Anti-Racism Leadership Team
The congregation of Unity Church-Unitarian commissioned the Anti-Racism Leadership Team in January 2003. The ten-member team has participated in several training sessions to learn about the power of systems and institutions with regard to race, as well as how to function as a leadership team. They have crafted vision and mission statements to guide them in their work. and in spring 2005 they completed an institutional audit of the Unity Church.
Vision Statement
Unity Church - Unitarian is an anti-racist community that is actively engaged in dismantling racism both internally and in the wider community in a manner that is accountable to communities of color.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Unity Church Anti-Racism Leadership Team is to lead the church in developing and living out an intentionally anti-racist identity in all aspects of church life. The team will seek opportunities to:
- promote dialogue and learning within the church community about the origins and functioning of systemic racism
- integrate an anti-racist perspective into the identity documents, religious education and member development curricula, worship service, and governance of Unity Church
- develop meaningful partner relationships between Unity Church and communities of color as we work together to dismantle racism in society
Institutional Audit
The purpose of the institutional audit is to research an institution’s identity in relationship to racism. The Anti-Racism Team examined Unity Church from the time of its earliest formation to the current day in order to provide a thorough, thoughtful analysis of the church’s institutional response to race. The audit will be a guide as the church moves forward in the process of becoming an intentionally anti-racist institution.
The audit is also an invitation to the congregation to participate in work that is extremely vital for the health and future of Unity Church and Unitarian-Universalists everywhere. We believe that we can create a church that is not only anti-racist in word, but has genuine acceptance, respect, and love for all people as a recognizable part of its identity. As expressed in the conclusion of audit report:
… we must have the will and determination to undertake what may at times be very painful work. We want to create a religious institution that is known throughout the neighborhood, the city, and beyond, as a place of loving, welcoming, joyous Unitarian Universalists who are not afraid to live out their values. Can we imagine a day when Unity’s bell peals and the whole neighborhood takes comfort, knowing what that ringing symbolizes?
May it be so.
Click here to download a PDF version of the Unity Church Anti-Racism Audit
Brief History of the Anti-Racism Initiative at Unity Church
In 1998, in preparation for our search for new ministers, Unity Church did extensive surveying of the congregation, which showed that congregants felt a spiritual need to connect in meaningful ways with the world outside of Unity’s walls.
In 2001, a large group attended General Assembly and learned of many ways in which active engagement in the world was being encouraged by the UUA. That summer, a group of members went on a pilgrimage for the first time to our partner village in Transylvania. Participants were profoundly moved by the experience of having their hearts opened toward people whom they had just met.
A church service in early 2002 focused on the history of the Rondo neighborhood, the onetime African-American neighborhood just to the north that was torn apart by the construction of Interstate highway 94. The congregation also learned that the Twin Cities are currently one of the most segregated areas in the United States. It was after this service, and in this climate of change, that some members began to question how Unity Church might make a difference.
Working with the Minnesota Collaborative Anti-Racism Initiative (MCARI), which provides training on understanding and dismantling racism, a group of interested members created a task force to develop plans for an anti-racism initiative within Unity Church. They presented a project description and received the support of the Board of Trustees. The Anti-Racism Ministry Team of Unity Church was formally commissioned by the congregation in January 2003.
Members of the team are Sue Conner, Drew Danielson, Sherm Eagles, Pauline Eichten, and Daphne Thompson. Rob Eller-Isaacs, co-minister, is the staff member/participant.