Issue 8070

THE

INQUIRER £1 | Issue 8070 | 28 October 2023

Inside this issue…

Prayer and appeal for Gaza/Israel Bible discussion tackles ‘Barbie’ Hibbert Trust announces £200,000 reparations fund

www.inquirer.org.uk

The voice of British and Irish Unitarians and Free Christians

Black Lives still matter Shana Begum writes of the continuing fight against racism

Praying for Peace …in every part of the wide world he puts an end to war; he breaks the bow, he snaps the spear, he burns the shields in the fire.

Psalm 46:9 We pray for peace ‘in every part of the wide world’.

We pray for an end to hatred and bitterness wherever they are fed to babies with their mothers’ milk.

We pray for the healing of festering wounds that poison human souls with vengefulness.

We pray for the withering of old resentments and inherited grudges that blight new generations.

We pray for the downfall of false ideology and bad religion that turn idealism into bigotry and faith into intolerance.

We pray for the clarity to see our unity as one people on this good earth.

We pray for an end to the injustice that makes of ‘peace’ an empty word.

We pray for these things, but who will grant them?

We cannot wait for supernatural salvation.

We cannot wait for God to intervene, because that isn’t what God does, that isn’t what God is.

We pray to the Divine within us.

We pray to be God’s presence and activity.

We pray to be the answer to our prayers.

We pray to be loving, just and true.

We pray to speak peace – and to make it – in the world as it really is: messy and complicated; where there are no easy answers.

We pray to be the companions of all who walk the path of one humanity,

the shared path of healing and of hope, the hard path to the mountain-top.

Cliff Reed

Help Red Cross/Red Crescent to support victims in Israel/Gaza Feargus O’Connor We endorse the statement by Religions for Peace deploring and mourning the deaths of innocent civilians in IsraelPalestine and calling for a ‘complete cessation of violence and the release of all civilians who have been taken into captivity’, for a commitment to ‘building peace for people and planet through multi-faith collaboration’, upholding peace and human rights and ‘praying for the peace and safety of all people in the region and beyond’. (See: https://www.rfp.org) We encourage all who are concerned by the grave crisis in Israel-Palestine and the suffering of all victims of war and violence, civilian and military, in Gaza and Israel to respond generously to the recently launched lifesaving British Red Cross Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal to enable the sending of urgent medical and other humanitarian aid to victims of this dangerously escalating war endangering ever increasing numbers of Israeli and Palestinian lives.

If you wish to respond to this emergency appeal please donate by phone on 0300 456 1155, online by visiting www.redcross.org.uk or by post to: Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory Appeal, British Red Cross, 44 Moorfields, London EC2Y 9AL. Why is our Unitarian faith practical response so vital?

The escalation of violence is having a huge toll. Thousands of people have already been killed and seriously injured and the numbers are rising daily. Amid the fighting many Page 2 | Issue 8070 – 28 October 2023

thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes.

Many more are still trying to find missing family and friends.

Staff and volunteers from Magen David Adom (the Israeli Red Cross), the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross are treating casualties and providing first aid, ambulances and urgent medical support.

Magen David Adom emergency medical teams have been searching for and transporting injured people, organising blood donations and sharing safety information with the public.

Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance teams have helped hundreds of injured people and have been assisting with evacuating people to safety. Tragically, three Magen David Adom staff and four Palestine Red Crescent paramedics have been killed while tending to the injured.

Staff and volunteers from Magen David Adom, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross were already on the ground when the violence broke out and have been supporting people by providing urgent medical help, ambulance support and first aid. The ICRC is ready to provide further humanitarian assistance as required on both sides.

Endorsed by: Vince McCully, Unitarian and Free Christian General Assembly (GA) president; Elizabeth Slade, GA Chief Officer and the Rev Jo James, GA Executive Committee Convenor; plus 21 Unitarian signatories.

Shana Begum writes of ongoing anti-racism work

Our lives still matter It has been a few years since the murder of George Floyd and the resulting Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

A lot of businesses and organisations looked to incorporating an antiracist agenda to do their part to help.

A lot of us, people of colour (POC), felt as though BLM was a turning point. But what I now understand is that – as with a lot of movements – the resurgence brought performative actions and activism that appeased some people’s own guilt in the face of public opinion.

