Tikkun Magazine, July/August 2010, Online Exclusives
Finding, Embracing, and Engaging the Least of These
Building Truly Beloved Community
by Tonyia M. Rawls
To create truly beloved community we must each accept the fact that at any given point in time we are a "have" and a "have not." Both seats should be used to impact and inform. In April 2008, the incredible honor was bestowed upon me of being consecrated as one of the first women bishops of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM). After 25 years of fighting for social, political and religious justice, our denomination's founder, Archbishop Carl Bean, elevated Bishop Jacquelyn Holland and me because it was important to him that the "highest seats of leadership reflect the denomination's commitment to having its message of inclusion and diversity line up with actual lived experiences."
As a woman, a person of color, and a lesbian, I am all too aware of what it means to walk up to and into rooms that do not have many like me in them. So much is currently being shaped and framed within our progressive faith movement. It is exciting to see increasing numbers of communities of faith and their leadership grappling with issues of diversity, true welcome, and engagement, particularly as it relates to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people. This work, and Jesus' teachings on service to the "least of these," inspired one of my first acts as a Bishop: find who among us were at the farthest margins of religious life within the progressive faith community and identify ways to reach, embrace and engage them. The group identified was transgender people of color.
There is great work being done by many to help insure that doors to houses of worship are being opened wider to welcome the presence and vast contributions of transgender women and men. From California to New York, transgender voices are being heard and are helping to formulate policies within faith communities, government, and the funding world. These efforts are going far to support the development of safe, affirming, and inclusive spaces for the transgender community.
As the sounds of transgender voices grow louder within the broader movement, sadly, a deafening silence exists in reference to transgender people of color. This group is often underrepresented in research, at organizing tables, and as recipients of direct funding streams. In response to this, the TransFaith Summit 2010 was established by the Charlotte-based Freedom Center for Social Justice (FCSJ), of which I am of the executive director. The initial results have excited as we have gathered transgender people of color from across the country to work as central organizers for this event where the broader transgender community and allies will gather for training, support, networking, and movement-building.
The process for the TransFaith Summit began with a convening in October 2009, where twenty transgender people of color gathered to participate in visioning, networking, resource sharing, and planning for the 2010 Summit. Delegates also worked with members of the FCSJ team to discuss ways that progressive and faith communities could build more welcoming, inclusive, and engaging environments.
We are expecting 200 participants at this event, which will be held October 8-10, 2010, at the Radisson Los Angeles Westside Hotel. The Summit will include sessions on topics such as "Building More Welcoming and Inclusive Faith Communities", "Legal Matters", and "Living Authentic Lives". Over these two days, leadership development will be transformed into advocacy.
In closing, revolutionary activism happens most often at the far-flung areas of community. When we dare venture into these areas in order to effect change and offer welcome, the entire community and movement benefits. The journey there and back requires courage, creativity, and reflection, all of which can be transformative in ways that transcend the intended population served and take us all to higher heights.
Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls is Executive Director of the Freedom Center for Social Justice in Charlotte, NC. Info@TransFaithInColor.org
