Dear UBE Family,
We shall not, we shall not be moved. We shall not, we shall not be moved. Just like a tree, that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved.
I sang this song often as I grew up, as many of you may have as well. It bears witness to a steadfast resolve to achieve racial justice and equality despite the odds. It has been sung by slaves, freedom riders, protesters, and marchers alike in the fight for civil rights and freedom. Especially during these present days, it reminds us of UBE’s longstanding purpose and mission. We strive to eradicate racism within the Church, and in society, as we promote the inclusion of blacks at every level of Church governance and stand with all oppressed peoples. UBE shall not be moved.
REGIONAL CONFERENCES: We continue to demonstrate our commitment by carrying on despite COVID-19 with its disproportionate impact upon brown and ebony bodies. While we grieve the loss of beloved UBE members and the financial trauma many are experiencing, we have responded creatively to our new realities by moving to a virtual platform for our regional conferences, three of which already have been held (Western Region on May 2, Southeast Region on May 23, and Mid-Atlantic Region on June 6). Our remaining Regional Conferences will be held on June 13 (Northeast Region), June 20 (Midwest Region) and June 27 (Southwest Region). Please watch your email for the Zoom meeting invite. During these conferences, our national leadership provides an overview of the lay of the land for UBE as of the end of 2019 as well as some practical tips for chapter development.
TALK 2 TALK: A special thank for our UBE members who have attended one or more of our virtual Talk 2 Talk offerings. Designed to inspire, inform and empower, Talk 2 Talk gatherings occur every third Sunday from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET, with special offerings added as our context dictates. Just last week, we offered a session on Congregational and UBE Activism in the Face of Social Unrest. Earlier topics included sustaining mental health during a pandemic and being counted with your vote and census submission. We invite you to write in and tell us what you want to hear discussed as we aim to remain both timely and relevant.
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING JULY 25: We also have moved our Annual Business Meeting to Zoom. The 2020 UBE Business Meeting will be held on Saturday, July 25, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm ET. To provide time to adequately entertain your questions about finances, budget, proposed by-law changes and resolutions, we also will hold pre-hearings on July 11 and July 18. Be on the lookout for a special Eblast with details on the Annual Business Meeting, Pre-hearings, and how you can support UBE financially by becoming a Patron of these events.
As you can see, we are endeavoring in a rapidly changing environment to be responsive and helpful to you, our members, and chapters, and to The Episcopal Church. Working with the TEC Office of Black Ministries and the UBE Executive Committee, we celebrate having been one of the first organizations to step forth and bring people together in response to the death of George Floyd and resulting protests. The recording of our Prayer Vigil for Racial Justice and the Healing of our Nation will soon be available on our website, along with other recordings from our regional conferences and Talk 2 Talk gatherings. We thank Mother Lynn Collins for lending her technological expertise to making those videos possible.
We shall not, we shall not be moved. We shall not, we shall not be moved. Just like a tree, that’s planted by the water, we shall not be moved.
Your sister in Christ,
Rev. Kim