of Houston, TX,
Welcoming Congregation Program Announcement
We at Northwest Community U. U. Church have made a congregational commitment to pursue a Unitarian Universalist Association sponsored course of consciousness raising and anti-oppression work. This is a long term process that will unfold over the next couple of years and there after. The main activity of this Program is a series of workshops aimed at increasing our awareness in relationship to sexual minorities.
This workshop series has found a prominent place in our busy church schedule in hopes of substantial attendance: through which we may effect real change, person by person, within our Church. The Welcoming Congregation workshops promise to be enriching and eye opening experiences for all who participate. Members and Friends of other UU Congregations will also be most welcome to attend.
WORKSHOPS: Main Course
Workshop 1: Introductions and Expectations
Date: Nov. 19, 1 – 3pm, Sanctuary
Facilitators: Ann Baker, Sarah Berel-Harrop
Workshop 2: What We Know and How We Learned It
Date: Dec. 3, 1 – 3pm, Sanctuary
Facilitators: Cheryl Perry, Sarah Berel-Harrop
Workshop 3: The Common Elements of Oppression
Date: Jan. 21, 1-3pm, Sanctuary
Facilitators:
Workshop 4: Gender Socialization and Homophobia
Date: Feb. 18, 1-3pm, Sanctuary
Facilitators:
Workshop 9: Experiences of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and/or
Transgender People
Date: March 18, 1-3pm, Sanctuary
Facilitators plus, Speaker and Panel
Workshop 14: What Now?
Date: April 15, 1-3pm, Sanctuary
Facilitators:
__________ Second Course, optional, lower profile, to start next Fall
Workshop 5: Racism and Homophobia
Workshop 6: HIV/AIDS (Possible Movie and Speaker and Conversation)
Workshop 7: The Radical Right
Workshop 8: Religion and Homosexuality
Workshop 10: History
Workshop 11: Bisexuality and Biphobia
Workshop 12: Transgender Identity: What It Means
Workshop 13: How Homophobia Hurts Us All
From the Welcoming Congregation manual (page 11):
Question: Why are we singling out homosexual people to welcome to our
congregation? Isn't it the job of our membership committee to welcome
everyone?
Answer: Churches are the most anti-homosexual institution in America,
and much of the justification used to promote anti-homosexual
feelings, legislation, and violence is couched in "religious"
language. One researcher discovered, for instance, that 95 percent of
convicted gay-bashers interviewed in prison cited "religious"
motivations for their crimes. So, it is particularly hard for GBLT
(Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, and/or Trangender)people to feel safe
bringing their whole selves into churches. Even in Unitarian
Universalist congregations, many GBLT people are afraid that revealing
the gender of their partner means being asked, directly or indirectly,
to leave. When the congregation indicates a commitment to the hard
work necessary to welcome GBLT people, it heightens their sense of
safety to be open and involved in congregational life.
Question:
As a heterosexual, I am afraid to lead this program! What if I
accidentally say something homophobic and offend someone?
Answer:
In this culture, we are all trained to be homophobic, regardless of
our sexual orientation. Unfortunately, we hurt and offend each other
all the time. The spiritual gift of doing anti-oppression work is
that it helps us to learn that we can make mistakes, sometimes
terrible ones, and still be valued and loved as we begin to take
responsibility for them. The Welcoming Congregation Program urges
each of us to explore and value our own feelings when we are
confronting homophobia. Acknowledge it, live with it, and live through
it. There is a lot of energy of the other side.
If you would like to help plan and/or lead a workshop; please contact Russell Erwin, Susanna Hill, or Ann Baker through the Church Directory.
Houston, Texas