People from the global majorities need not be represented but be present. Processing white defensiveness is slow and should not determine the speed of justice. Two questions are important, are leaders willing or not? Are leaders able or not? If leaders are wiling but not able – diversity intelligence is not their competence and must seek help with experts. If they are able but not willing, they are not our allies and must work out their issues outside of the timeline at which the presence of global majorities must be realized. Do the right thing, then process your ego instead of stay the same and process your readiness. If you're an obstruction, stand aside. We are a church of proof and we need evidence that we are capable of welcome now.
This index is proposed by Rev. Tet Gallardo as a way of measuring any forum or meeting in terms of meeting goals in diversity. This in no way encourages proselytization where all must come in a single forum, but encourages many forums with many intersections. Let us not get boxed in by membership goals. Start incrementally :
1.) Improve hiring practices
2.) Provide free church spaces to diversity-focused forums that are not even Unitarian in nature --- a party, a festival, a meeting, a protest, a book club, and POC AA meeting, anything, just mingle.
3.) Reserve at least 50% of pulpit time for POC voices including those in different fields like comedy, art, business, and other non-religoius endeavors.
4.) Create church spaces representative of global majorities (i.e., is there MLK on your walls?).
5.) Divide worship time into contemplative and festive.
6.) Create an Inclusion Initiatives Committee.
This is not a survey. But a tool that precedes or prompts Needs Analysis. Each organization who uses this tool needs to have an Inclusion Initiatives Committee composed of at least 3 voting people: leader, congregant, and staff. There can be as many as 5 people only who need to discuss each of the questions and come up with a unanimous (3 votes) answer to each. Organizations that have trouble with their own numbers for various possible reasons can consult with DRUUMM, BLM, and other diversity-focused groups on how to improve their score.
1.) Improve hiring practices
2.) Provide free church spaces to diversity-focused forums that are not even Unitarian in nature --- a party, a festival, a meeting, a protest, a book club, and POC AA meeting, anything, just mingle.
3.) Reserve at least 50% of pulpit time for POC voices including those in different fields like comedy, art, business, and other non-religoius endeavors.
4.) Create church spaces representative of global majorities (i.e., is there MLK on your walls?).
5.) Divide worship time into contemplative and festive.
6.) Create an Inclusion Initiatives Committee.
This is not a survey. But a tool that precedes or prompts Needs Analysis. Each organization who uses this tool needs to have an Inclusion Initiatives Committee composed of at least 3 voting people: leader, congregant, and staff. There can be as many as 5 people only who need to discuss each of the questions and come up with a unanimous (3 votes) answer to each. Organizations that have trouble with their own numbers for various possible reasons can consult with DRUUMM, BLM, and other diversity-focused groups on how to improve their score.
Please feel free to comment below to further evolve this document.
Church Attendance
How many non-white people
signed up as new attendees this period?
How many of them came
back a 2nd time?
How many of them attended
an average of twice a month over this period?
How many white people
signed up as new attendees this period?
How many of them came
back a 2nd time?
How many of them attended
an average of twice a month over this period?
Meeting Participation
Number of hours white
people used meeting spaces other than in worship?
Number of hours non-white
people used meeting spaces other than in worship?
Safe Spaces
Number of hours white
folks used our spaces as safe space?
Number of hours non-white
folks used our spaces as safe space?
Number of attendees per
hour who are white?
Number of attendees per
hour who are non-white?
Visual Evidence
Number of non-white
artwork within church premises?
Number of white artwork
within church premises?
Number of non-white
images of people within church premises?
Number of white images
of people within church premises?
Vocal Evidence
Number of times a
non-white person was at the pulpit this period?
Number of times a
non-white person was at the pulpit this period?
Leadership
Number of times a
non-white person headed a project?
Number of times a
non-white person headed a project?
Number of white people
on the board?
Number of non-white
people on the board?
Space (may involve non-members)
Number of hours non-white-led
gatherings used church spaces for meetings?
Number of hours white-led
gatherings used church spaces for meetings?
Number of hours non-white-led
gatherings were attended by white people?
Ratio of white to
non-white attendees?
Number of hours non-white-led
gatherings were attended by white people?
Ratio of white to
non-white attendees?
Initiatives
How many initiatives
were formally submitted by white people?
How many of these intiatives submitted were adopted?
How many of these intiatives submitted were adopted?
How many initiatives
were formally submitted by non-white people?
How many of these intiatives submitted were adopted?
How many of these intiatives submitted were adopted?
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