Threats from Without, Care from Within: Congregational Safety in Troubled Times 210

Opening Worship

• Faith Made Strong: A Centering Service with Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Rev. Mariela Perez-Simons, Rev. Jules Taylor, and Sana Aisenberg.

Congregational Stories

• Responding to a Threat of Violence: All Souls Indianapolis, IN
• Supporting Protesters and Taking Direct Action: First Unitarian Church of Louisville, KY
• Protesters and Non-Member Counter-Protesters: UU Community Church, Portage, MI
• Targeted Hate in Central Alabama

Panel Discussion

This panel of experts from both outside of inside of Unitarian Universalism will explore the current social/political climate that has led to threats from outside entities to our congregations and communities and ways to respond to those threats. What are the threats? How can we prepare for them? What can we do in response to them?

• Co-host, Natalie Briscoe, Regional Lead, Southern Region of the UUA; Co-host, Rev. Ashley Horan, UUA Organizing Strategy Director; Katie Bitz, Western State Center; Freddy Cruz, Western State Center; Liz Kearny, Showing Up For Racial Justice Faith; Rev. Aaron Payson, Trauma Response Ministry

Pre-Recorded Workshops

Congregational Safety 101

with Rev. Sunshine J. Wolfe

Safer congregation work is predominantly about prevention and preparation. Knowing what to do and how to respond to a wide array of possible incidents means a congregation is better prepared in responding if they time comes. This workshop talks about how to prioritize preparation work, what areas to pay attention to, and some basic knowledge on how to respond to everything from fire to a disruptive person to active shooter to protests. This broad overview will help leaders think through the basic steps to preparedness.

Communicating in a Crisis- Strategy and Recommended Practices

with Lisa Gregory, Suzanne Morse, Rev. Lisa Presley

This workshop provides participants with recommended practices, strategies, and tips for communicating internally and externally during a crisis. This will include strategies on communicating within congregations as well as managing relationships with local media outlets.

Learning to Flock as a Faith – A Case Study

Rev. Christine Dance; and Brigitta Vieyra, SURJ (Showing Up For Racial Justice.)

The UU Congregation of Phoenix is striving to live into the collective call of building strong relationships of trust and care with community safety–and we’ve been targeted and harassed by the far right. In this workshop, we explore theological grounding for practices of community safety, share practical lessons from lived experience, and offer a framework of how to dynamically approach harm reduction with deep communal care.

Safer & Stronger: Organizing in Times of Rising Bigotry

with Kate Bitz and Freddy Cruz, Western States Center

As Unitarian Universalist congregations stand up for inclusive values across the country, leadership and members are increasingly dealing with strategic concerns about coalition-building, communicating with the broader community about UU values, and safety. Western States Center staff and fellows will present this session on better understanding the current political and social context, understanding the tactics used by organized bigoted groups, assessing risks, and getting into action for inclusive democracy in your communities.

We Have a Policy for That: Addressing Destructive Behavior at Church

with Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh

Congregations have more power to draw boundaries on participation than they often know! This workshop offers guidance for developing congregational policies to address harassment, disruption, violence, threats of violence, and other forms of destructive behavior in the congregation.

Safer & More Powerful Together: Power & Relationship Mapping Your Community

with Rev. Ashley Horan

The fundamental principle of organizing is that the more individuals, organizations, and movements are able to act in solidarity with one another, the more likely we are to win. Congregations are no exception – we are both able to be more publicly prophetic and keep our members and our communities safer when we are in deep relationship with multifaith and secular partners who share our values and goals. In this workshop, learn some frameworks for mapping relationships and potential partnerships in your community, as well as identifying how to identify allies, targets, and opponents as your work in coalition toward particular goals.

Trauma Response Ministry

with Rev. Aaron Payson

What do you do after your congregation or community has experienced a traumatic event? Join us for a conversation about Trauma Ministry and some of the dynamics that can be anticipated following a trauma or disaster.

2023 FEMA Safe Congregations Training

The training objectives are to:

• Learn best practices related to managing conflict and de-escalating contentious situations.
• Learn how to incorporate these principles into your Emergency Operations Planning.
• Learn life-saving emergency response care.

Introduction to De-escalation

De-escalation Best Practices:

1. Reasoning with an enraged person is not possible. Your only objective should be to “lower the temperature” so that discussion becomes possible.
2. We are all driven to fight, flight or freeze when scared. However, to calm down someone who is angry or upset, you must appear to be calm yourself, even if you aren’t.

Emergency Operations Plans

• What are likely hazards for your congregation?

You Are The Help Until Help Arrives

1. Call 9-1-1
2. Stay Safe
3. Stop the Bleeding
4. Position the Injured
5. Provide Comfort