Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry [J0415]

2017 PB in Gift-Worthy condition. In October 2015, a group of distinguished UU religious professionals of color gathered together in Chicago to embark on a radical project. The conference was sponsored by the UUMA's Committee on Antiracism, Anti-oppression, and Multiculturalism. It started with the premise that discussions of race in Unitarian Universalism have too often presupposed a White audience and prioritized the needs, education, and emotions of the White majority. The goal was to reframe Unitarian Universalist anti-oppression work by putting the voices, experiences and learnings of people of color at the center of the conversation. The resulting book, Centering, captures the papers that were presented and the rich dialogue from the conference to share personal stories and address the challenges that religious leaders of color face in exercising power, agency, and authority in a culturally White denomination. Centering explores how racial identity is made both visible and invisible in Unitarian Universalist ministries.

From recent-ish Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Very insightful and thought-provoking, and seems like it should be required reading for any UUs involved in ministry or working with ministers."; "Excellent set of essays on the challenges and opportunities for ministers of color in their work, especially when called to lead UU congregations that are predominantly Anglo-Saxon. Very thought provoking!"; "An important book for all Unitarian Universalists to read, providing perspectives on ministry in our denomination."