And, soon after, they chose to against the idea that dismantling believe the problem of racism has racism is not the work of our “Those in leadership been fixed. congregations. positions need to set But spaces such as Unitarian I sat there, speechless. congregations continue to be I didn’t say anything. POCs, like an example and show predominantly white spaces. me, should not have to do the POCs that they are That in itself is a problem. It emotional labour of explaining why signals to POCs that this space this work needs to happen, and why learning – even if is not for you, that there is a big it’s important to us. Attitudes like they’re not perfectly chance it will not be welcoming to that could potentially be triggering, antiracist at this someone like you. Or it could be a as we continue to experience triggering space – with the chance racism. It takes a toll to explain moment in time.” of racial microaggressions. It is that our lives still matter. This work rarely an accident that spaces are cannot stop, as the problem has not predominately white. It involves a been fixed. history of racism, exclusion and inaccessibility to POCs. This is why Unitarian spaces have to continually develop Are we still learning? in terms of decentring whiteness. After the resurgence Three years on, we need to ask ourselves: of the BLM movement, some Unitarian congregations • Have we forgotten about this work? delved into the legacy of slavery in their communities – • Are we continuing to learn, or do we feel that we which is great. have done enough?

Our churches are the place – this is the time What worries me is that at a recent event a Unitarian claimed the work of decentring whiteness is not something that concerns them or interests them. They said it’s not for them, and that that there is another place and time for something like this. Another person nodded in agreement, and there was silence. Nobody spoke

If we don’t question ourselves, and do the work, our congregations and fellowships will continue to be unsafe spaces for POCs. That Unitarian space felt unsafe for me when that individual expressed a dislike for workshops on decentring whiteness. For those in positions of influence: If we are not advocating for antiracism, who and what are we advocating for? Are we only willing to support our Continued on page 6 > www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 3

THE

INQUIRER The Unitarian and Free Christian Paper Established in 1842, The Inquirer is the oldest nonconformist religious newspaper.

“To promote a free and inquiring religion through the worship of God and the celebration of life; the service of humanity and respect for all creation; and the upholding of the liberal Christian tradition.”

From the Object passed at the General Assembly of the Unitarian and Free Christian Churches 2001 The Inquirer is published fortnightly by The Inquirer Publishing Company (2004), Registered Charity 1101039.

Editor: M Colleen Burns MA 46A Newmarket Editor: M ColleenRoad, BurnsCringleford, MA Norwich NR4Newmarket 46A 6UF T: 01603 Road, 505281 Cringleford, Norwich E: inquirer@btinternet.com NR4 6UF T: 01603 505281 Proofreader: E: inquirer@btinternet.com Sarah Reynolds Cover: Proofreader: Sarah Reynolds Cover: Shutterstock photo Articles express the views of their writers.

Submissions are welcome and may be edited for content and length. They should be emailed or typed and should be the writer’s original work or be attributed appropriately.

Annual subscriptions are £46 £38 with discounts for bulk orders. Cheques payable to ‘The Inquirer’.

Write to: Steven Bisby 71 Earlesmere Avenue, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 0QD T: 07764 486711 E: admin@inquirer.org.uk Advertise for £6 per column cm, on 3-col page, plus VAT or £7.50 per col cm, on a 2-col page.

A one-page supplement is £200. One column on a 2-col page is £100, on a 3-col page, £75.

A5 fliers may be inserted for £100 plus VAT. Contact the editor for details.

Births, marriages and deaths: 50p a word + VAT. Find out more about Unitarians The General Assembly, Essex Hall 1-6 Essex Street, London WC2R 3HY T: 0207 2402384 E: info@unitarian.org.uk

www.unitarian.org.uk

The work continues ‘Our lives still matter’. A simple statement of fact, and a stark reminder that there is still so much anti-racism work to do. Shana Begum writes that enthusiasm has waned and progress slowed on rooting out racism and welcoming people of colour. But here’s the thing; equality and justice should not hinge on enthusiasm.

We must all learn what needs to be done to create a more equitable society (and movement). Then we must do the work.

This issue of The Inquirer marks the fourth and last instalment of pages sponsored by The Hibbert Trust to look at the issues surrounding racism within individuals, our movement and the larger world. We are grateful that the Trust saw this as a worthy project, and for the work its chair, Derek McAuley has put in to make it a success.

He introduced the project, writing, ‘For the Hibbert Trust this is personal. Our original founder, Robert Hibbert, was an active Unitarian with strong beliefs. With no sense of irony he wrote that all men are naturally equal yet he was also the owner of slave plantations in Jamaica and received substantial compensation when slavery was abolished.’ In this issue, Derek outlines the work the Trust is doing to fight racism and come to terms with its founder’s legacy. He announces that £200,000 has been set aside for reparations – among other initiatives.

