I am one of two delegates from a small fellowship in Richmond, Kentucky. My father Bob Stebbins (who died in 2014) was a UU minister and a founding member of our fellowship.

Over the years I have explored the Bahai and Quaker traditions as well as Buddhism. I have read a lot of the New Atheists, but I have also enjoyed a lot of Christian pop music. I have toyed with the labels “Agnostic” and “Humanist,” but neither one suits me. If I need a label, I would make it up: “Interfaithist.” If there was a local “Interfaith” group, I would belong to it.

But UU is where I am, so I want to be part of this conversation and make the best of it!

In my work life, I am a psychotherapist and MD. I grew up feeling divided from my community and sometimes divided from my own family. So it is very important to me to work to help myself and others feel like they can be themselves and also belong. I have sometimes been enthusiastic to take that work into the anti-racism effort, but I see that my enthusiasm can backfire. Others may feel like I am trying to tell them how to act. I feel like I’m just asking for their support - but I guess that can still feel like I’m telling them how to act! Telling someone how to act does not respect their inherent worth and dignity.