𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆

Modern Community Ministers hold both care AND reverence with equal vigor in our day-to-day work, whether non-community ministers and the public realize it or not.

If community ministry is caring for the world outside the walls of our congregations, then ministering to our community (transposing these words) is a different side of the same coin.

The public, including some Ministers often get the impression that Community Ministers are Called to “care for the world”. This is a misnomer and a half truth. If asked, our network of practicing Community Ministers would share that the whole truth is we are not Called to only care for the world, but to also demonstrate respect and reverence to the many communities in which comprise our world.

This is why some of the first missionaries failed in genuinely helping those they meant to serve. Missionaries stepped forward with the goal to care for the world and missed the mark to the detriment of those they meant to serve. They failed because they lacked respect and reverence for the culture of the people.

Modern Community Ministers hold both care AND reverence with equal vigor in our day-to-day work, whether non-community ministers and the public realize it or not. We don’t expect them to understand the nuances of our community ministries, and yet we are impacted every day, by what they think we do – regardless of how accurate their beliefs may or may not be.

We hold fast to both care and reverence as pillars of commitment. We hold tight to both care for the world and reverence for the communities therein in our continuous discernment against what can otherwise manifest as toxic missionary work or (“white”) savior complex. History has shown that when we care for the world without respect and reverence, people get hurt. Causing harm is the anti-thesis of modern community ministry.

Let’s now consider a modern-day example considering a recent holiday: Indigenous Peoples Day.

Indigenous Peoples Day is one such occasion where Community Ministers are particularly well suited to lead. This holiday intrinsically celebrates the communities that were here before ours and who’s people and cultures continue. We know that care alone works well in our congregations where we know our people and our culture. As Community Ministers, our day-to-day service has taught us that care alone does not translate well beyond the walls where we are less familiar with those we’re serving and their culture. We’ve come to understand that both care and respectful reverence are important mindset perspectives in our profession.

That said, celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day once a year does a disservice to the broader goal of honoring indigenous communities. Just as Indigenous people’s cultures continue, so should our respect. One of the most used methods of attempting to demonstrate continued respect is to offer land acknowledgements. Some Indigenous people consider such acknowledgements as ‘feel-good words’ with little connection to ‘do good actions’.

In a presentation to the Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church in Adelphi, Maryland on October 8th, 2023, Mario Harley, Piscataway Citizen, and Piscataway History instructor at the University of Maryland College Park was asked about his perspective on land acknowledgements. To paraphrase, he said “Land acknowledgments make us feel good in the moment yet do little to advance meaningful change.”

Considering this sentiment, what action might you take as a leader in your ministry or as an affiliated leader in your local congregation? How might you honor and celebrate Indigenous people in ways that evolve from kind words to meaningful action?

Consider that a common stance is that “thoughts and prayers” after a crisis are not sufficient for deep, meaningful change regarding gun violence. We encourage each other to speak out against public servants who offer only thoughts and prayers with no action. However, in our own gatherings among one another, we offer our sincerest, genuine “thoughts and prayers” to the indigenous people in the form of land acknowledgments.

We often don’t see our own hypocrisy and when we do. We either struggle to discern the best course of action without taking any action or we simply make our land acknowledgements wordier (and more sincere), as if giving words more airtime condones our lack of meaningful action.

As a community minister affiliated with a congregation, how might you take the lead in supporting your congregation in meaningful action?

As a community minister in private practice, a chaplain, spiritual director, lay minister, or administrator - how can you use your voice, reach, or resources to demonstrate respect for indigenous people and their culture in a meaningful way?

Below are ten practical suggestions to reflect on:

1. Do research to learn more about the history of your local tribe and share what you learn with others.

2. Donate to local Indigenous and tribal organizations. Chose them for your “share the plate”.

3. Support legislation and organizations working to adopt Indigenous People's Day, federal recognition, or other legislation that indigenous people are advocating for.

4. Have conversations with those around you about the significance and importance of celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day.

5. Read, watch, or listen to art created by Indigenous peoples. Support Indigenous artists.

6. Support Indigenous Owned Businesses.

7. Invite Indigenous speakers to share their history and culture with you community. Compensate them fairly for their time.

8. Is a local Indigenous community hosting an event that’s open to the public? Arrange for some folks from your congregation or network to attend and support it. Consider attending yourself and using the experience as a tool for teaching via a sermon or newsletter article.

9. If offering land acknowledgements, verbally acknowledge that the acknowledge is not sufficient and then say what your community is ‘doing’ to close the gap between words and meaningful action.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 – 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 ‘𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.

Do you find this to be true in your community ministry? Have you tried any of the suggestions above? Do you have any additional suggestions to share? Please contribute to the below comment area so we can learn and share with one another.

In short - have those tough conversations. Give your colleagues grace while still compassionately holding them accountable to our progressive, inclusive values. Teach others by modeling the way. Continue to learn and strengthen your leadership skills. The world and its communities are depending on you.

Leaning on Love,

~ Ebony C. Peace, SPHR, GCDF