The Inquirer/Hibbert project has given a platform to the voices of people of colour in our movement, as well as others who are working to end racism. It started in June 2022 with the sobering results of the Rev Winnie Gordon’s research which looked at the experiences of people of colour in the Unitarian movement. She found that many have not felt welcomed, or have been confronted with prejudice in Unitarian congregations and organisations.

And it ends with Shana Begum’s simple and powerful phrase, ‘Our lives still matter.’

While this project is finishing, The Inquirer remains committed to including black and brown voices within its pages, to encouraging exchanges of views within its columns, and to seek ways to educate all of our readership about historic and current racism and its effects.

We are grateful to all of the contributors – named and anonymous – who have courageously shared their experiences and beliefs. They include Shana Begum, Laura Autumn Cox, the Rev Cody Coyne, Paul Lindsay Dawson, the Rev Kate Dean, the Rev Winnie Gordon, Judy Ryde, the Rev Danielle Wilson and Jacqueline Woodman. We thank Derek McAuley and The Hibbert Trust for their support in keeping the fight against racism alive in The Inquirer’s pages.

There is still much work to do.

Summer School Talks: Part 2 of Louise Baumberg’s Hucklow Summer School talks, advertised for this issue, will appear in the next edition.

Faith in Words: The Christmas/Solstice edition of creative work and worship material is coming up. Contributions are due on 17 November. New writers and artists are particularly welcome.

More details available on page 11.

MC Burns

Page 4 | Issue 8070 – 28 October 2023

Derek McAuley announces £200,000 Hibbert Trust reparation fund

More work to do The Hibbert Trust has been pleased to sponsor the informative and often challenging series of four inserts in The Inquirer since June 2022 on issues of racism and inclusion. Our varied contributors have highlighted how these affect individuals, local communities and the wider Unitarian movement and suggested actions that are being or could be taken.

It has been a learning exercise for all involved and I hope has engaged readers and led to action.

At the time I introduced the series as it appears to have done nationalby referring to the popular hymn ly. When the Home Secretary chal‘All are Welcome Here’ and emphalenges the concept of a multicultur“We wanted to produce sised that whilst the words are easy al society in public it surely requires to sing the practice of ‘radical hospius to stress its value in building a material to support tality’ is harder to put in place. Our fairer and inclusive society – which individual Unitarians awareness of ‘Black Lives Matter’ is what most people want. led to the conclusion that we needand congregations and ed to do more to address racism and Trust is among ‘Heirs to Slavery’ other bodies on issues oppression within our own Unitarian The Hibbert Trust has continued on and Free Christian communities its own journey of coming to terms surrounding inclusion.” and institutions. We wanted to with the life of its founder and ownwork with The Inquirer to encourage er of enslaved people, Robert Hibawareness in our predominantly bert (Junior), and the consequent white communities of their potenorigin of some of its historic funds. tial to make a positive change, both for themselves but We have set aside £200,000 to seek to address the longalso in their local communities. We wanted to produce term consequences in Jamaica of transatlantic slavery. material to support individual Unitarians and congregaWe have begun to make connections with the ‘Heirs to tions and other bodies on issues surrounding inclusion.

Slavery’ project and been made very welcome. We would Looking back I see how we have learned from each other wish to join with other institutions, such as the Church and that together we have created a resource that can of England and The National Trust, to support existing continue to be used. There is no right answer or an idenmovements for repair and reconciliation. tikit response. I said two years ago that we were not perOn behalf of the Hibbert Trust I would like to thank all of fect but that we do not need to be; ‘all that is demanded the contributors over the four editions. Their willingness of us is that we put our values to the forefront and step to share their experience as well as their knowledge and forward’. commitment brought the features to life. I would also like to thank Colleen Burns as editor of The Inquirer for all her Don’t allow things to simply move on work in bringing this project together and also the other There has been, over the past year, an effort to renew and members of the advisory group: Diane Bennett and the promote the Unitarian commitment to social action and Rev Winnie Gordon. This was a truly collaborative effort build on our longstanding commitment to justice. With as we teased out key issues, responded to feedback and the growing challenges from populist racist ideologies this tried to produce a coherent narrative for change. Thank is surely timely. I hope that the learnings from the feayou. tures will filter down into our congregations and support this national effort.

Derek McAuley is chair of the Hibbert Trust There is a danger that things will move on and that issues Hibbert Trust: https://www.thehibberttrust.org.uk/ surrounding racism will simply fall off the Unitarian agenda Heirs to Slavery https://www.heirsofslavery.org/ Page sponsored by the Hibbert Trust

www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 5

Our lives still matter Continued from page 3 >

white Unitarian members? What does that say to a POC like me?

