The theme for September is “Welcome”, and we will have many opportunities to explore what that means this month. One of the options for exploration that I put together for the children in our new Sunday classroom set up is a challenge to construct a wooden block structure that is accessible for a doll in a wheelchair. As I was looking for dolls in wheelchairs I discovered a story I hadn’t known, about a discontinued doll - Barbie’s friend Becky who was in a wheelchair. Becky was released in 1997, but there was a problem - Becky’s wheelchair wouldn’t fit in the Barbie Dreamhouse. Basically, Barbie’s friend couldn’t come to Barbie’s house because it wasn’t accessible. Becky was discontinued soon after.
Wow. That story really hits me hard and is just chock full of symbolism for how our world is or is not built to make sure that everyone is welcome. Since then, Mattel has released a “Wheelchair Barbie” with Barbie herself in a wheelchair, but the story of Becky being left out and then discontinued still feels really important to me. When we find that our “Dreamhouse” (or Mojo Dojo Casa House if we are Ken) isn’t actually welcoming to all, do we adapt to be more inclusive or do some folks simply end up left out?
Now OUUC’s building is actually pretty accessible, and we do focus here on accessibility needs. And it’s not perfect. But to truly be welcoming, to practice radical hospitality and inclusion, takes work. It takes remembering and preparing for needs that you may not personally have. It takes attention to barriers and working to remove them once you are aware of them. It takes a willingness to hear and acknowledge difference and mistakes, and to separate your intent from your impact. It takes learning and being willing to change. For us to put our faith into action around welcome is really the exact opposite of savior paternalistic styles of “I will change the world and save others”. For us to put our faith into action around welcome is about us as a community recognizing when we need to change, when we need to expand the doorways of our DreamHouse, or start putting pronouns on our nametags, or giving visual descriptions in worship services.
I believe this is one of the most important tasks of a faith community, to be a place of true welcome. So during this month as we focus on this theme, may we all put our faith into action right here by working together to be truly Welcoming and make room for all who would join us in our DreamHouse.
If you want to do some Skills Up training or explore this topic further, please attend the All Volunteer Training on Welcome and Inclusion, Sunday September 24th, 12:30-1:30pm. Anyone interested, and all who volunteer in any way at OUUC, are welcome. A simple lunch will be provided.
