April 24 Program at All Souls Church Features Carol Moseley Braun

Watch the service at All Souls Church (Real Video Instructions)

On the night before the largest march for reproductive rights in the history of the United States, more than 700 Unitarian Universalists crowded into the sanctuary of All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, DC to celebrate the UU history of leadership in women's reproductive health issues and hear the words of Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun and the Rev. William G. Sinkford, UUA President.

UUA Moderator Gini Courter welcomed guests to Washington and acted as host for the evening. She introduced the Rev. Roberta Finkelstein, a former nurse, who offered a prayer for the events that brought people to Washington. Finkelstein was followed by the Rev. Deborah Mero, a leader in witnessing for reproductive health issues, who shared some of the history of UU involvement in the issue.

Mero spoke about the work of Blanche Ames Ames in the 1930's; the clergy – including the Revs. David Rhys Williams, Farley Wheelwright, and Richard Gilbert -- who helped women find safe illegal abortions through the work of the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion ; and those who are leading the way today to continue witnessing for the right to choose abortion.

Courter introduced Amy Hetrick, a young adult working for the organization Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom , who reflected on youth involvement in the continuing struggle to retain reproductive rights. Hetrick was followed by former UUA Moderator Denny Davidoff, who discussed the history of women in advancing UU issues. Davidoff, a member of the UU Women's Federation Restructuring Task Force and former President of that group, introduced Kierstin Homblette, the first UU Women's Federation Clara Barton Intern for Women's Issues in the UUA's Washington Office, to the gathered crowd, and asked for their support in raising additional funds to endow this internship in future years.

Following a brief intermission, the Rev. Robert Hardies, senior minister of All Souls Church , introduced the Rev. William G. Sinkford, UUA President, to the audience. Hardies spoke about the role that All Souls Church has played as a gathering place for people involved in struggles for civil rights over the years. He referred to the bell in the church steeple, cast by Paul Revere's son, which because known as the 'abolition bell' because it rang for freedom during the struggles that marked the Civil War. Hardies said, “this bell rings for freedom, and it will ring again tomorrow as we leave this church to witness for women's rights.”

Rev. Sinkford took the microphone, speaking with passion and commitment about the role of Unitarian Universalism as a faith that “manifests its life in witness to the wider world.” Sinkford talked about the UUA's recent work in support of same sex marriage and voter registration, and said, “We need to reclaim a religious voice of liberalism in the public dialogue. Religious fundamentalists believe there is only one way to be a citizen, an American, a family. Liberal religion knows differently. We are the most pluralistic society ever known…we are diverse, and we are all good citizens.”

He continued, “It is possible to shape a society where we all can live in peace…for we know that there is not one way, there are twelve gates to the city, and we value them all. As we march tomorrow, do not think this is only about politics. Understand that you march for women's lives as religious people – making a faith commitment to this issue. We have much to bring to the table with our vision of the beloved community. We come together to grow and nurture the spirit; to offer a place where no one is punished because of who they are or what they are; to lift up a faith where hope is possible and love is affirmed.”

Resounding cheers greeted Sinkford's remarks, and Hardies introduced former Senator and Ambassador to New Zealand Carol Moseley Braun . Braun, who ran for the democratic party nomination for the presidency of the US earlier this year, reflected on her role as an African American leader in this country and said, “I was born in America at the very beginning of the end of apartheid in this country, into a family of black Catholics. I was able to get an education in Chicago because of Brown vs. the Board of Education. I went to college because of commitment to that education which was the way to preserve a civil society.”

Braun reviewed some of the milestones of her own career, as she became a state representative, a US senator, then an Ambassador. She said, “Without the contributions of individuals of good will, we could not make change or gather as we do now.” She reflected on the words of the late Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX) who said, “People want an America that is as good as its promise.” ”When we choose to stand up, to act for social justice,” Braun said, “the spark is passed and America is made better. Each voice, each contribution can change hearts as well as minds.”

She asked, “What does it mean to be free? At a minimum, that women are entitled to make decisions about their own health. At a minimum, that all people have the same rights. The vision that shaped the Constitution suggests that all people have access to the blessings of liberty and the rights of citizenship. We can act to make our inalienable rights reality, or leave them a dream deferred.”

She concluded, “Thank you for your voice, for your commitment to make our country better. Thank you for your patriotism.”

Braun then fielded questions, including one from an individual asking her position on same sex marriage. She responded that she viewed the struggle for marriage equality as a civil rights struggle. She reflected on her own research paper, done while a student in the law school of the University of Chicago, on miscegenation laws, and reflected that the struggle which allowed people of different races to marry is the same struggle as the one in which people are now engaged, to support same sex marriage. And in responding to the question, she noted an exchange she had had with an African American minister who had said he would “rather ride with the KKK than support same sex marriage.” Braun indicated that her response to the minister was that “you ARE riding with the KKK.”

As the evening closed, Braun stayed to greet audience members while a group of UU lay and ordained leaders traveled to the Capitol Reflecting Pool to participate in a candlelight vigil for women's reproductive rights. The vigil, led by the Rev. Meg Riley, UUA Director of Advocacy and Witness, included poems, prayers, songs, personal sharing, and silence. The setting, as participants gazed up at the lit capitol dome and reflected on the struggle that brought them to Washington, was compelling and allowed for a quiet and meditative end to a day of action and witness.

Back to full UUA Coverage of April 25 March for Women's Lives

-- Reported by Deborah Weiner; photographs by Nancy Pierce/UUA

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