The Welcoming Renewal Committee encourages every member and friend of the congregation to complete the “Trans Inclusion in Congregations” course. The six session self-paced online video and reading series is completed individually. This course is one of the ways that we can center and enact culture change, starting in our own congregation. Standard individual access … Continue reading A Culture of Inclusion

The Soulful Home Program Simple ways to engage with your family and your values. Flexible and easy conversation starters and activities that help you make time for meaning making. An invitation to engage with this world in ways that center Unitarian Universalist values. In the 2020/2021 church year we will be supporting families with packets … Continue reading 2020/2021 Soulful Home Registration

The commission was formed to “conduct an audit of the power structures and analyze systemic racism and white supremacy culture within the Unitarian Universalist Association” because, one, “…many of our congregations are in trouble, with dwindling membership, participation, and financial contributions. A factor that contributes to this decline is our inability to address issues of … Continue reading Widening the Circle of Concern

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man is a safe place to have the uncomfortable conversations about race that many people have never been able to have. But enough is enough – I want to remove the barriers for why we’ve never had these conversations. I want to provide a free space for curious white people to answer the questions they’ve always had but have been too nervous to ask. Like, “How can I have white privilege if I’m not wealthy?” or “is racial profiling ok if black people tend to commit more crimes” and my personal favorite from a 19-year-old girl from rural Alabama named Amy who asked, “if black people can say the ‘N’ word, why can’t I?” And many, many more.

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield MO welcomes Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman as its new minister. She begins her duties today, July 1. Scott-Huffman already is familiar to many Springfield residents through her position as campus minister at Ekklesia Progressive Campus Ministry, a leader in interfaith conversations at Missouri State University. She is ordained by the … Continue reading Press Release

White supremacists vs. white supremacist thinking and culture So, not one person I know at UU is a white supremacist; however, most all of us have been well-taught and trained to think in white supremacist ways to live well in this white supremacist culture. I fully recognize that I have been well-taught and trained, and … Continue reading The Joy of Unchoosing*

We are grateful to everyone who came on June 9 to support justice. Our local news station KY3 published an article on First UU’s response.

Today we offer an invitation to all members and friends of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield Missouri to join in saying BLACK LIVES MATTER. We are creating a video of our community speaking the names of some of the black people who have been killed by police or civilians engaged in vigilantism. This project … Continue reading Black Lives Matter

Press release from the UUA – This week we received a special announcement from UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray with updated guidance about returning to gathering. Her advice is entirely in line with First UU’s statement on waiting to reopen, but her message also comes with a date. “Based on advice from experts, we continue to recommend … Continue reading MESSAGE FROM THE UUA PRESIDENT: Updated Guidance for Gathering

Sunday 5/17/20 – 11:45 am – 12:15 pm Agenda Call to Order – Opening Words  Verify Quorum  Adopt rules of procedure allowing electronic voting Reports New Business Presentation of the amendments to the bylaws Presentation of advancement of Rev. Michelle Scott-Huffman to half-time work Presentation of proposal to draw from ministerial fund if necessary Closing … Continue reading Congregational Meeting