BRATTLEBORO -- This Sunday, the Rev. Barbro Hansson welcomes her colleague and friend, the Rev. Hope Johnson to All Souls Church. Together, they will share their story of finding friendship in the midst of a racial conflict in 1993 at the annual Unitarian Universalist General Assembly in Charlotte, N.C. At that time, both Hansson and Johnson were lay leaders. Hansson served as president of the Thomas Jefferson District, the district hosting the General Assembly, and Johnson was an active member of Community U.U. Church of New York City.

At the beginning of the first plenary session, Johnson walked up to one of the microphones. On behalf of African American Unitarian Universalists, she read a letter protesting the inclusion of a ball celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson. "We ... are outraged by, and strenuously protest the inclusion of events described as ‘The Most Famous Unitarian in the World’ and the ‘Thomas Jefferson Birthday Ball’ ... Must African Americans attend such events in rags and chains?"

Johnson and Hansson found themselves in a group of 13 denominational leaders who were charged with reflecting on what had happened and finding a solution. After an hour of standing together listening to each other and sharing their pain, anger, hopes and aspirations, the group addressed the 3,000 delegates in attendance. Though emotions ran high throughout the assembly, the conflict ultimately resulted in a

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renewed commitment by the Unitarian Universalist Association to become an anti-racist institution.

In June 2009, Skinner House Books published "The Arc of the Universe Is Long: Unitarian Universalists, Anti-Racism and the Journey from Calgary," a book that highlights the recent history of the U.U.A. becoming anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural. Beginning with the 1992 General Assembly’s passage of the resolution "Racial and Cultural Diversity in Unitarian Universalism," this book traces developments through the General Assembly in 2006.

Johnson and Hansson, who prior to this assembly did not know each other, found in this conflict, both common ground and the powerful seeds of lasting friendship. Both women decided to become ministers. Called by the congregation of All Souls Church in 2002 to serve as their minister and spiritual leader, the Hansson is now exploring a storytelling approach to preaching. She is a native of Sweden.

For the past seven years, Johnson has served the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Central Nassau, Garden City, N.Y. She is chair of the U.U.A. Nominating Committee; she serves on the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association Executive Committee; co-chair Metro N.Y. District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee and is a Jubilee World Trainer. She was a co-recipient of the U.U.A. President’s 2006 Award for Volunteer Service. "Jamaican, by way of the world," Johnson strives to build the Beloved Community by celebrating diversity and multiculturalism.

Sunday services at All Souls Church begin at 10 a.m. Nursery care for children age 3 and younger is provided during the service. All are welcome.

All Souls Church is located in West Brattleboro, just across South Street and up the driveway from the fire station. For information about All Souls, call the church at 802-254-9377 or check the Web site www.allsouls.brattleboro.uua.org.