Those in leadership positions need to set an example and show POCs that they are learning – even if they’re not perfectly antiracist at this moment in time. Our leaders need to get across that they are a safe person, meaning they are willing to learn. Even if POCs don’t feel comfortable approaching them, we can at least know that there is some understanding of what it is like to be marginalised, to be judged on the colour of your skin. As Unitarians, we must understand the importance and work towards providing an inclusive, welcoming and safe space for POCs.

2023 – still dealing with microaggressions In January I attended a taster for the anti-racism human library training, ‘Faith in Black Lives Matter’, cofacilitated by interfaith minister the Rev Malaika and Sue Cockerill. During this online course, we heard experiences from a black person and a white ally, and then in breakout rooms we were asked how we felt about what we had heard: did it bring us hope? Did we feel uplifted or sad hearing the stories?

It was hard to be hopeful. The workshop reminded me of the fact that it’s 2023 and we are still undergoing training on antiracism. If in 2023 things have not changed, will they ever? Sadly, I feel the answer is no. Shortly before attending this course a friend of mine was called a racist slur, something I hadn’t heard since I was at school.

Recently, a taxi driver told me they experienced the same thing on one of their journeys. It just goes to show many of us from the global majority still deal with racial microaggressions on a daily basis.

During the Hucklow Summer School talks a few years ago, I spoke about our Unitarian mission to be a welcoming space for all. (Watch it here: https://tinyurl. com/ShanaBegum) What disappoints me is that even though we Unitarians, underwent training on racism, there are still people that don’t realise why that work is important. It saddens me to know that people of colour

Page 6 | Issue 8070 – 28 October 2023

in our spiritual communities continue to experience racial microaggressions and exclusion.

I’d like to ask people to wake up, to carry on learning, advocate for POCs, to speak up when you see and hear any racism or racial microaggressions, even if it feels uncomfortable. To realise that if what you witness feels uncomfortable, then it’s most likely having a negative impact on a POC, especially if it’s a case of minimising our struggle or casting it aside for another place and time.

The time is now.

Be an ally As someone who is not directly experiencing racism, you have more ability to speak up. I realise not everyone has this capacity. But speaking up can mean having a word in private with someone who can address the situation.

Speaking up can mean countering what someone is saying so the POC impacted is seen and heard – even if nothing else happens. Check on them. To be an ally you need to be prepared to do the work, to make sure POCS don’t experience and re-experience racial trauma.

As an organisation, we need to stand for something.

Unfortunately, inaction can also be a stand. As Unitarians we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person, we need to be actively working towards this message.

I would encourage you to sign up to the full 4-week ‘Faith in Black Lives Matter’ course, which runs in November, and is an exploration of how we can respond spiritually, individually, and collectively. You can sign up here: : https://tinyurl.com/BLMinFaith

Shana Begum Shana Begum is a ministry student at Unitarian College and is reading Religion and Theology at Cardiff University.

Page sponsored by the Hibbert Trust

Cody Coyne writes of the anti-racism work by Cross St Chapel

Working toward justice It feels there are people against sayand White Supremacy course, which “As a religious ing Black Lives Matter.’ is an excellent resource for people These words were spoken not in the to better understand basic terms community, being able summer of 2020, when the expressuch as ‘white privilege’, ‘colour to root our anti-racism sion was receiving both blessings and blindness’ and ‘optical allyship’. Percondemnation, but a few months sonally, it was instrumental in helpwithin our expression of ago. In the ensuing discussion, it ing me reflect on the racial contour faith will help ensure it became clear that many people of my past: the times I have spoken are growing weary of the fight for hurtful words, and when I have been remains present in our racial justice. As our lives carry on, a direct beneficiary of systemic everyday actions.” news items flash across our screens, injustice. The course can be run in a side-lining our commitment to variety of ways to support learning Black people and a more equitable of all kinds. society.

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, Cross Street Reparations, past and future Chapel issued a statement committing to understanding Other courses are available as well; the Faith Network for its complicity in and benefit from systemic racism. The Manchester runs a four-session ‘Faith in Black Lives Matcommitment was written not simply to claim camaraderie ter’ course that includes testimony from people about the with Black people facing oppression, but to include conway racism has affected their lives. It is run online and increte and material steps we may take as individuals and as cludes participants from across the country and overseas. a community to further anti-racism. These measures were (Registration is open for the November course here: https:// gathered under three headings: worship, education, and tinyurl.com/BLMinFaith) As a religious community, being reparations. able to root our anti-racism within our expression of faith will help ensure it remains present in our everyday actions.

