Unitarian Universalists are going back to Selma for the fiftieth anniversary of the march that eventually brought about the Voting Rights Act. Many Unitarian Universalists remember and cling to the moment as the apotheosis of social justice commitments, especially because one of our lay members, Viola Liuzzo, and one of our ministers, the Rev. James Reeb, were murdered in the days surrounding the march. They had both come in to participate following the call by Rev. Dr. King.
This is much more than an exercise in nostalgia and solidarity. It is a memorial, a funeral, a call to renewed efforts toward anti-racism and anti-oppression work in #BlackLivesMatter America.
Many clergy have been asking what to pack and what to wear, and as anyone who regularly reads this blog knows, these are not trivial questions.
Some Unitarian Universalist ministers want to wear these.
Or they think they should wear stoles over street clothes to signal to the world that they are religious leaders.
Neither of these choices is appropriate, and I have said elsewhere that I find the first option offensive.
I like, support and appreciate the Standing On The Side Of Love slogan and campaign. It is a banner I am happy to have flying in our church sanctuary at times, and a Tshirt that I own and wear when I am joining UUs at big events like gay pride or climate marches. I love the happy feeling I get when I walk toward a park or gathering place and see a big swarm of those bumble bee shirts. Those are my people! I think to myself, and I head toward them with gratitude.
But the fiftieth anniversary of the march from Selma is no time for anyone to identify themselves with a denominational brand. To do so communicates immaturity and competitiveness to others, no matter what Unitarian Universalists say about wanting to communicate enthusiasm and pride. An ecumenical leader just sent me a Facebook message saying, “I wonder if the glaring UU branding in the clerics is an expression not of ecumenical/ interfaith solidarity, but an expression of anxiety and competition. I know of no other denomination where the clerical uniform has been particularized with a color… ”
Of course it is! And the terminal uniqueness to which UUs are still unfortunately prone, even as time marches on and proves us to be marching in tandem with mainline Protestants in many of the issues we were once cutting edge.
Colleagues, be respectful and respectable. Wear structured clothing. Wear a suit. Wear clericals if you want to identify as clergy. Leave off the stoles flapping in the wind, as you are not officiating at a wedding or performing a pastoral function. Stoles are not public symbols of ordained ministry and often look goofy over street clothes. They are highly individualistic (“This is my denominational stole! This is my rainbow unicorn quilted stole! This is my home congregation design stole! This is my I Love Nature And Horses stole!”) and can ruin a photograph by being askew. They are liturgical vestments and do not really belong in the streets, but if you feel strongly about wearing one, please do not make it a denominational slogan. Please do not time-stamp an historic moment by wearing a transient symbol. I know that the Standing On The Side Of Love campaign is not denominational and purely Unitarian Universalist. That isn’t the point. The point is that this moment is not about team pride of any kind. It is about human history, legacy, remembrance, martyrdom and justice. None of those things should be cheapened by flagrant displays of specialness or separateness.
Some UUs may object: “I’m clergy but I’m not Christian and do not wish to wear clericals because that has no integrity.”
Then don’t wear clericals. Exchanging clericals for an unrecognizable, distracting symbol at a moment of high national importance is about your need to be identified in photos as a particular flavor of religious leader, not about making a visual, emotional, psychological statement for the ages.
It’s not about you or our tiny denomination, and if Unitarian Universalist cheerleading and preferred Rainbow Brite colors palette was going to win converts to our movement, I am certain that would have happened by now.
Part of the power of this image taken fifty years ago is that you cannot tell the participants apart by creed or denomination, church-goer, atheist, layman or clergy. They are elegant, they are dignified, they are one people.
Part of the power of this image taken fifty years ago is that you cannot tell the participants apart by creed or denomination, church-goer, atheist, layman or clergy. They are elegant, they are dignified, they are one people.
I wonder what has happened in the past fifty years to make clericals such a common choice for an event like this today. Or was the march on Selma an anomaly then, and the choice not to wear clericals an unusual and deliberate one?
Amen. Stoles over street clothes are an embarrassment. Drives me bonkers.
I’m a lay person, and agnostic, but where I use to feel it was more important to identify as UU – and maybe not even as religious, I feel the opposite now. I am realizing more and more that at my deepest self – I have more in-common with those who are practicing religion with an open mind, whatever their faith, then I do with those whose world view is strictly secular, however left they are. And sometimes …I think – that each time we UUs point to ourselves as different… each time we distance ourselves from ‘other religions’ – we actually lose some of what we have to give to this world. Lose some of our power, some of our potential to make a difference. I am UU through and through – no mistake. But I am feeling like still – I am more religious – then I am UU. So yes, I would agree. Let’s set aside teams for this one. We are all on the same team – after all. All interconnected. [I LOVE THIS. Thank you for writing. Here, here! – PB]
I always thought Selma was about standing side by side, regardless of colour, denomination or any other determination. I think it appropriate to continue that tradition, not start a new one.
so well said Andrea – as Eric Hoffer commented we are more separated from others by how they believe and not what they believe – and yes I too feel connected to all those others; who were there at Selma the first time from all denominations
In her book DISUNITY IN CHRIST, social psychologist Christina Cleveland gives advice to Christians attempting to work in unity across cultures. Her advice also seems appropriate for UU’s engaging in cross-cultural or multi-cultural or inter-faith work. When one group at an inter-group event spends energy on communicating their own unique identity, it can stem from a group dynamic that is perhaps insecure. A refocus on the denominational identity may help to shore up our confidence in our own group, but it also can unintentionally communicate negativity to other groups participating. It can unintentionally communicate a degree of separation, or a desire for the others to assimilate into our own group, or an unwillingness to accept the other groups on their own terms. If the group emphasizing their own identity contains some elements of higher status (wealth, education, racial/social demographic privilege) it can also unintentionally communicate that we think we are better than you. And ultimately this kind of practice by one group, undermines the possible success of the multi-group endeavor. A certain pragmatic humility requires that we hold our own identity softly, while working for common ground with other groups with different identities. [Gosh, that just sounds like common sense, doesn’t it? It’s always surprising to see people not GET THIS. Thanks, Derek! – PB]
My thoughts after being there. I do like Standing on the Side of Love, and I liked that there were hundreds of UUs there in yellow. Someone told me (no idea if this is true) that we were the only organized religious group there–although there were many, many more African Americans there in organized secular groups. Plus lots of people, both white and black, who must have organized themselves somehow. It was an amazing event, I’m proud that UUs were there 50 years ago, and I’m proud that we got ourselves together to be there this month.
I chose to wear a black clerical shirt and a skirt and sensible heels. I started the day with a jacket and took it off in the sun. Because I was wearing that shirt, I was approached by a journalist from a local Christian radio program, and I got to give my 2 sentence sound byte of what UUism is and why we were in Selma. I know she picked me out because of my collar, and I think I shared more of UUism to her listeners by being interviewed than I would have by wearing a shirt.