There is a dollar-for-dollar challenge gift to raise $1 million for this nationwide organization of Unitarian Universalists of color toward the goal of greater equity, pluralism and participation in our UU movement.

Background: 

In 2017, the board of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) board set the goal of raising $5 million for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU). One UU couple in Pennsylvania made a challenge grant of $1 million for BLUU to be matched dollar-for-dollar by gifts from individuals, families and congregations. Our own congregation is helping to meet that challenge. The UUSS Board of Trustees approved my proposal that we commit to raising at least $5,000 for this purpose by June 30, 2019.

What is BLUU?

Established in 2016, BLUU is an organizing collective of Black Unitarian Universalists of all generations aiming to expand the role and visibility of Black UUs in our movement. Its leaders provide information, resources and support for Black UUs. Our liberal faith tradition was formed two centuries ago with the ideals of inclusion, fairness, and equality. Yet our movement has persistently reflected the cultural dominance of whiteness, with structures of oppression and practices of exclusion that have been painfully evident to UUs of color for decades but naively or conveniently overlooked by those of us in privileged identities.

The UUA’s journey toward this goal of justice has been rocky, but there is new progress. The love and courage of BLUU’s leaders and the support of new leadership in our denomination have brought more insight, change, and creative possibilities.

As an organizing collaborative, BLUU uses funds to:

>provide ministry and pastoral care with and among Black UUs and their families,

>lift up the voices of Black UUs within our faith and to the larger community,

>connect our UU institutions to the vital movements working for racial justice.

From its vision statement: “BLUU harnesses love’s power to combat oppression and foster healing as a spiritual and political imperative. We know the power of love to be life-changing, inclusive, relational, uncomfortable, unconditional and without end.”

Large advance gifts from some folks at UUSS have brought us toward our goal of $5,000. June is the month when we will achieve — or surpass — that goal! You can help us make it happen with a gift of $1,000, $100, $10, or anywhere in between. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions, or read more here.

To make a donation, you may write a check to UUSS with “BLUU” in the memo line, hand it to a minister or Board member, or leave it in the UUSS Office for Michele, our Bookkeeper. You also may send it via PayPal on our website’s Donate Now button.

Yours with gratitude,

Roger
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones

PS—This funding campaign will sustain the progress brought by BLUU’s leadership for the health, vitality and relevance of the UU movement. Our gifts are a generous, trusting, and committed response to the promise of our faith. Our gifts are an investment in Black leadership in our movement at a pivotal time in history. Please join me!