More Black voices included in worship There is a wealth of material out there, including from UK We have sought to include more material created by Black sources. Individuals can pursue these, or chapel book clubs people in our worship. To mitigate the risk of cultural apcan be set up. Perhaps there is even scope to create a propriation, some learning has taken place both in regard lending library for congregants? to Black liberation theology (consider reading Anthony Finally, reparations. I’ve used this term to encompass two Reddie’s excellent primer Black Theology), as well as more items: an exploration of Cross Street Chapel’s historic practical books such as Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk connection to the slave economy, as well as forms of adAbout Race?. vocacy and support pursued today. With limited time and Another significant step, one we have started but could do resources, the chapel is unable to assess with precision more to carry on, is ensuring that more Black individuals its involvement in slavery and cotton. However, Trustee speak from our pulpit. This can be ministers, lay people, biographies, as well as books such as Eric Williams’s Capipeople representing groups or charities. Their leading of talism and Slavery and Katie Donnington’s Bonds of Family worship, or speaking an address, should not be restricted reference specific peoples’ involvement in both the chapel thematically. As with all preachers, we need to ensure they and slave economy. have the freedom of the pulpit to preach their message.

Cross Street has been able to contribute to the wider Turning to education, the chapel has run Layla Saad’s Me exploration of finances and social complicity, however, Continued on page 9 > Page sponsored by the Hibbert Trust

www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 7

Laura Autumn Cox looks at how faith groups are fighting racism

Are we doing enough?

Shown above: Shutterstock photo

In 2013, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter burst onto social media. The hugely influential campaign followed repeated police injustices against black people – including the acquittal of US neighbourhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman, who shot African-American teen Trayvon Martin in 2012. The protests sparked by ‘blue on black’ police violence thrust the issue of racial justice into the public eye, highlighting a long, painful history that continues into the present day.

As Unitarians, we aspire to be incluother initiatives, has created a series sive and strive for justice. But are of visual resources depicting Mary we doing enough? and Jesus in a range of countries “We feel deep sorrow October marks Black History and cultures. (See: https://tinyurl. for the ongoing Month in the UK. Throughout Occom/5n8jfwrc) The resources are discrimination and tober, organisations and individuals intended to highlight the rich dicelebrate black culture in the UK versity of the Catholic community ‘othering’ of Black and and seek to gain a deeper underand encourage reflection on how minority ethnic groups, standing of the significance of black all are made in the image of God, heritage in shaping our society. the website says. In a hard-hitting and are coming to accept Unitarians have historically camquote, Pope Francis states, ‘racism a level of responsibility.” paigned for social justice, with a firm is a virus that quickly mutates and focus on human rights, diversity of lurks in waiting. Instances of racism religious belief, acceptance of sexual continue to shame us, for they show orientation, and peaceful resolution that our supposed social progress is to conflict. We feel deep sorrow for the ongoing discriminot as real or definitive as we think.’ nation and ‘othering’ of Black and minority ethnic groups, So, what about Unitarians? The Canadian Unitarians, as and are coming to accept a level of responsibility for the well as the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Universystematic disadvantages faced by Black people. We’re salist Association (ANUUZA), are recognising indigenous also recognising our history of white superiority culture cultures and sharing information about these largely marand white saviourism, and, in some congregations, partginalised people. In the US, Unitarian Universalists (UUs) nering with people of colour. are exploring ways to support racial justice, including Many religious and faith movements have committed to displaying large Black Lives Matter banners on worship support racial justice, including the Anglican and Catholic buildings. Some UUs are learning about white supremacy churches. In May 2022, the Archbishop’s Commission for culture and its racist structures and systemic policies.

Racial Justice published its first report with recommenUUs also take training courses to help dismantle white sudations for achieving racial justice within the Church of premacy culture, privileges, fragilities, and silencing within England. The Commission’s chair, the Rt Hon Lord Paul themselves and UU structures.

Boateng, prefaced the report by acknowledging the hurt In addition, many UU congregations have voted to add an and pain of those who have and continue to experience eighth principle to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s racial injustice ‘within and at the hands’ of the CofE. The seven existing principles. The eighth principle affirms and report on the findings of the Archbishop’s Anti-Racism promotes: journeying toward spiritual wholeness [through] Taskforce identifies five areas of concern and suggested a diverse multicultural Beloved Community [to] accountably proposals for further work. dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our The Catholic Church of England and Wales, amongst institutions.

Continued on page 9 > Page 8 | Issue 8070 – 28 October 2023

Page sponsored by the Hibbert Trust

Enough?

Continued from page 8 >

The Unitarian Universalist Association’s website asks a poignant question: Are we willing to acknowledge that Black lives are still worth less than white lives in the US? The sad truth is that in many countries across the world, including the UK, the answer is no.

