You're here! Take a breath...

We are an online faith community born in Charlottesville, Virginia...

Once home to Thomas Jefferson who wrote these powerful words:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal".

Yet, however powerfully that statement reverberates in our souls...

it is because we know this is not just about men...it's about women. It's about people who use wheelchairs. It's about people of color. It's about the indigenous who's land was stolen.

Queer people, and immigrants, and the homeless.

And so we gather to honor and welcome EACH OF US AND ALL OF US

HERE we come together to share the sacredness of WELCOME itself...

and to create a space and a time to honor and celebrate what each of us holds sacred.

And to learn to hold ourselves and one another accountable for our responsibility to our ancestors, grandparents and our grandchildren, our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, and our beautiful emerald planet and all who dwell here.

We find fulfillment in learning together:

• to align our impact with our intention.
• to acknowledge and celebrate all people across our differences of race, religious background/belief, culture, sexual orientation, dis/ability, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic class, mental health, values, experience, politics, and personality.
• to stand powerfully in solidarity with ourselves and one another across the rich tapestry of our differences.
• to hold ourselves and one another accountable to this solidarity with both kindness and occasional ferocity.

GUIDED SELF-INQUIRY

One purpose of this time is to deepen our "internal inquiry" both for its own sake and to understand and effectively engage with those who are different from us. It supports cultivation of relationships and appreciation so that what is sacred is given what it needs to emerge. During this time we will have an opportunity to experience self-reflective tools, communication practice, cross-cultural models, skill training—or Solidarity Protocol practice (see below). The time is led by volunteer leaders/facilitators. Recommendations for activities are welcome. Contact The Sum if you’re interested in volunteering (info@thesum.org).

SHARING WHAT’S SACRED

The Circle is opened for any who feel called to share their experience of the sacred. This could be a dance, music, a poem, a dream, a memory or story from their life, an insight, or an artifact they want to share. It could be simple--the smell of a pie someone remembers their grandmother making! It could be a life life-changing insight, an experience of the miraculous, a memory of a child's question.

The volunteer leader invites us to sit in silence after each sharing (~30 seconds) to make sure that person’s sharing is honored fully. “Leanness of speech” or “distilling language” is asked of all present in an attempt to best say what is important. Leaders may ask questions in order to facilitate this process for the speaker if it seems unclear to them. It is not a time for venting frustrations or getting one’s desire for attention met – it’s not about taking—it’s about sharing and giving a wholeness from you to others. If you want to be heard or need something else you can talk to a leader after the Circle is closed.

In gathering to cultivate an authentically welcoming faith community to and for all people, we acknowledge the foundational ingredient of feedback: the acceptance of a responsibility to both provide a high level of feedback for others and to receive it from others. This ensures the resentments are not held and that we continue to grow and learn as a Circle. We provide this feedback using the Solidarity Protocols. More in-depth information about the Solidarity Protocols is available on The Sum’s website. A brief summary is at the bottom of this page.

CURIOSITY AND ENGAGEMENT

The Solidarity Circle is not to be confused with the structure of a “Friends Meeting for Worship”. While any present may value how shared silence can generate a sense of sacredness, many across regional and cultural differences find sacredness in sound and music and active engagement with one another. In this time, questions may be asked of one another and answered or declined. We ask that questions be asked of individuals and not to the group as a whole (but in the presence of the group). We find personal interactions cultivate relationship and thereby the strength of the group, benefiting everyone. Group conversations can wax intellectual or philosophical which is not our purpose here--it is not intended to be a “salon” for example.

CLOSING

Lastly, in closing the Solidarity Circle, all present are invited to share one word or phrase to express what they will take with them, their appreciation, and gratitude. These are offered randomly until silence returns and the Circle is considered closed.

After closing…

The leader(s) will remain on the video call to answer any questions/offer additional support.

Note: The Solidarity Protocols may be used and practiced at times during the Welcome Circle...you can view and download the solidarity protocolshere: