Hallie Bowie, President of the Board of Trustees (she/her)
Now more than ever, I am grateful to be part of the community we call the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron. Last night I attended the largest protest march I have been a part of, and the first one that felt a bit scary. So many people! As I stood looking at the police officers facing the crowd, I couldn’t help but think about the shootings that took place at Kent State just over 50 years ago. Fortunately, the protests in Akron yesterday did not end with shootings, but they could have. I am glad I was there, and I am glad that I wasn’t alone. I had guidance from our own Racial Justice Taskforce members about which group of protestors to join, who would share in my goal of non-violent protest. And once I was there, I was very glad to see familiar faces from UUCA .

I am also grateful for the work we have done as a congregation, and especially the fact that we have passed the 8th Principle, covenanting to take actions to accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. It feels good to have already set forth this intention before the events of this past week. Of course, passing the 8th Principle is just a step and much work lies ahead for us as a congregation, both within our church community and in the wider community. Fortunately, we have each other to support us in this work, with each of us bringing our own unique gifts. I needed support in even the simple step of advocating for the 8th Principle: when I first read it, I got caught up in the construction of the words and wanted it to be different. Then I learned more about the ideas each of its phrases represent, and decided each part of it conveys important concepts that need to be included. Later, I was uncertain whether there was time for the congregation to get comfortable with the Principle prior to a vote at the Congregational meeting. The overwhelming support it received made it clear that our church is indeed ready for this work. I am sure there are other aspects where I will need help in addressing habits that contribute to the oppression of others, and I am confident that our church community will provide me with that support. I hope the gifts I bring to the role of president will support others in their work as well.
Yes, we are still in the midst of a pandemic that has turned the way we do church upside down. And yes, we are getting ready to transition to interim ministry with Rev. Kate. These are significant logistical challenges, but they pale in comparison to the challenges so many people face every day of their lives. We will be finding ways to strengthen our connections in the coming months in ways that minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus and we will begin the reflective work of interim ministry. We will do these things because they are necessary to continue the real work of UUCA, our mission of providing a sanctuary of love and welcome for all, dedicated to lifelong intellectual and spiritual exploration, and committed to leading, acting, and speaking for social justice and stewardship of the earth.
I’m looking forward to another year of living our mission together!