Taking
Positions Forum – March 16, 2008 – PART TWO
Attendance:
17 members
Catherine:
summary of Part One, TUUC SAC guidelines
What
are pro’s and con’s of the congregation’s taking positions
– mix of opinions, diversity of views here, part of what they love about
UU-ism.
How
powerful can we be as a congregation in implementing our principles if we talk
as one voice?
Need:
education, process for decisions, some form of consensus so not alienating
people
Do
we need to change our current policy?
Expand it? Clarify it? Change it altogether?
Described
our current policy as a congregation
New
part: Clare and the president can make an immediate decision – ex Katrina
collection – not likely to be controversial issues.
Would
like to see us do more analysis and education on UUA issues and studies so that
we can integrate them into the congregation and what we do. Maybe a service,
educational sessions, etc.
We need a denominational affairs person for this…
ARE
events are dismally attended. This
education makes sense to happen through ARE, but would that work. This sort of education would have to be
well attended – must be thought through – how we do it and where?
History
of church: in early years of church, we took some outrageous positions. Attendance at meetings of this sort is
always the same group.
Way
to do it: Sunday services occasionally dedicated to specific issues, different
points of view, so that everybody is forced to hear it. Difficult issues presented, then if
people want to get together after the service to discuss, fine. Then we will all have the same
information. Then, everyone will
have heard it and had time to think about it before there is
some sort of a vote or decision made based on the issue. This could be implemented immediately.
(Joan)
If
an issue will come before the entire congregation for a vote, then it deserves
an entire Sunday service, not just a Tuesday evening. Needs to be followed with pro’s
and con’s, like in a facilitated discussion after the service. Could dispense with
the stuff in-between, choir practice, etc. Or discussion could be integrated into
the service. Important thing is
that everyone has the same set of information about the issue.
Like
“stimulating” services – this would qualify. Say, the first Sunday every month is an
issue that the congregation could think about addressing – to where it
was in a normal pattern/routine.
Then some of us could avoid that Sunday, if desired. Like to know what to
expect.
Some
of the issues are not issues on their own, but rather what should we do about
it. We may all agree on a
particular issue itself and its outcome, but the actual question is on what
specific actions, do we take a congregational position or a SAC action, etc. So it may not necessarily need a pro and
con debate to be a part of the service on that.
Space issue – logistics.
We
have a historic interest in all kinds of issue.
Hard to get parents out on a weekday evening.
When
is best??? After
the second service? Between
the services – may be the best time but big logistical problems. (“Coffee & Conversation &
Controversy”)
Last
time we met, there were concerns about specific ways that we might choose what
issues to even explore – there a tons of issues that we might take, so
how do we begin to choose WHICH issues.
Need
some sort of arrangement to identify and screen what issues people are in fact
interested in taking action on. We
won’t be working on simple majority with these.
Just
because people are interested in issues does not automatically translate into
the congregation doing something as a whole.
What
is the obvious thing to do?
We
may also want to have some educational programs WITHOUT thinking about taking a
position as a congregation about it.
We need a place to talk about those things.
A
lot of the issues are about organization – having 7-8 people getting
organized about something – table in the lobby to get signatures,
arranging a group to a march, etc.
SAC
guidelines for evaluating social service organizations to support:
Have
a single service where the committee asks the congregation to support a few
particular organizations:
Has
to have a mission consistent with our principles
Has
to give volunteer possibilities
Form
and annual report is submitted to begin the evaluation process to SAC
Must
have someone in the congregation to be the leader/liaison with that
organization
UU
Principles
UUA
resolutions and statements of witness
Need
for a mediator here to pick out from UUA positions and such that these are the
things we need to have education about – WE NEED A DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE/PERSON
The
last thing we really educated about was global warming when it was a UUA study
action issue. We never took a
position as a congregation, but we did pursue a good bit of education and exploration
of the issue.
Now
there is one every two years (?) – there is a
statement of conscious/resolution that is the end result of the
education/campaign. Example of
current question: should we become a peace church? (on
peace-related study action issue)
Global
warming issue – there was no controversy or congregational actions that
were at stake
Peace
issue – could be different…
Does
the congregation actually do something?
If
we go through this process, do we have an expected outcome? (for
a study action issue)
Formally,
outcome of process is to refine the ending UUA statement which, after accepted,
comes with calls for action.
Are
there a significant number of people in a congregation that actually care about
taking an action on a specific issue. Not just one person, but a significant
number of people.
Need
a large percentage of the congregation involved.
Polling
Topics
need to be presented in an exciting and challenging way. Maybe survey questions passed out during
the sermon (was done in the past) – do this for a couple of Sundays to
see where the congregation really is.
We have to assess the congregation.
We have to fire them up. As
them what topics they are interested in?
What topics would they like to take action on? We currently don’t have a
“fired up” population – there are not enough people really
excited to do something.
What
about the war, reaching its 5 year anniversary in 2 days. We as a society aren’t doing
anything. We as a church
aren’t doing much – where is the energy?
