Over 4000 Unitarian Universalists attended the online General Assembly two months ago. Delegates voted to adopt the proposed SOC (Statement of Conscience), Undoing Systemic White Supremacy Culture in our institutions and in ourselves. Here is a portion from the SOC that speaks to the ‘how’ of this work.

“Build relationships across boundaries of privilege and oppression. Through the lens of intersectionality, we understand how systemic white supremacy breeds the lie of division. From unequal access to housing, to poverty, healthcare barriers, and environmental degradation, we all suffer. When one group seeks help for a problem such as racism, another oppressed group that is a member of the dominant race may feel that the roots of their own suffering will not be addressed. Unitarian Universalists must forge relationships beyond boundaries of privilege and power as we struggle for justice for all oppressed people while continually focusing on the vital work of undoing systemic white supremacy.  We believe systemic white supremacy is embedded in all oppressions in the United States.  There are myriad groups to partner with on anti-racism, including groups like Black Lives Matter, Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), Black Youth Project, Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) (including the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus, Native Caucus, and other active caucuses), the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Movement for Black Lives, the NDN Collective (an Indigenous-led organization), the Poor People’s Campaign, and Standing Rock nation.”

Continue watching our updates for sections and reflections on the SOC, or you may enjoy reading it in its entirety here:  2021 Statement of Conscience.