Every Sunday morning at Weybridge Congregational Church UCC, one of our worship leaders welcomes us into a spirit of worship by saying, “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” We say this every week both so that we recommit to the work of radical belonging and so that we hear its invitation for ourselves: in the fullness of who we are and in the complexity of what life brings us, we belong.

I have the honor of ministering with this congregation, and I am also a trans nonbinary neighbor of yours. Since I moved to Addison County three years ago, I have developed deep community ties that make me feel like this is home. I work part-time for the Counseling Service of Addison County, offering mental health support to youth, I serve on the board of the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, and I help plan and run events with the Weybridge Community Group, to name some.

When I first heard about the attempted book ban at Mary Hogan Elementary, I was concerned and heartbroken, but not surprised. Living as a trans person today means being well aware of the flood of legislation, and the news of passive and outright aggression that targets the lives of trans folks. I love my life in Addison County and, yes, these things happen even here.

Alongside the concern and heartbreak, though, quickly came joy, hope and resolve. For me, joy and hope are twin spiritual practices. Joy was remembering back to Middlebury Pride in October, when Triangle Park was practically vibrating with love and belonging and fun despite the statistics and legislation. Hope was watching the support rush in from neighbors I knew and so many I don’t (yet) know. Resolve is knowing that I am in the right place at the right time, and will continue to make that true for myself, for other trans folks, and for everyone.

When we practice radical belonging, like we do at our church, it means that we don’t need to know anything about a person to offer them love and the chance to belong. We constantly try to remove the barriers that come from assumptions and our own biases. Our faith tells us that diversity is not an afterthought or a glitch, but the key to beloved community.

I look forward to working with so many of my neighbors to make sure that our trans kids know that they are loved, that they belong, and that our lives are richer because they are here.

The Rev. Caryne Eskridge

New Haven

Weybridge Church members signed in support: Rev. David Andrews, John Baker, Linda Brown, Susie Davis, Elita Dorwart, Wendy Eickenberg, Rev. Linda Kulas, Liana Merrill, Peg Robinson Myhre, Mary Pratt, Steve Smith, Heidi Willis, Martha Winant and Christina Wadsworth