By Jean Fowler
Coming Oct. 19: “Transgender Inclusion in Congregations” – Offered by the Welcoming Congregations Committee

This eight-session Zoom course, beginning on Oct. 19, is designed to support our congregation as we strive to become ever more Welcoming to All – to include being fully inclusive and affirming of people of all genders.  Our initial offering will be limited to 12 participants who we ask to commit to attending all 8 sessions between Oct. 19, 2020 and Feb. 8, 2021 from 7-9 p.m.   Register for the course at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0LqIRHlN-EbXGJlg-7ewFVLN6FovllsRva52MAeGKPyLyKw/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Several members of the Welcoming Congregation Committee have gone through this curriculum themselves and highly recommend it.

The course was created by the Transforming Hearts Collective, a team of amazing trans UU religious professionals, and uses pre-recorded videos and guided conversations to deepen our understanding of gender identity and expression in spiritual community. This class is an important step in living WUUC’s Welcome Congregations commitment, and we invite you to be part of it.

This curriculum was developed by a collective of individuals that include Zr. Alex Kapitan and Rev. Mykal Slack, who are the presenters of the course. Many of you may remember Rev. Mykal Slack’s prayer during the Sunday service at this year’s Unitarian Universalist General Assembly [[https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2020/sunday-worship (starting at 30 minutes and 30 seconds into the video)]

Through six hour-long video lectures, followed by Zoom group discussions, we will:

** explore mainstream narratives about who trans people are;

** explore our understanding of non-binary identities and

** enhance our skills in relationship-building

Participants will be asked to watch each video prior to the group gathering where we will consider discussion questions, share personal experiences and reflect on our understanding of gender-based issues.  The last session will focus on how we can put our learning into practice and enhance WUUC’s Welcome to All.

You can learn more about the curriculum at the collective’s website https://www.transforming heartscollective.org/

The Course will be offered on the following dates:

Oct. 19 – Introductions, Covenanting, Course Outline

Nov. 2 – Introduction to Beloved Community:  Welcome as a Spiritual Practice

Nov. 16 – Gender and Our Faith Community

Nov. 30 – Unpacking the Gender Binary

Dec. 14 – Trans Experience and Spirituality

Jan. 11 – The Role of Culture in Trans Exclusion

Jan. 25 – Creating Culture Shift

Feb. 8 – Closing – Final Reflections – Making it Real at WUUC

For Additional Questions contact:  welcoming@wuuc.org