Submission 481
Joel Ibanez
Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church (Costa Mesa, CA) 2125
What is your suggestion or idea?
Section C-2.1.Purposes… Switch 2nd and 3rd sentences with each other… change wording of current 2nd sentence to “It’s primary actions to achieve this are…”
Section C-2.2. Values and Covenant… Change diagram by making the ‘LOVE’ circle in center bigger. Change ‘Pluralism’ to ‘Diversity.’ Listed value definitions that follow diagram should be listed sequentially in clockwise order of diagram, beginning with ‘Interdependence.’ Should have a more prominent ‘humanist’ reference, in addition to ‘culture, experience and theology’… and a more prominent reference to ‘democracy’ and/or ‘democratic process.’
What is the reason for your amendment idea?
Section C-2.1. Currently, 2nd sentence speaks of plural ‘purposes,’ then is followed in the 3rd sentence describing a single ‘purpose’ of the UUA (contradictory/redundant). Beginning with a ‘purpose’ followed by a description of ‘primary actions’ to achieve this seems more logical.
Section C-2.2. Diagram seems to have ‘values’ listed around the all-encompassing discipline of Love… with that, Love should be seen as the larger principle that these values connect with. ‘Pluralism’ can be mistaken with a definition that is more ‘political’ and would be best understood as what it describes within the definition: Diversity. Value definitions should be listed according to how they are presented in the diagram in clockwise order, beginning at the top. This is familiar in most cultures and will provide a better sense of structure/easier to ‘memorize.’
In addition a more prominent reference to ‘humanism’ and ‘democracy’ would be best, as these were features in the principles that drew me towards the UU faith.
Have you discussed this idea with your congregation or other UUs?
Yes. Many have agreed, including our minister.