This season has revealed to us again just how much power xenophobia has in our culture, and how it can be manipulated to serve the power and privilege of the few. The fear of the “other” has deep roots in this land and has shaped us in untold ways. Yet so many of our religious and spiritual traditions teach us that we have a unique responsibility to care for and build community with those who are deemed “other” in our contexts. So how might we lean into this sacred calling of care and community as we prepare for what lies ahead?
One way we can think about growing our capacity for spiritually-rooted care and community “for such a time as this” is through tending our practices of community safety. These times invite us to ask: How do we keep one another safe? How can congregations respond to conflicts and emergencies without relying on state agents? What do we do if our congregations are targeted for violence? What community safety practices can we engage in now that also help us build the world we long for?
The Liberating Lineages Collective believes that congregations can build an ecology of community safety that is rooted in care, investing in each other, believing in each other, and trusting each other and the rhythms and cycles around/within us. And we’re ready to help you do it!
Access our free Building Congregational Community Safety online training series to begin or continue your journey and expand your toolkit of care and community with and for the “others” in our midst and for those of us who are ourselves considered “others.”
The training series from August-September 2024 is led by the Liberating Lineages Collective and hosted by the United Church of Christ (UCC). Click here to register for access to all four videos and the accompanying resources on Frontline Faith. Registration is completely free, simple, and does not sign you up to receive emails or other information from the UCC.
Want to go deeper? Contact us to see how we can work with you and your community to help you grow your community safety practices. Join us in creating communities that invest in care and collective liberation by working together to keep each “other” safe.