Reconciliation, Belonging and Engagement

The first of two Belonging and Engagement workshops was held on Sept. 29, 2025 and featured Implicit Bias Training from the Virginia Synod Tapestry Team.

The link to the recorded portions of the workshop is …

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MYgNwLDL4ffWQp2l9o5nskGRgaIfTym-/view?usp=drive_link

Key Take-Aways section at the end of our time together:

• (Holly) – impressed at how much of this (bias) is biological

• (Ted & Eric) – the Stroop Test was a great device, unconscious bias circle helped deepen the concept in our learning

• (Andy) – the removal of the fence in the equity image was new to her

• (Ellen) – there were new entries/additions on the ‘wheel’/unconscious bias circle

• (Maureen) – just because you’ve learned something doesn’t mean that others have and vice versa

• (Eileen) – reminder to stop and question oneself about how bias may be affecting how one interprets what one sees/hears

Here is the 3- part article that we promised:

Part 1: Diversity https://queerutheran.substack.com/p/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-a

Part 2: Equity     https://queerutheran.substack.com/p/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-a-8b9

Part 3: Inclusion https://queerutheran.substack.com/p/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-a-c3e

We closed with the blessing with which the DWF Assembly was closed:

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things that other tell you cannot be done.

And as you go, may the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the companionship of the Holy Spirit, be and abide with you, now and forever.

Amen!