The theme for the month is the Beloved Community. I didn’t understand this term, until I became a part of WES. 

I joined WES five years ago. Almost the first thing I was asked was some variant of the question “What drew you to WES?” My answer was that I was attracted to the thoughtful, stimulating platforms; but stayed for the richness of the community. 

WES attracts people who feel marginalized in many ways by American society, whether because of their rejection of traditional religion; because their values and beliefs don’t easily find a place elsewhere; because they belong to a sexual, gender, or racial minority; or who feel excluded by perceived physical or mental disabilities. This community also draws people who want to live their lives intentionally; raise families that are ethically aware; live by their values, and work to realize the potential for goodness in themselves, others, and in broader society. 

What attracted me to WES was that in this community I meet people who want to manifest all of themselves with joy and fullness, not just present that part of themselves that society finds acceptable. All my life I have lived compartmentally, offering whatever society demands and expects. This left me tired and unfulfilled. In WES I see an opportunity to bring all of myself, even those parts of myself that I have hitherto held in shyness or doubt. I cannot overstate the joy this brings!

This is a beloved community; and it needs to be protected and fostered so it can continue to sustain us and welcome others looking for the kind of spiritual home that it offers. So, what are some of the steps we take to protect it?  Certainly, an intentional process of inducting new members is one way. I was delighted, when thinking about joining WES, that I experienced little-to-no pressure, was invited to attend as many platforms as I liked, and let my experience guide me to the right decision. The path to membership engagement helped me to check out the values-match and establish compatibility. It was a low pressure, gentle, respectful process, entirely in keeping with our humanistic values.

There are other ways in which we protect this beloved community: 

• In June 2019, we adopted the Community Relations Pact developed by the Community Relations Committee. The Pact outlines the behaviors to which we aspire as we seek to evoke the best in ourselves and others in the community and beyond. It challenges us to be our best selves in interaction with each other. Mutual respect, a willingness to build understanding across difference with patience and love are the hallmarks of a beloved community. This is not an easy goal, but the value is in the journey. This is what strengthens the foundations of our care for each other and for the world. 
• In yet another effort to protect the beloved community, last year the Board developed a suite of policies addressing Disruption and Harassment. To quote the cliché, good fences make good neighbors. By ensuring that we have clearly defined guardrails for behavior we protect the respectful relationships that are the norm at WES. These policies were circulated to members, discussed in the community and approved. The Board is currently working on the procedures that support these policies, the final drafts of which will be circulated for approval later this year. 
• The staff and Board are in the final stages of drafting the SEEK Safety policies, designed to articulate, and codify what is done to ensure that our children and youth are safe and protected as they engage in our educational programs. Once again, having clear policies and rules, and ensuring that staff and volunteers have a shared understanding of these requirements, all make for a safe and enjoyable learning environment for our children and youth. 
• Under Lyn’s leadership, the Human Resources Team, with the input of staff and the Board, has put the finishing touches to the Employee Handbook. The Board-approved Employee Handbook codifies mutual expectations among staff, and between staff and membership. 
• In the Spring we will gather to determine whether our Statement of Purpose has stood the test of time or whether it needs to be amended to better reflect our aspirations: an opportunity to redirect our best intentions to our primary raison d’être.

These are all important ways in which we are working together to protect everything that we hold precious so that we can continue to have a safe container for our individual and collective growth and wellbeing and to do the social justice work to which we are committed. 

Rajesh Vidyasagar, Trustee