I’m excited to share a book that I edited that captures the need for all of us to stay aware and make changes in order to create an inclusive world. You can get it at the Inspirit Bookshop in paperback or as an ebook at Amazon. The essayists in this book speak from the heart.
A Review from the Rev. Penny Hackett-Evans
I think of myself as pretty informed and aware of issues around inclusion in the UU church. And, as I made my way through this book, I kept finding surprises and new information to consider. I would sit down and say I’m going to read one chapter – and then I would see the subject of the next chapter or the author and decide I HAD to read that. I finished the book in two sittings!
I especially liked the range of expertise that the various contributors brought to the overall topic of inclusion. From an interview with a 10 year old about what does community mean, to chapters written by well-known UU ministers and lay people about subjects ranging from sensitivity and inclusion in the area of gender identity, anti-racism, including youth in the community, Islamophobia, family worship, sacred cyberspace and more.
As mentioned in the introduction to the book, I think it would be an excellent resource for UU church committees who are wrestling with doing more than just giving a newcomer a special name tag and a warm welcome the first two weeks they show up. This book has specifics about how to delve deeper into the questions that bedevil us all about how to be truly inclusive in a meaningful way. Each chapter has one thought-provoking question to consider relevant to your own individual congregation.
I look forward to seeing how my own congregation might embrace the questions asked in this book!
