What Role Do YOU Play in Radical Welcoming?

A Radical Welcoming UU Church is a Unitarian Universalist congregation that goes beyond simple politeness to create a deep, transformative, and inclusive community for all people. This means the church not only welcomes everyone regardless of their background or identity but also proactively works to dismantle barriers and is willing to be changed by the diverse perspectives of its members. This spiritual practice requires community accountability and a commitment to social justice, ensuring that leadership, worship, and culture are shaped by all who are part of the community. 

Key practices of radical welcoming:

Goes beyond tolerance: Instead of just tolerating difference, the church actively celebrates it.

Proactive and preemptive: It anticipates who might feel left out and makes changes to spaces, words, and traditions before people arrive.

Transformative: The practice changes not only the visitor but the entire community, as new voices and perspectives reshape the congregation's identity, worship, and leadership.

Inclusive and liberatory: It is a commitment to dismantling systemic barriers related to race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and culture.

Rooted in love: The practice is a love-centered commitment to ensuring every person is fully seen, honored, and embraced.

A spiritual and ongoing practice: It is an ongoing spiritual practice that involves personal and collective transformation, humility, and curiosity about different perspectives and needs. 

This session will be co-led by Rev. Charlotte Arsenault and Jolyn Emrys. Learn more about how FUUN is centering a welcoming environment and how you play a role!