How do we integrate our commitment to becoming an anti-racist church with our historic giving practices and already established relationships? How do we transform systems of oppression with our resources? How do we not pit values and priorities against each other? These are just some of the questions Justice & Love in Action (formerly Board of Wider Mission) has been wrestling with as we steward the money Edwards so generously gives out each year. This year, we used an amazing process facilitated by Mary Memmott.
First, we identified the most important issues/topics/actions we want to address in the world. Those are: dignity & self-agency; eco-justice; just community; LGBTQ rights (ONA); racial justice; right to home, health, wholeness and safety. We wrote each one on big piece of paper on the wall. Next, we took a list of all the organizations we’ve given to or partnered with in the last 2 years and put them on the appropriate list (recognizing that some fit on multiple lists). Then, we identified which of the follow screens was true for each organization: (B) BIPOC leadership; (L) long-term relationship in place/possible; (O) opportunities for members to be involved; (T) an organization transforming systems of oppression. Finally, we stepped back, looked at the whole, and discerned our giving.
It was a very insightful and valuable practice. It made clear where we are strong in living our values and where we need to strengthen. It helped us move past personal preferences to communal commitments. It gave us clarity in our decision making. Often, meetings like this can be draining, as they focus us on the scarcity of our resources in the face of the needs of the world. However, this process focused us on the sufficiency of what we can do, and its impact. Because of that, I (and I think others), left this meeting energized and renewed. We’re better for it and I’m grateful.
Liz Garrigan-Byerly, for Justice in Love & Action
We will present a full breakdown in this year’s annual report, but here is a list of the organizations we have contributed to in 2022:
¬ Tasty Harvest Kitchen Gardens
¬ Palm Sunday Pony
¬ Quilts for Kenya
¬ LGBT Asylum Support Task Force
¬ Southern New England Conference, UCC
¬ Stearns Farm
¬ Families for Justice and Healing
¬ Massachusetts Interfaith Power and Light
¬ OUT Metrowest
¬ Tree For Life
¬ MLK Youth, Greater Fram. Community Church
¬ Open Spirit
¬ Metrowest Free Medical Program
¬ Adult ESL
¬ CASA
¬ Hospitality Common, Inc.
¬ Community Chaplaincy Council
¬ Facing History and Ourselves
¬ Roxbury Pres. Church Social Impact Center
¬ Programs for People