One of the most challenging parts of community is that when we choose to be in
relationship with one another we are agreeing to put part of ourselves in the hands of
others. Not everyone holds us with the love and care that we deserve. Inevitably,
community includes harm. We live in a society that thrives on oppression. In a society
that teaches us it is okay for some to have power over others, evidenced by white
supremacy culture, capitalism, patriarchy, transmisogyny, etc., we learn from our
youngest days that exploiting power in relationship to others is, seemingly, natural. This
is a lie we are taught, a painful lie. This lie so often results in interpersonal harm that
manifests in many forms.

YRUU was not immune from the pains of interpersonal harm. Participants in YRUU
experienced sexual violence, bullying, physical harassment, body shame, racism. We
were both participants in this behavior and were victimized by it. During this gathering,
we are choosing to come together as a community once again. Some of us will avoid
this gathering because of harm we experienced or perpetrated. Our Universalist
theology reminds us that we are all more than the worst thing we have ever done, and
we are all more than the worst thing that ever happened to us. And yet, that theological
knowledge does not mean we can move forward in right relationship without
accountability.

Organizers of this event want to provide space for those who have experienced harm to
share, via email or phone call, needs to make involvement in this space feel most
possible. Are there individuals you experienced victimization by who you would be
unable to share space with? Are there people you have harmed who you want to be
accountable to? Are there transformative justice and healing needs you have that would
be healing for you when we gather? We will have at least one transformative
justice/restorative justice circle time during the gathering recognizing the harm and
healing needed in this community. It will be imperfect. It will be insufficient. It will also be
part of embodying a theology of abolition, a theology of Universalism, a theology that
honors an unfractured divine long articulated by Unitarianism.

We will not promise that all harm will be healed. We will not promise to remove all
people who have caused harm from the gathering. We will not promise to do this
entirely right. We do promise, however, to listen and to act. We promise to believe you
about your experiences. We promise to honor the healing work you have already done.
If there are ways we can move forward that would feel best to you, we are very open to
hearing it. Unitarian Universalism teaches us that no one is disposable. It also teaches
us that we are responsible for our individual actions. We will not ignore suffering; we will
engage honestly. Please feel bold in reaching out and articulating your needs. We may
not be able to meet them all, we almost assuredly will not be able to, and we will
accompany one another in this journey.

In faithful solidarity,
Jason Lydon and Lindsay Caddle LaPointe