Anti-Racism/ Anti-Oppression Training for Ministerial Candidates

Monday

Tandi Koerger

Presenters: Dr. Mark Hicks, Rev. Hope Johnson, Rev. Josh Pawelek

I can’t praise this experience enough. It was transformational. I came away inspired, energized, and full of ideas and commitment. Be sure to watch for the new curriculum Building the World We Dream coming out this summer and please consider this program for your congregation. We will be setting up a list-serve for facilitators of this program and schedule regular phone conference check-ins with each other.

Suggested Movies for discussion on racism/oppression analysis:

Crash

Akeela and the Bee

Cadillac Records

(There are many more. These are the ones we analyzed.)

Suggested questions for racism/oppression analysis:

How is power used to hurt People of Color?

How is power used to perpetuate power and privilege?

How is power used to define identity?

Questions that made me go, hm…

· When did my church become accountable to People of Color? How?

· How does my church show up to stand with people on the margins? Note (and this is really, really important): if you ask a marginalized group what they need from you, when they answer, you must do that thing and follow through. Our religious integrity demands it. That is being in right relationship. Discern ahead of time what you are willing to give up in the name of justice and right relationship and liberation.

· How does my church share our power and unique gifts to transform oppressive structures? How does my church leverage privilege?

· What makes you feel most human? If that thing weren’t in your life/ part of you, you’d miss the point of life? What is that quality of your core and how does this identity intersect with your ministry?

If you'd like to explore liberating justice work in your congregation and beyond, please contact me: tkoerger@uua.org/ 253-278-4646