As the names of cis and trans black men and women, as well as non-binary folks who have died at the hands of those who are entrusted to protect and to serve continue to pile up in the streets, we the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing shout from the banks of the Delaware River, Black Lives Matter!

The systemic fear and racism that perpetuates the myth that black lives do not matter has echoed through our country too long, and it must end. We acknowledge it has permeated our own individual and collective lives for too long as well. And we renew our commitment to systematically fight to end the ages old centering of whiteness that permeates our culture, our political discourse, our economic system, and our spiritual lives.

We hold ourselves accountable, through our 8th Principle of faith*, that in order to build the Beloved Community, we commit to dismantle this morally bankrupt system, to open our hearts and minds and arms in the realization that this is the only way forward to spiritual wholeness for ourselves, our congregation, our communities and our country. We create space to listen to the voices and needs of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).

Signed,
Rev. Kim Wildszewski, Minister, and
Nathalie Edmond, President of Board of Trustees

*“We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, covenant to affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”