Wait…
Wait…What Does The BBC Do Again?
Happy Spring! With so many new church attendees and getting to be in community again after the COVID lockdown, Building Beloved Community, otherwise known as the BBC, thought a refresher about our group might be helpful. Read on to learn some basics about the BBC, how it is different than the Eighth Principle Implementation Committee, and how you can support anti-racism work in our church!
What is the BBC?
Building Beloved Community (BBC) is a group that was formed out of the adoption of the 8th Principle being voted on and incorporated into our congregation. It serves as an educational arm to support the 8th Principle, which invites us all to dismantle racism in ourselves and institutions. It is made up of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and White congregants.
What activities does the BBC do? How can people participate?
The BBC runs many of the anti-racism activities you will see at church, such as the After Hour Anti-Racism workshops (there are a total of 12, with four new offerings this Spring), book readings, movie nights, and church representation at community events, such as the Annapolis Juneteenth parade and celebration. It is often used as a tool for other church groups and leadership to review policies, workshops, programs, and new ideas to make sure that everything is being seen through a lens that specifically focuses on anti-racist practices.
How is BBC different that the Eighth Principle Implementation Committee?
The Eighth Principle Implementation Committee (EPIC) is a select committee of the board, compared to the BBC, which is a covenant group. This means the EPIC works with church leadership to review, change, and institute anti-racist policies and procedures that have measurable results. It provides accountability for the ministers and the board to ensure that the specific goals decided on by leadership are in progress, transparent, and attainable. The BBC works closely with EPIC to ensure its programming and goals fit within the larger goals of the church, while still providing opportunities for any congregants to participate in anti-racism work.
Can anyone become a member, and if so, how do you get involved?
This year we are focusing on growing the BBC to involve more people in a sub-committee model, so if you are interested in sharing your strengths, we could use your support! Examples of this may be marketing, organizing events, writing, data management, faith formation, etc. Feel free to be creative!
The BBC does have an expectation that members will continue their own education, so there are two books that are required reading to participate but do not need to be read before joining. Those books are Nice Racism – a book that highlights the UU Church specifically to showcase how ‘well-meaning” white people can still perpetuate harm (and how to avoid that!) and Subtle Acts of Exclusion. This book is particularly important, as our church has adopted an SAE model to understand, identify, and stop microaggressions. Learn more about that here. We encourage everyone to read these two books even if you are not a member of the BBC.
Reminder – We don’t grow when we are comfortable!
If you are committed to anti-racism work, especially as a white person, mistakes will be made and there will be times when things are uncomfortable. Please do not allow your concern, discomfort, or perfectionism to dissuade your participation. This is a covenant group, and we work towards spiritual wholeness. Sometimes things can get messy or feel personal, but those moments are opportunities for growth amongst people who care about both you and the growth of the congregation!
BBC members are encouraged to attend 1-2 meetings a month (give or take), either in the evenings or Sundays after church. Please reach out to Nicole at nicole.bruno0413@gmail.com for further information.