Really! We are going to “dismantle racism,” Have we alerted the media?
Is there a plan for this task? Has it been published?
Who is in charge? Has a leader been named?
What is the timeline? Start date? Completion date?
What is the budget? How much will it cost?
Do we have the funds or will we need to fundraise?
Who among us will step forward to explain to those who have been harmed that we were just kidding when we made this solemn promise to them and to ourselves?
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Ricknida,
It is a religio-political aspiration, not a pragmatic program.
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What am I missing here? the current line ends …“democratic processes to make decisions” doesn’t that mean ALL decisions anywhere? I don’t understand the purpose of the additional words.
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Since the context of this document is in UUA and our member congregations by-laws, do we need to specify in our congregations as this is “ the fish bowl in which we are swimming?”
HollyB makes a good point.
But, if we do want to add a list, we should also include the Association. Not doing so would suggest it’s not democratic since these bylaws are for the Association.
I’d like to see this read, “We covenant to use inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregation, our Association, and society at large.” Let’s not simply support inclusive democracy but pledge to engage in it.
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I agree about adding our Association. It has seemed for years to be missing from the current version.
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FYI, this is the draft UUFMC Statement about Amendment 13:
Our congregation agrees with the part of this Amendment that adds to line 33 “within our congregations and society at large.” (We note the added word “congregation” needs to be plural in this Amendment.)
However, many would still prefer in line 32 that all forms of systemic oppression be stated BEFORE the example of racism, or possibly without that example – since no other examples are included. It is notable that the Commission removed a list of examples from the Sources/Inspirations, but then included an example under Justice.
We also prefer to replace the word “covenant to,” with “seek to” – so that it sounds less like we are reciting and intoning a creed - and to allow the other verbs to speak for themselves.
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I’d prefer “promote” rather than “support”.
I would like to see the second line read "We support the use of inclusive democratic processes within our denomination, congregations, and the society at large. " These democratic processes include many more important processes, not just making decisions and we should include both the entire UU denomination and member congregations.
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I support the concept of this amendment. I like the idea of including our association.
I would prefer to see “in the wider world” or something like it instead of to “society.” Society suggests just one to me and I think our international work via the UUSC, at the UN, etc. is definitely democracy focused.
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Pledge was mentioned in another posting to replace covenant to. Also I support the reordering of wording to read “systemic oppressions including racism”,
I support this change that makes it explicit that the work we do is both in our congregations and in society at large.
These two ideas still feel wildly disconnected. Dismantling racism = one thing. Democracy = another thing. Why are we anchoring these two together?
I like the outward facing in our values aspect of this though I wonder about it reading as our congregations, our Association, and society at large. I like thinking about how this would be inclusive of UU the vote and protecting voters rights.
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racism is one way people are kept out of full participation in democracy (currently less often directly, more often indirectly)
The U.N. office has been closed, though UUSC is still active. Also, apparently the Partner Church Council has also shut down.
Kathi. I am unclear about the revision process from here forward or how to contact the Article II Commission, but I believe you are the only one who can ask for friendly amendments to your amendment.
I suggest you ask the Commission to change this to read, “to make decisions within our congregation, this Association, and the society at large.” Since the bylaws are of the Association not of the congregations, the amendment as written could be read (albeit cynically) as inferring we support the use of democratic processes within the Association’s member congregations and for other organizations, but not for the Association. I doubt that is what is intended.
@CharlesD Charles, I am copying you with my apologies, since I don’t seem to be able to reply to Kathi directly, and I don’t know how to contact the Article II Study Commission. I hope you can help this message get to the appropriate office. I know this has been a long process for you, and I apologize for adding one more thing to your inbox. Thank you for your work moderating this GA.
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I’m not sure what message you want to send to the Commission, but please put it in an email to moderator@uua.org and it will get to them.
The UN office still exists. Unitarian Universalist Association Office at the United Nations
The annual spring seminar was held in Minneapolis this year and I attended. They now work collaboratively with College of Social Justice and UUSC.
I would hope that it is not intended to exclude the association, but if not, why not explicitly include the association? I think that is an important addition.