a Meal: Modified Passover Seder • Musician: Allan Merovitz•  • April 20th • Interfaith Explored: Whatcha Gonna Do With Whatcha Got?• Speaker: J.W. Windland

• April 27th • Ageism - Is It a Reality?

• May 4th Disabilities or Just ...Different Abilities?•  • May 11th • Diversity Is Life Work

Other Events Videos

Amazing Grace Transamerica

Workshops Healthy Sexuality Everyone’s a Drummer Spirituality for the Long Haul – Nancy

Reeves Joyful Noise

World Cafe What has been the greatest learning with

Engaged Diversity initiative?

Hidden prejudices how can we reveal them? Welcoming diversity requires exploring these issues

What are the potential outcomes for the Engaged Diversity initiative?

What more can we do to Engage Diversity?

Next Steps

Go out into the community Continue the education piece Social Action activities Go Deep Go Out Credential

Congregational Resolution

The Congregation affirms the intention to move ahead with the CUC Celebrating Diversity credentialing process through the continuing commitment to the Engaged Diversity Initiative.