Some UK Unitarian churches display the Black Lives Matter banner. Some individuals within congregations have joined online discussion groups and courses to learn about the language and terminology that describes racial and racialised oppression. Some congregations have a Black Lives Matter statement that is reflected on as part of everyday congregation life. Birmingham Unitarians member Ian Minter has written a report investigating deaths by asphyxiation caused by our police force (similar to the asphyxiation of George Floyd in the US). The paper, available via the Prison Reform Trust All-Party Parliamentary Group on Penal Affairs, has been sent to human rights lawyers to aid in their efforts to win justice for the families of Black people killed by British police. There is a growing recognition that microaggressions such as asking people where they’re from are not acceptable. Some ministers regularly include Black-authored readings, poems, music, theological thoughts, and experiences in worship – not just during Black History Month. Mill Hill Chapel has a vibrant display of different cultural and faith images.

More Black voices included in worship Perhaps most encouragingly, there are more Black voices leading worship, and more Black-heritage people in our committees than before. The Unitarian denomination has six ministers who identify with an ethnic minority heritage. In 2012, that number was zero. This is vital progress, but, as the Rev Winnie Gordon of Birmingham Unitarians explains, there’s much further to go.

‘Black history month is an oxymoron as it designates Black people into a box of a month, and a separate history,’ she

said. ‘In reality, all history and all months should celebrate the achievements – and highlight the suffering and atrocities – that Black people have made, despite the injustices perpetuated on them throughout history and that continue through systemic structures and polices in our society today.’

Acknowledge inequalities ‘One way that congregations can be more inclusive with regards to racial justice is to acknowledge the inequality that lies at the heart of these issues,’ said Ann Howell, Social Action Officer of the Unitarian General Assembly.

‘When you speak about climate justice, remind people that Black and brown communities are far more likely to suffer from poor air quality than white communities.

When discussing LGBTQ+ issues, keep in mind that black gay, bisexual, and transgender people have a much higher risk of physical abuse than white people. Any issue affecting society will have a greater impact on people of colour.’

So, to answer the challenging but critical question – are we doing enough? No. We aren’t. For all we talk about inclusivity, it means nothing if we don’t follow inclusive practises each and every day. Let’s turn aspiration into action. Let’s call out the systemic, historic racism that still exists. Let’s scratch away the surface and examine our own prejudices. The journey starts with recognition. Are you ready to do more?

Laura Autumn Cox is a member at York St Saviourgate Unitarian Chapel and is a Unitarian lay preacher.

Thank you to the Rev Winnie Gordon for supporting and guiding the writing of this article.

Further reading: Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change the World – Layla Saad White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism – Dr Robin DiAngelo

Working toward justice Continued from page 7 >

by making our archive available to external bodies. Most recently researchers have explored our Pew Rents, to determine chapel members who were linked to slavery and slave-grown cotton. Additionally, I was invited to review a report on the link between the slave economy and the founders of the Manchester Lit and Phil Society, many who were members of the chapel.

We are unable to determine a monetary amount of the chapel’s benefit from the slave economy. Yet, redress remains our focus. Reparations is linked to the word ‘repair’ and so long as there is still injustice and inequality, there is still work to be done. We continue to explore our past, as well as understand ways we may benefit from racism in

the present. We support – through fundraising and our lettings – groups such as Afrocats, one that supports refugee and asylum seekers, as well as others facing hardship in Manchester. Significantly, we understand that more has to be done to ensure these practices become routine, and further efforts must be made to redress inequality.

‘It feels there are people against saying Black Lives Matter.’ For those of us who support Black lives, it is important to continue speaking those words – and taking steps – every day.

The Rev Cody Coyne is minister at Cross Street Chapel www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 9

The Rev Penny Johnson, a kind and generous minister A celebration of the life of the Rev Penelope Johnson, ‘Penny’, was held, on 6 October, in a packed Dean Row Chapel, Wilmslow, one of the three churches in the Manchester District in which she spent the last 17 years of her ministry. It followed a brief service of committal at Macclesfield Crematorium.

Penny was born in 1943 into a Unitarian family: her father joined the ‘Units’ a football team run by the Wolverhampton Church and later became a lay preacher and chairman of the church for almost 50 years. In her teenage years Penny joined a number of Unitarian organisations, attended conferences on religious education at Manchester College, Oxford and, with her friend Vicki Griffiths, founded a thriving Sunday school which later became a youth club at the church. She took to lay preaching in the Midland Union while her day job was as a secretary – firstly in the local education offices and later as PA to the marketing director of a large boiler manufacturer.

