Justice Ministry is Widening the Circle

Apr 11, 2024 | Weekly Message

Last night Sandburg Hall was buzzing with conversation during a speed dating exercise.

Participants were asked to share about their experiences engaging in justice work to
support voting rights and democracy. As we debriefed the exercise there was a common thread of seeking others with similar values and diverse ways to work towards a massive voter turnout November 2024. Comments were made about moving away from fear and despair through collective efforts to get out the vote and build relationships with those outside our circles. That is what was happening at our gathering organized in partnership with Carolina Jews for Justice(CJJ) community organizer Lisa Forehand, Congregation Beth HaTephila Voting Rights lay leader Sam Hausfather and our UU the Vote lead Joanne Fox. By the end of our meeting, everyone left having met at least two new people who share their passion for voting rights and with a commitment to explore one of the various ways they can engage. At our next meeting (Date TBA; consider joining in!) we will follow up for updates and form groups interested in similar activities: canvassing, registering voters, post carding, etc. If you are interested in canvassing the next WNC Votes nonpartisan canvassing is this Sat. April 20. Details here. A few quotes from participants:

“Friends, if you’re looking for a place to be effective in the next election, this is it.”
– Margaret McAllister

“I am thrilled to be collaborating in the Get Out the Vote Efforts our congregations can take on together here in Western North Carolina.  Just like we did here at UU Asheville, CBHT voted on which social justice issues should be their priorities and they came up with the same top 3 issues: Voting Rights, Reproductive Justice and Climate Justice.  At the statewide level, Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Director of UU Justice NC is meeting
weekly and planning NC UU the Vote strategy alongside a leader for CJJ in Raleigh so it feels like we are doing the same on a local level. “
– Joanne Fox

Here is a video describing the collaboration and work being done in partnership by CJJ and UU Justice NC, our UU the Vote partner. Don’t forget to check out our resource document with ways to get involved in getting out the vote. It is updated weekly and featured in the e-news.

Another way our justice ministries are widening the circle is by being informed and responsive to the issues affecting our community. At this month’s Justice Ministry Council a request by the WNC People’s Power Coalition asking City Council to do better for our workers and families. They need affordable housing, racial justice, true democracy, and living wages. The petition asks the city to adopt a People’s Budget that prioritizes these critical issues:
1) Pay Asheville City Workers a Living Wage of at least $22.10/hr
2) Fund the Recommendations from the Asheville Reparations Commission
3) Start a City of Asheville Emergency Rental Assistance Program
4) Devote resources to start a Participatory Budgeting process

I invite you to read the petition, consider attending and possibly making a public comment before the council.

May 14 — the Budget Draft will be proposed at the City Council meeting; council meetings begin at 5pm
May 28 — Public Hearing on the Budget  You can attend in person or join virtually at: https://publicinput.com/k4405

With gratitude for the possibilities of widening the circle and nurturing relationships so that our collective voices can move us closer to a community where all can thrive and live to their potential.

Rev. Claudia Jiménez
Minister of Faith Development

Doing Good Well

Apr 3, 2024 | Weekly Message

Every few years about this time, I have to sit myself down and remind myself of something Socrates said: “Better to do a little well, than a great deal badly.” 

As an over-functioning Southern woman and minister, this is a lesson I have learned slowly. I’ve learned it well, but I haven’t learned it so thoroughly that I don’t need reminding. 

One of the truly great teachers of systems thinking in UU ministry, the Rev. Jake Morrill, led the workshops at our SEUUMA retreat this past week. This same idea came up, only the reminders Rev. Jake set in front of us sounded more like this: in your ministry, are you able, centered in your deepest values, to stay on course toward your goals without being pushed or pulled off track by the many demands of the immediate or passing? 

That’s the thing about life and about ministry: there are always a million competing demands. Many feel important or interesting. A few actually are important (many are interesting). Yet being human, we cannot do everything. We have the greatest impact when we center our deepest values, think deeply for a while, and then set out to accomplish a few things well. St. Francis said it similarly: “Do few things, but do them well; simple joys are holy.”

UU congregations in particular, being made up of passionate people with great love for the world, are often the locus of much activity. And it remains true that we achieve the greatest impact when we can decide together on what few important things we want to go all in together on doing well. Right now, we’ve said those things are:

• Being a place where, with children and families, we are building a faith for the future.

• We are invested in collective liberation, and right now that means we have agreed to work together on voting rights, reproductive rights, and climate justice. 

So if like me, sometimes you let yourself feel like you are being pulled in too many directions or that you’re at risk of getting blown off course, these words from George McClain, who was director of the Methodist Federation for Social Justice for many years, may be a tonic:

“[We who] hear so many urgent voices, and…care about so many ongoing tragedies: God does not burden us equally with all things, but only certain callings and tasks which are to be our part in the joyous burdens of Love…we are to focus on the particular arena to which God leads us. And there we are to labor in peace and power and faith and joy…” 

Or we could just keep reminding each other that it’s better to do a little good, well.

Love,

Rev. Audette