#347 | Susan McWethy | Don't Mandate Accountability

Submission 347
Susan McWethy
UUCA Atlanta

What is your suggestion or idea?

““We are accountable to one
another…”” should be ““We support one another…””

What is the reason for your amendment idea?

Accountability to one another should be assumed in a faith organization, not mandated. Stating explicitly that we are accountable to one another implies obligation, which is antithetical to our Freedoms of Belief and Conscience.

Another way to frame accountability is ““to be held accountable.”” That clearly implies lack of volition.

Have you discussed this idea with your congregation or other UUs?

I’ve discussed this point with other UUs, who feel equally disturbed by the inclusion of accountability in the proposed rewrite. They want to carry out the good work of our faith freely with love, not with accountability.

see post #245: perhaps "Love connects us to each other, and it keeps us accountable to our values.” emphasized our right to a free conscience, and clarifies that we’re not accountable to the UUA which I understand was formed to serve the member congregations,