The
last question we wanted to talk about this morning was sort of what's the
future of universalism as it informs of our social justice efforts. Where do you think that
will be in 20 years?
Rev. Yates : I think
it's very interesting the ways in just the past 10 years we've been showing up.
I feel like there was the the civil rights era
and then there was a bit of a slow down. Then we've had a big round trip up
with the yellow shirts. UUs are known as yellow shirts when we show up to
rallies and events and social justice action things because we have it as
standing on the side of love. How do we live that - we show up in that
way?
I think in some ways it's being more brave
than we were before because I think sometimes there's still that concern of if
I show up to this rally am I safe? If I show at this rally is my family safe?
Are people going to judge me?
But
finding courage and resolve for our self - this is where I need to be. I
felt a conviction when we did the social justice GA in Phoenix, like this is
history, this is the moment. I want to say to my children that I was
there. And that moment, this is the moment, and it might be hard, but I want to
say that I was there. I showed up. Doing this work here so that we can
show up out there.
Rev. Michelle Yates speaks from 08:15 - 09:36
Rev. Michelle Yates speaks from 08:15 - 09:36
It seems that what Rev. Yates is trying to describe is "prophetic witness" although she doesn't use that phrase.
ReplyDeleteSocial justice work is best left to advocacy and community organizational agencies who are professionals at social change. The point of a church doing social justice work is that it deepens spirituality, reminds people of their holiness and sanctifies the world.
The future of social justice work for Universalism will be to find ways to use social justice work to deepen the spiritual life of the church. One of the sources for the "living tradtion" is the prophetic words and deeds of women and men who speak truth to power with the transforming power of love, for without love, as St. Paul says, we are just a "clanging gong, and claning symbol."
UU principles are counter cultural. They go against the grain and upset the status quo. UU principles if enacted upset the apple cart. Upsetting the apple care triggers blow back. Blow back generates fears of bodily, social, and psychological harm. And yet, our faith, and our covenant gives us courage and makes us brave.
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