Multicultural Commitments
The first "end" of our church as voted by our Board of Trustees is to "strive to become an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural congregation."
West Shore looks like a predominantly, even overwhelmingly white church, which is typical for Cleveland's predominantly white western suburbs. yet we are deeply aware of the many hidden diversities among our members, involved with our ethnic heritages, our adopted and foster children, our cultural experiences. The people of color who attend West Shore are part of Us! So it's actually wrong, (and racist) to say we are a "white church". What we would like to be able to say is that we are a predominantly white anti-racist anti-oppressive congregation seeking to be allied with oppressed people within our membership and our larger community.
We also include within our members and visitors many people from historically and currently marginalized groups - people with disabilities,
people with differing linguistic abilities, different age groups, and different sexual orientations. For more information about why we say the church's covenant in Spanish and in English, click here.
Diversity Change Team
The Diversity Change Team was appointed by the Board of Trustees in 2008 to manage and monitor our institutional work in fulfilling the end of becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural congregation. The Diversity Change is coached by a UUA "JUUST Change" consultant, reports regularly to the Board of Trustees, and meets with committees and teams in the church to encourage them in their roles towards accomplishing this end.
Inclusivity Ministry (formerly Undoing Racism)
The goal of the Inclusivity Ministry at West Shore is to engage the whole congregation in changing attitudes, policies, and behaviors that intentionally or unintentionally exclude people outside the majority of our members.
Originally convened as the Undoing Racism group by our Parish Co-Minister Wayne Arnason in 2000, the Inclusivity Ministry adopted this new identity in 2007. Over the years we have offered the congregation regular programs and workshops that educate us about the links between different oppressions, the realities of racism in our lives, the burden disguised as blessing that is white privilege, and the ways that we can function as white anti-racist and anti-oppression allies. We have used film and training resources recommended by the UUA.
We have sought linkages and connections with other UU anti-oppression activists in nearby congregations, and with community groups and programs that share our goals. We engage in study, witness, and action. Our current work includes leadership for classes in the Path to Multicultural Competency, available to all members and friends.
Inclusivity Ministry meets the third Tuesday of the month, at 7:30 p.m.
West Shore Racial Justice Timeline
The goal in developing the Racial Justice Timeline was for West Shore members to get to know our history in relation to African-American racial justice. We believe it’s important to have this information in our archives for future generations as well as for the work of the Diversity Change Team. The Timeline Committee met for over a year researching events that would help us understand our growth as a church in regard to social justice. The Timeline traces events from West Shore’s founding in 1946 until 2010. Click here to see a PDF copy of the Timeline.
