WEAV
A Unitarian Universalist Congregational Curriculum
About WEAV
What does it mean to do collective liberatory justice work? How can UU congregations respond to the multiple and intersecting realities of injustice, suffering, and oppression in our lives and our world? What models of justice organizing and sustainable community invite our commitment? How do we work together toward our common aims and in alignment with our UU values?
WEAV is a curriculum designed for congregations seeking to build spiritual community engaged in counter-oppressive, sacred social change. Through this 10-week small group ministry program, participants experience a framework for engaging in collective justice work with the goal of bridging the gap between our current reality and the ideal of Beloved Community.
WEAV is an acronym:
W: Who are Unitarian Universalists?
E: Embodied Justice
A: Advocacy
V: Vision
WEAV is an outgrowth of Starr King School for the Ministry’s Educating to Counter Oppression and Create Just and Sustainable Communities (“ECO”) foundational course in our Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Social Change programs. WEAV was created in response to feedback shared by Starr King alumni serving in congregations that a similar course was needed for UU congregations. It incorporates SKSM’s ECO philosophy. WEAV explores:
- Ways of relating in historic and systemic injustice as well as in communities of resistance;
- Resilience and self-care practices to nourish the soul and enhance trust in community; and
- Restorative processes incorporated from “Thresholds of Collective Wisdom” (Arrien and O’Neill) for mending and revitalizing spiritual community when harm has occurred.
Drawing on the wisdom of SKSM alumni, UU clergy of color, and educational, restorative, and Small Group Ministry processes, WEAV prepares UU congregants for deeper engagement with each other to help our congregations and communities live out our values and advance the Beloved Community.
WEAV participants practice together learning how to do this work in our congregations and in the wider world by reflecting on various aspects of relationality:
- How can we redefine our community to advance the Beloved Community?
- How can we develop relational skills beyond dominant lenses and move forward together?
- How do we engage in the difficult work within our community to do the work that is required in the world?
Four Pillars
The WEAV program was designed in a small group ministry format and is grounded in four foundational pillars:
Who & What are UUs?
Understanding and Building Our Spiritual Community
Embodied Justice
Building a Just Culture Countering White Supremacy Culture
Advocacy
Developing Trauma Exposure Awareness, Self-Care Practices, and Ally Practices for Right Relationship
Vision
Beloved Community: Commitment to Radical Love, Reparative and Restorative Processes Including Regeneration
These four pillars bring together Starr King’s ECO model and the four quadrants of UU congregations. Moreover, as addressing harm done within UU communities calls for a restoration and reconciliation process, we also integrated a process from “Thresholds of Collective Wisdom” into the program. “Thresholds” was developed by Angeles Arrien and Patrick O’Neill, professional mediators who participated in the South African Truth and Reconciliation proceedings, to address the universal principles and skills that build and support collective wisdom. WEAV integrates the “Thresholds” process and reflections and applies them to the UU Vision.
Why WEAV Was Developed
Created by Dr. Shannon Frediani, the program was developed in response to Starr King alumni feedback compiled from our 2021 ECO survey research, the UUA’s 2020 “Widening the Circle of Concern” report, and the recommendations of our school’s Team ECO, faculty, staff, and consultants. Data shows that harm is still being done within UU communities as those communities reckon with what it means to live into our values and to build a multicultural spiritual community. WEAV was created to address this harm and to help bridge the gap between the reality within many UU communities and our vision of a UU beloved community.
SKSM recognized the ultimate success of their mission, to equip Unitarian Universalist and other progressive religious leaders with the tools to help dismantle white supremacy culture, depends on also equipping the congregations and communities those leaders will serve.
Testimony
The First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco (UUSF) participated in the first test of the WEAV program to great success.
“Even though it was a small sample [in the WEAV pilot program], I feel it has created ripples through our congregation,” said Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life at UUSF. “I am constantly being asked when I will be offering the next round of sessions and I am excited to offer it again in the fall and the spring.”
Who Is WEAV For?
UU’s who want to build their capacity for leadership and integrity; those who want to dive deeper into what it means to be a UU and our values.
How to Sign Up?
SKSM is currently offering the WEAV training as a fall course (Sept thru early Dec). One need not be a SKSM student to take the course. A Special Student designation for WEAV enrollment can be obtained by applying below.
A special thank you to the Lilly Foundation and Hinckley Foundation for their generous funding of this program.
Have questions about becoming a Facilitator or having WEAV in your congregation? Contact Matthew for more information about becoming a facilitator or Shannon Frediani for more information on hosting WEAV in your congregation.