DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Our efforts to address racial injustice came to the fore in 2019 with the creation of the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force.  A core group of interested IUCC members focused their efforts on educating the congregation about anti-racism, particularly when it came to identifying the problem of institutionalized racism and white privilege.  Through a combination of discussions, educational seminars and book studies, the group helped to enlighten IUCC members about how racism is in the very fabric of our society, yet rarely acknowledged.  The initial goals were: to increase awareness of systemic racism; to facilitate experiences that promote healing of racial wounds; and to shift policies, practices and behaviors that have caused marginalization, pain, and/or exclusion to people of color within IUCC and the larger community.

As part of the process, the congregation became more aware of the need for greater racial and ethnic diversity in staff, membership and leadership.  At the same time, we never lost sight of our long historical commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of maintaining diversity and activism there too.  We came to appreciate the concept of intersectionality, which describes “the ways in which systems of inequality based on gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, class and other forms of discrimination ‘intersect’ to create unique dynamics and effects (see https://www.intersectionaljustice.org/what-is-intersectionality).” As time and volunteer engagement permits, we hope to form subgroups around these various groups to provide greater understanding of commonalities and shared struggles. 

In time, the task force felt it was time to become a ministry of the church, and the congregation agreed, voting to add the Ministry of Diversity & Inclusion (D & I).  D & I’s mission was to provide accountability and to support the commitment of IUCC to provide a radical welcome to all of those who enter our space.  It focused on diversity and inclusion, intentionally welcoming anyone who felt marginalized. 

Before long, the new ministry expanded yet again, changing its name to the Ministry of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) to more accurately reflect a broader expansion of duties to include ALL marginalized groups facing discrimination. Our bylaws now describe the new DEI Ministry as performing the following duties:

1.       Provide an open and loving space where participants can learn about systemic discrimination through the use of speakers, panels, education, personal sharing and discussion for the purposes of understanding, growth, empowerment, equity and peace.

2.       Increase awareness of pervasive discrimination and its impact on marginalized groups through education and discussion.

3.       Facilitate interactive programming and promote experiences in diversity while advocating growth and the healing of wounds in ourselves, in our church and in our community.

4.       Ensure that the policies, practices and behaviors of the IUCC congregation are welcoming to all people.

Book/Documentary Discussion Group

DEI members continue to meet regularly to discuss books and watch documentaries about racism, poverty, LGBTQ+ issues, and more. We are always working to educate ourselves about how we can better understand and help all marginalized groups facing discrimination.  

DEI Cultural Dinners

For the past few years, DEI has expanded its reach to include fun and educational cultural dinners.  We have gathered at local ethnic restaurants to sample the cuisine and to learn from their owners about the cultures they represent. It has been a fascinating and interesting way to broaden our horizons and exchange ideas with people from other countries and viewpoints.

The latest target – transgender rights

Most recently, DEI has become deeply concerned that much of the hate we see directed towards the LGBTQ+ community is focused on trans people and erosion of trans rights. These attacks are often violent - sometimes physical in nature, even deadly. Others come in the form of bans, and nearly always manifested as hateful rhetoric. DEI is horrified by this coordinated attack on the trans community and wants trans people to know that we will fight to support their rights.

Some of the trans phobia has been transferred towards drag queens, who have been miscategorized as transgender, demonstrating ignorance and insensitivity to the difference alongside a general disdain for anyone who doesn’t fit a cisgender, heterosexual profile.  Fifteen state legislatures have or are considering bills that would, in one form or another, ban drag queen story times with children. We want to affirm once again our unequivocal commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. We deplore the hatred and the fear behind it and stand together as siblings recognizing one another as children of God.

With drag queens under attack, we feel it is even more important to celebrate diversity in all its forms. Therefore, our DEI Ministry has expanded its focus to include opportunities for us to affirm draq queens, and in doing so highlight once again our commitment to the entire LGBTQ+ community.  In partnership with the Orange County Equality Coalition, we have been hosting a series of “Read with Royalty” events that promote literacy and do so in a fun way. We read inclusive books with LGBTQ+ positive, gender affirming, multi-cultural stories.  We see this as an opportunity to promote diversity and inclusion, and to offer parents a safe, positive and age appropriate environment where all families are welcome.

Our second effort is to provide quarterly Drag Queen Bingo events, which offer fun and joyous celebrations of drag as a wonderful art form.  These events give us an opportunity to reach out beyond our church to invite members of the larger community to join us for an evening of fabulous flair as bingo competitors battle it out to win big!