GBHEM: NASCUMC Takes Action for Justice and Dignity
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) has provided an update on the implementation of the Justice and Dignity Initiative, which stemmed from a resolution passed by the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church (NASCUMC).
The resolution, passed in February, requires two commitments of each United Methodist school: first, to sponsor a series of conversations on justice and dignity; and second, to assess its own institutional practices and take explicit action to reshape its policies and culture to foster more fully the dignity of all people. STH joined the unanimous resolution, and Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore is chair of NASCUMC’s mission committee.
From July 26-29, NASCUMC held its annual meeting, which included an orientation to the Justice and Dignity Initiative and a review of resources that can help member schools implement those commitments. Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore provided some guidance on how schools can begin having difficult conversations:
Moore explained four steps in designing these conversations: selecting a topic, trying to hear as many voices as possible, conducting the conversations and respecting rules for the conversations.
Moore led the group in some training in how to create “spaces where wise people can talk with one another.” Four volunteers formed a circle, sharing issues and experiences from their home campuses. The rules were clear, and included such things as: listening to even the “ugliest truths,” respecting the dignity of all—including those not present—and not making assumptions about the motivations of others.
Dean Moore said that race will be one of the primary conversations at Boston University School of Theology in the coming year: “There were deep, deep feelings as we ended this year. We have to have this conversation with a lot of honesty, respect and compassion.”
The meeting also included an orientation of the Justice and Dignity’s new resource database, a place where schools can share syllabi, events, policies, and plans with other schools, while learning from the resources of other schools. STH has shared a variety of resources with this database, with more to come in the following months.