Justice work has always been a part of my ministry, since before I knew it was even ministry. When the Parkland school shooting occurred, I was in high school myself, and immediately knew that I had to do something. Along with a friend, we organized our high school to take part in the national March for Our Lives walkout. I don’t remember much from that time, except thinking to myself, “Why isn’t anyone else doing something?” and then realizing that I could do something. I also remember the people of faith from all over our town who came out to witness and support us, including many members of my own UU congregation. Public witness, while not the only thing we can do, is still an important one.
I’ve been asked why I wear a clergy collar to protests, since I am not Christian. Although the collar does not have the same clerical or liturgical importance for me, I’ve noticed that the way I am perceived and treated changes when I wear the collar. Whether it’s at a rally or simply taking the bus home, I notice both myself and others acting differently around me. The collar calls me to a higher sense of awareness and intention in my actions, and also allows me to leverage privilege I gain as a clergy person that I certainly would not have without the collar.
Current justice movements I am active in: climate justice (from an Indigenous/decolonial perspective), prison abolition (through the Church of the Larger Fellowship’s Worthy Now prison ministry), Palestinian liberation and self-determination, queer & trans rights and safety
karishma gottfried 