Remembering Dr. Jones

“Dismantling a social structure, even reducing it to rubble, does not obliterate its effects.  Nor do diversity policies.  Direct institutional discrimination produces predictable effects - a variety of social defects, deficits, disabilities and disadvantages that can be manipulated indirectly to conserve and preserve historic oppression.  This indirect connection between past and continuing discrimination is easily established by selecting a variable other than race that remains casually and institutionally linked to racism.”

Jones, William R. "Toward a New Paradigm for Uncovering Neo-Racism." Soul Work; Anti-racist Theologies in Dialogue. 

        ed. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley and Nancy Palmer Jones. Boston: Skinner House, 2003. p.157.

Dr. William R. Jones passed way on Friday, July 13, 2012.  

I first met Bill Jones in the early1990‘s when he was conducting training for the UUA's Racial and Cultural Diversity Task Force.  He presented oppression as something complex and insidious, easily disguised and self perpetuating. 

At that time, I was a couple years out of college. In addition to my volunteer work with the UUA, I was consulting with many Fortune 500 companies, custom designing and implementing training programs to make management practices more inclusive and supportive of historically marginalized groups.  

Dr. Jones’ teachings were both sobering and frustrating.  

I feared that, while my work might make the workplace more tolerable for some,  it was likely to have little or no institutional impact.  I sought out Dr. Jones after the training in hopes that he would sooth my mini crisis of career and faith.    

But, Bill Jones was not one to ease concerns or sooth nerves.  He did point out, however, that there might be more value in what I could LEARN doing consulting, than what I could teach.  

From that day forward, even though my business card said “Principal Consultant”, my mindset said “Student”.  I set out to learn everything I could about oppression and how it operated in some of the most powerful corporate institutions in the country.  

Eight years later, I was appointed by the UUA Board to fill the At-Large Trustee vacancy created when Dr. Jones left prior to the end of his term.  

I was subsequently elected by the General Assembly delegates, and served two full terms as an At-Large Trustee.  However, I never lost the sense that I was in some way still sitting in Bill Jones’ “seat” on the Board.  Using what I had learned about oppression in institutions, I asked tough questions and pressed the Board to continue on its journey to provide counter oppressive leadership and stewardship.  As Chair of the Board's Anti-racism Anti-oppression Multiculturalism Assessment and Monitoring Team, I developed process observation tools and systems theory training for the Board.   And, I never forgot that my most valuable role, even as a leader, was as "student".

William R. Jones was born in the summer of 1933 in Louisville, Kentucky.  General Assembly 2013 will be held in Louisville, Kentucky.  Eighty years after his birth, we will hear the name of Reverend Dr. William R. Jones read at the Service of the Living Tradition in the city where he was born.  

Rest in peace, Dr. Jones. 

http://williamrjones.org/index.php/obituary

Lessons From Justice GA

Most folks agree that Justice GA was a resounding success.  I heard from more than one veteran GA attendee that this was the best GA they had been to.  They reported that this GA seemed more focused and purposeful.  Workshops and worship were aligned and we were able to go deeper with each experience and event.  One attendee stated they felt less overwhelmed than they usually did at the end of GA.  Another said they were energized to go home and make a difference in their own community.

I am exhilarated by the sense of possibility that was cultivated by our time together in Phoenix.  I am looking forward with great anticipation to hearing how we take back our learnings and experiences from Justice GA.

I am also intrigued by what we learned about creating community, working for justice as religious people, and build capacity for action. These process lessons may be as important as any content we learned.  

Among what I take back to my own congregation are these three things: 

Preparation

Our folks on the ground worked for years to nurture relationships and arrange the logistics for our service work.  Thought was also given to the communication provided to attendees prior to GA.  I poured over the pre GA information and was full of anticipation for events to begin.  What type of preparation would better prepare members and friends to show up ready and engaged for each justice, fellowship, and worship event in our congregations?  Our experience in Phoenix would suggest we need a longer trajectory than our church year. 

Purpose

Our tolerance and encouragement for folks having their own paths can mean that we struggle to focus collectively on a singular purpose. Yet, when we gather with a clear and focused purpose we feel the strength and power of our love magnified, we experience connection and community, and we are transformed.  What spiritual work needs to be done for us to do this better and more often? 

Purple Shirts

Well trained leaders in purple shirts provided spiritual focus, comfort, attention.  They were visible.  They called us to our best selves.  There was a Purple Shirt on every bus.  Who are the Purple Shirts in our congregations?  Can we ensure that there is a Purple Shirt on every “bus” or at every event to attend to our spirits and call us to our best selves?  

Preparation, focused purpose, and visible and attentive leadership helped ensure that Justice GA was religious, effective and meaningful.   These are things we can take home to build community, commitment and capacity in our own congregations.