During my second year at Cedar Valley UU, I worked with the minister to design an internship project. We created a year-long initiative aimed toward raising the cultural competency of the congregation as a whole, and challenging individuals and committees within the church to stretch themselves in their ability to understand and grapple with differences and systems of oppression.<\/p>\n
We used Crossing Boundaries as our theme for the year, tying in sermons, a monthly forum for discussing our experiences, adult programming, and newsletter articles. In the Weekly Update, we included a link to an article discussing topics that were geared toward raising cultural awareness. Within a few weeks, “boundary crossing” had become part of the vocabulary of the congregation, meaning to stretch oneself to learn or do something that was new or perhaps felt a bit risky.<\/p>\n
The centerpiece of the initiative was “Crossing Boundaries: Passport to Adventure” – a curriculum I wrote that offers suggestions for activities in each of eight different dimensions of cultural competency. The church printed enough passport booklets for each person to have one, if they wished. It included questions for reflection, with space to jot down thoughts right in the passport.<\/p>\n
Here is the feedback that Sharon Welch, professor and Provost at Meadville Lombard, wrote about this project when I handed in my final project:<\/p>\n
Lynda, this is an exemplary project ! May we share it with other students, Board members, TP, etc? You have so clearly identified why border crossing matters, and have found a way to make that same importance clear to members of a congregation . By the example activities you give, you help people see where border crossing is already part of their lives and where it can play a better role. The questions you ask about border crossing – focusing on what you need to do to prepare, and then acknowledging that as much as there are positives, there will be things that are hard as well – are just what people need to enter this process respectfully and learn from it. The range of activities is so well done- allowing people to enter the process at their own level of readiness. Excellent work!<\/p>\n
-Sharon Welch<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Crossing Boundaries: Passport to Adventure is now being used by Meadville Lombard Theological School as a prime example of what an intern can accomplish through their internship project (“Focused Initiative”).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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