In 1971 she offered herself for the Unitarian Ministry and spent four years at Manchester College, Oxford, where, in addition to her ministerial training, she took an Oxford University Special Diploma in Social Studies. Her ministry began in earnest as second minister to the Rev John Mather, who retired two years later, leaving her in charge of the Midland Union Group of 10 churches for the next four years, until 1981. Without the help of committed lay preachers and retired ministers, that would have been an impossible task. She was rather relieved at being asked to candidate for three chapels in Cheshire at Dean Row, (Wilmslow), Hale Chapel (Hale Barnes) and Norcliffe Chapel (Styal), following the retirement of the Rev Leslie Bell. She was accepted, and so began a ministry to those churches which lasted from 1981 to 1998. She found time during that busy ministry to take the presidency of the Manchester District Association for two years and of the Unitarian College, Manchester. It was during that time, in 1988, that she married Ken Johnson. About a year into the marriage Ken was able to retire and take over the running of the home, which greatly assisted her ministry.

Whilst in Cheshire, she conducted 2,727 weddings and countless christenings and funerals. Each of these was special and was undertaken with great care, as too were the three Sunday services she took each week. As Page 10 | Issue 8070 – 28 October 2023

a result, her congregations prospered. A family group was formed at Dean Row by the young people who continued to attend after their marriages, and then a thriving Sunday school which grew to about 30 children – with no shortage of qualified teachers. Following her marriage and her leaving the manse, it and the schoolroom at Dean Row were sold and a new church and carpark built. People were attracted to Penny by her kindness, generosity, compassion, consistency and the attention she gave to their problems and concerns. She was on the founding committee of ‘Wilmslow Wells for Africa’, which has since raised over £1 million to provide clean drinking water to villages all over Africa. She worked well with the leaders of the other religious denominations in Wilmslow in Churches Together and was a great proponent of emphasising the things which united them rather than what might have divided them.

During her long period of retirement, she continued to take services – all over the country. It was then she acquired her puppets, Goliath, Jack and Miranda who helped in delivering her sermons. She had been a member of the Women’s League all her life, but was then able to serve as District and National President, in her latter position spending as much as a week together in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so influencing many more people. She spent 14 years as Secretary of the Manchester District Association.

She loved music and was a member of the Unitarian Music Society and took part in all the choir trips abroad, taking her French Horn to USA, Canada, Germany, Transylvania and Prague. In her youth she played the violin to a standard which gave her membership of the National Youth Orchestra. Later she took up the French Horn and, when proficient in that, joined the Poynton British Legion Concert Band. She very much enjoyed the social side of her husband’s Masonic lodges and found herself conducting the funerals of late members of those associations.

She went into hospital three weeks before she died, diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and rapidly declined until she was taken to East Cheshire Hospice where she died peacefully and without pain on 10 September.

Ken Johnson

Bridport blesses pets On 1 October the Chapel in the Garden at Bridport held a special pets’ day service. It marked World Animal Day which helps bring people together to increase awareness and improve education worldwide, so pets and animals can live the lives they deserve.

Angie Porter, who led the service, chose a range of prayers, poems and stories as well as songs to help the congregation celebrate the life of their pets, she explained ‘Pets are a great way into “presence” and they remind us how to walk a more mindful or spiritual path.’ We made space in the service to light a candle to remember animals that have been in our lives – to celebrate and be grateful for them. We are planning a pets’ corner, as a permanent memorial for the dogs and cats of Dorset. The service ended with everyone singing Cat Steven’s ‘Love my Dog’.

The congregation seized the opportunity to bring their pets to the Chapel. Angie, who is Australian, brought her dog called Bruce, who was joined by Pixie, Queenie and Pretzel, and they all behaved beautifully.

Part of every service at the Chapel includes an opportunity to share joys and concerns. Many people spoke of a pet at home; a wonderful cat called Sweetie and some shared memories of pets they had loved and lost with tears in their eyes. Margie Barbour spoke of her great love for an Irish Terrier, ‘I bought Bridie when I was

Faith in Words All voices welcome

Share expressions of faith.

Contribute to The Inquirer’s Christmas/Solstice edition of creative and worship material.

• Prayers

• Addresses • Visual art • Meditations

For more information or to submit material, email: Inquirer@btinternet. com Or, send typed contributions to the editor’s postal address on page 2.

Material is due by 17 November

THE

INQUIRER

directing Grange Hill. I was so busy at work I had to have somebody come in during the day to care for her but like so many people, I had no idea that the love of a pet could so take over your life. And of course, Bridie had to appear in one of the episodes of Grange Hill, and her death was heart-breaking.’