Problems:
participation, publicity
New
current issue: torture – we’ve been asked to have a sign for a
month in June
Introducing
and discussing any of these topics – education is great but we need the
question raised of what things can we actually do about it.
Signs at
demonstrations:
UU’s
in general
This
congregation specifically
UU’s
for this issue or that – it’s already happening. That’s fine.
What about carrying this congregation’s sign in a
parade or at a demonstration.
One
opinion: more appropriate to do that than having a sign on the property of a
church.
Why:
it’s different at a demonstration, an event, been organized around an
issue; don’t want to see signs when come to church.
At
demonstration – the sign says it stands for the people who showed up at
the demonstration, but a sign in front of the church means that the issue is
for the entire church
At
church – a sign is a sign – simple statement, bumper sticker
– about a complex issue
But
the complexity of the issue is addressed further at a demonstration since there
are speakers and dialogue
Sign
in front of the church is “false advertising” – this group
all agrees about this – I don’t want to be in a group where
everyone agrees – does that mean I don’t belong if I don’t
agree with that statement.
Sign
in front – means that is the only thing we are thinking about –
because there are no other sides – excludes other things and focuses on
the one thing; at a demonstration – it is already about a single issue
Signs in front of church – one sign leads to lots of signs
Signs in front of church – the silence of the
American churches is criminal – we need to have lots of signs, all of
the time
Is
there a policy about whether there is a decision-making policy about where the
banner can be carried – not really any dissenting opinions about whether
the sign can be carried at a demonstration. Now, SAC is hooked into things that the
congregation – what’s going on with SAC seems to be perfectly
appropriate.
But
SAC has nothing to do with the banner – this is another layer of the
question.
Does
it need to be approved by the SAC. What if it is a regular event, or a
spontaneous event, etc. Usually there is not a lot of time for
the process to happen.
Can
it be a messy process by which issues come up – do we need to have
something written in stone about how to do it? Can just start with someone stepping up
and suggesting an issue and possible actions and bringing it up? Can we get consensus around it? If we had a denominational affairs
committee, they could organize a survey, need a poll
or something to get a sense of the congregation as a group. What criteria – where can we have
an impact? Is there something that
we can actually do that can make an impact as an institution?
POSSIBLE SUMMARY OF PROCESS:
Do
we have the energy and willingness to make this happen?
We
have a large segment of our congregation that just doesn’t hear about
this sort of thing.
We
need inspiration and energy to be effective. It will take time to get this
going. Once it gets going, it will
keep going. People need
inspiration, specifics…
Getting
people to move is different – it will take time, it will take a different
view of what our roles as UU’s is.
Any
issues brought up needs to contain specific actions and things to do –
just saying “we’re all for peace” doesn’t actually do
anything and doesn’t create any excitement – need to say something
specific. It is as important as
having an exciting speech.
“The
powers that be at this church don’t want to hear what I have to
say” – was heard from one of our members today. “This congregation is not open to
new points of view”. !!
We
do have diversity here – differing bumper stickers parked next to each
other in the same parking lot.
They
are very complex issues – Worship Associates – lot of planning goes
into the services.
Concerned that if we get into a process, it needs to
culminate into something. Service -> card table in lobby with petitions or letter-writing
or something. Must have an
active mode attached to any education on issue to be meaningful.
Education
and seminars – must be careful that it is not attached to an extremely
good service, like Darryl Davis. He
was too exciting to be distracted from.
J
Another
organization: Good at keeping volunteers happy and enthusiastic. Programs going on, everyone is
well-informed about what is going on, newsletter, once a month – meeting
held where everyone is kept up to date with what is going on and there are a
few focal points. So everyone feels
a part of the community. Volunteer manager very aware of everyone. You get a t-shirt.
Issues
have to be nuanced – they are complex – are we, for instance,
turning away people have family members serving in
Not
everyone thinks the same way – must respect that.
In
the What do you Say course – something missing,
maybe as the last component – what does it mean to be a member of
TUUC? Representatives from
different committees, but how about a this is what we
do on an on-going basis, on an issue and action basis – especially for
newcomers.
We
really really really need a
denominational affairs committee that is active. If we could get enough people to do
this, we could really go somewhere.
If we could get something like that going, that worked with ARE, SAC,
Worship Associates, to coordinate it all – that is where we need to go.
Process to look at this systematically to choose the
issues.
Would come to a meeting like this any day in place of the
Sunday service.
Some kind of survey.
What
is it that separates the church from being different from a social action
group?
Another
group: at end of service, take five minutes and people get to say into the mike
what they felt about the service.
How it made them feel.
We
used to have a sermon discussion immediately following the service.
We
should look at the League of Women Voter’s because they do it right. They study issues in-depth, and when a
conclusion is reached, members are alerted about possible actions that they can
take. There is good information.
Working
Assets website
Legislative
agenda
UUSJ
agenda
UULM
agenda
UUA
agenda
Local
issues
Table:
Marcia, Joan, Terry, Michelle
Another
meeting: in a month or so
What
are the ethical issues that you would like to see addressed as a congregation?