On the first Sunday of every month there is a children’s gathering at the Chapel called the kindness club. The Rev John Harley told of their activities on this Pet Sunday: ‘In Kindness Club we painted animals using our handprints in celebration of pets and the animal kingdom - while the adults had their pet service in the chapel. It was a great chance to get messy and creative - and we enjoyed a story and a song.’

Bible discussion Continued from page 12 >

and people who attend occasionally. Everyone is welcome to come along whenever it suits. Those of us with a strict religious background have found it useful to explore the Bible in an accepting, non-judgmental environment. For those with little experience of the Bible, some have found it surprising, even revelatory. We are mindful that the Bible has sometimes been used as a tool of oppression, and can be a difficult book for some Unitarians and those hurt by fundamentalist interpretations. We hope to provide a safe place in which challenging passages can be honestly grappled with. We also aim to uncover the many treasures hidden in plain sight, in a book which has shaped not only our Unitarian heritage, but the culture and society which many of us were raised in.

Come along, join us, and expand the horizon of our discussions further.

The Rev Sheena Gabriel and Donald Jacobs are members of the Unitarian & Free Christian Bible Discussion For more information go to: https://tinyurl.com/UBible or https://tinyurl.com/BibleUnit Contact: donrayjay@yahoo.co.uk Join the Zoom Meeting every Monday at 18.30 (London time) Meeting ID: 823 7804 2367 Passcode: 460019 www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 11

Donald Jacobs and Sheena Gabriel ask, who says Bible discussions can’t be fun?

Biblically speaking

Shown above: A recent meeting of th Bible discussion group had a ‘Barbie’ theme.

Early in the lockdowns of 2020, a small group of Unitarians began meeting online to discuss passages of the Bible; over three years later, the group continues to gather most Monday evenings at 6.30pm. What has kept us going, and can the wider Unitarian community tap into this resource?

As well as familiar stories such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, we’ve tackled difficult and disturbing passages like the conquest of Canaan described in the book of Joshua and the downfall of Sodom in Genesis – turning traditional interpretations on their heads. In a recent meeting we considered the Genesis account of the creation of Adam and Eve and gender relations through the lens of the Barbie movie. If anyone thinks bible discussions are dull, this session certainly proved otherwise – we have the mugshot of participants to prove it (dressing in pink was optional!) Mindful of the challenges of our time, we’ve searched for biblical texts relevant to futuristic hopes and anxieties around transhumanism and artificial intelligence, and explored climate change through the lens of Noah and the great flood. We’ve considered the cataclysm of the book of Revelation as well as the promise of heavenly paradise.

Elijah as a superhero We’ve discussed how Bible characters like Moses and Paul compare to, and relate to, our own spiritual experiences and search for meaning. We’ve explored Elijah as a ‘superhero’, and Jacob as a flawed character we can relate to; and looked at the ancient personification of Wisdom as a woman. We’ve responded to the faith expressed in the Psalms, and the doubts in Ecclesiastes. We’ve grappled with the problem of suffering as expressed in Job, and viewed the healing miracles of Jesus from psychological and spiritual perspectives. Seeking to make the bible relevant to our lived experience of church communities, we’ve identified good and bad examples of leadership in scripture and considered our own attitudes towards tithing and stewardship.

The strength of our small group (usually between 10 to 20 participants) lies in the diverse perspectives and knowledge participants bring to our discussions around biblical texts. Sessions are led by ministers and lay folk alike, all learning from each other. We emphasise sharing information and experiences rather than debating, with the premise that bible passages are open to multiple interpretations. When we encounter differences, we aim to ‘disagree agreeably’.

All welcome, regardless of belief Everyone is welcome; you don’t have to be a Christian or Unitarian Christian to participate; Unitarians of every stripe, those of other faiths, as well as those with no faith are welcome; what unites is a willingness to listen and learn from other perspectives. The discussion group is organised autonomously by attenders and is supported by the Unitarian Christian Association, who also provide the Zoom room for the meetings.

The format is flexible but often follows a familiar structure: the person leading the discussion brings a Bible story or passage and provides some introductory comments, sometimes including pictures, audio, or video. We then move into smaller breakout rooms to discuss our response to the text as well as specific questions that the person leading the discussion has invited us to consider. There is then chance for feedback within the whole group. Occasionally sessions have been more contemplative; using the process of ‘Lectio Divina’ to reflect on a passage, or the Ignatian process of active imagination to put ourselves into a Gospel story.

Our group includes people who have been attending from the beginning, as well as a steady stream of newcomers Continued on page 11 > www.inquirer.org.uk | Page 12