A MOVEMENT TOWARD RIGHT RELATIONS

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2006
by Rev. John Crestwell, Liz Echols, Monica Young, Mike Papantones, and Race & Joyce Dowling

Chalice Lighting reading
"... till the principle of things takes root,
How shall examples move us from our calm?
I do not say that it is not a fault.
I only say, except as we have loved,
All news arrives as from a distant land." by Mary Oliver who was the Ware lecturer ths year in the "distant land" of St. Louis, MO

A NON-DELEGATE'S VIEW OF GA - Mike Papantones
(Shared extemporaneously, including impressions of a session with President Bill Sinkford where Rev. John Crestwell & Race Dowling made an announcement about the success of this congregation and were given a standing ovation.)

"ASSKICKING" PROCESS - Liz Echols

When we started talking about this worship service, I wondered how we could encapsulate in one hour, even a vague inkling of the excitement, enthusiasm, and energy of the 45th General Assembly.

I decided we can only give a brief, vague idea of it.

There really is nothing quite like spending 5 days with more than 4,000 fellow Unitarian Universalists.  

In his opening remarks, our Association president, Bill Sinkford, said “Demographers tell us that the average Unitarian Universalist is a very identifiable animal: white, middle to upper-middle class, terminally over-educated, Birkenstock-wearer, Prius-driver, and still upset that Jeb Bartlett’s second term has ended.” 

I’ve represented our congregation as a delegate to the past 14 General Assemblies, and I think this one was among the best.  

General Assembly is a great place to learn new things, hear exceptional music and sermons, and get some choice shopping done. 

But it is also where we become a voice for change in the world.

For me, the unfolding of the social witness process is one of the most exciting aspects of GA. Thousands of UUs come together, engage in  intriguing dialog, debate, and vote on important social justice issues. It is these social justice issues which the DELEGATES  talk about most – and address with the most passion.

Later, Monica and I will talk about two issues which were addressed with considerable passion this year.

The procedure used by our Association of Congregations for taking stands on Social Justice Issues – to express our most deeply held social and religious values - is a very democratic one.

Issues originate in Congregations and Districts, and a Commission on Social Witness facilitates their movement to the General Assembly agenda.

This is a two-year process, spanning three General Assemblies.

At the first General Assembly, delegates select from among the proposals one issue for two years of study and action.

At the second General Assembly, the Commission on Social Witness  holds hearings to learn what congregations are doing, what actions have been taken, and to receive comments. Based on those hearings and comments from congregations, the Commission then drafts a Statement of Conscience on the issue.

At the third General Assembly, if delegates approve the Statement of Conscience by a 2/3rds vote, it becomes OFFICIAL UU policy to be acted on by our Washington Office for Advocacy and Witness.   The Washington Office lobbies congress, writes letters to representatives, and makes public statements on the issue. 

Congregations and individuals take whatever action they deem appropriate.

Throughout this two-year process, congregations have multiple opportunities to provide input; however, most congregations – ours included – fail to avail themselves of these opportunities. 

For example, during the prolonged debate about Global Warming, we learned that only 10% of congregations bothered to provide comments on the draft Statement of Conscience.

When thinking about this, I was reminded of a statement by Michael Lerner – in his book The Left Hand of God which the Emerson Group recently discussed. Lerner said – and I quote:

“While some of the Protestant denominations, and also Reform Judaism, do pass liberal resolutions at their national conventions and maintain lobbyists in Washington who present those positions to Congress, few of their congregants know much about the content of those resolutions.”

I hope we change that here at Davies during the next year by providing a forum for discussion of the resolutions we considered at this year’s  Assembly.

Later I will tell you more about that prolonged debate on the Global Warming Statement of Conscience, and how it was conducted with “ass-kicking grace”, but

Now Monica will tell you about the issue we selected at this Assembly for two years of study and action.

2006 STUDY/ACTION ISSUE 2-1 PEACEMAKING - Monica Young

The Study Action Issue Peacemaking, a copy of which is available in the lobby, first emerged in a UU congregation or district and then moved through the process of selection during congregational polls conducted in the spring of this year. The Study Action Issue was placed on the General Assembly Final Agenda held in St Louis this year and overwhelmingly approved by the GA delegates. This Study Action Issue will be discussed by UUA congregations for a 2 year period from 2006 to 2008 consisting of study, action, and reflection, leading toward a UUA Statement of Conscience.

UUA Moderator Ginny Courter asked the Rev. Susan Smith, Chair of the Commission on Social Witness, to outline the process for consideration of the proposed Study/Action Issue. Smith explained the procedural process and mentioned that of the 3 Study Action Issues presented, only the “Peacemaking” study action issue met the criteria for consideration and gives us the opportunity to differentiate our faith community from others and examine the way we function in our personal, congregational and civic life.

Other speakers included the following:

* A daughter of a WWII veteran said she would fight like her father with peace in every step, and that we must have the courage to act non-violently with a focused conversation on issues of peacemaking.

* A minister from the Church of the Brethren Seminary, which is historically a peace church, said we need a theology of non-violence to figure out how to make the world better & discuss just war theories and pacifism.

* A representative speaking on behalf of the UU Youth Caucus said that although peacemaking is a cornerstone of our UU faith, there are a wide range of views on peacemaking and just war. By having these conversations, we will join with the Mennonites, Quakers, Buddhists, and others in the peacemaking arena.

* One woman said imagine what we can do in 2 years of study on this issue. We could then distinguish reason from rationalization, justice from justification, and learn how to prepare youth for decisions about military service. We can also learn how to better support UU military families. She said she is not a pacifist, and she is not sure we should become a peace church, but we need to discuss the issues.

* The Rev. Meg Riley, Director of the Advocacy & Witness staff group, explained that although Study/Action Issues and Statements of Conscience do not define staff priorities in a given year since much of the staff’s work covers a long time span. However, these documents provide the outer edge for demonstrating what staff can and do say in their witness & advocacy work. They are used to reply to the media & in making decisions concerning activities and coalitions to support.

In the violent times in which we now live … where there is war in Iraq and an uncertain suspension of conflict in the Middle East…peacemaking is a tenuous but vital avenue in need of serious attention to protect people of all faiths who occupy this planet.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION - Race Dowling

The General Assembly is not all dedicated to religion. There are workshops and lectures for social issues that you aren't likely to hear in any other venue.

The lecture I'll be talking about is from LEAP -- Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, which is a group of Policemen, Judges and Prosecutors who want to end the war on drugs and focus on treatment and prevention.

I’d like to start with a little history of Drug Prohibition in America:

Prior to 1914 anyone could go to a drugstore and purchase their desired drug of choice. These drugs included Heroin, morphine and cocaine. In fact, heroin was even used in infant cough medicine. Addiction rate in the US is now estimated at between 3 and 5%.

The culture started taking a turn in the lead up to WWI

1914  The NY Times states "Most of the attacks upon white women of the South are the direct result of the cocaine crazed Negro brain." It was concluded that "Negro cocaine fiends are now a known Southern menace.”

Also in 1914  The Harrison Narcotic Act is enacted, controlling the sale of opium, opium derivatives, and cocaine. This is the first federal law of its kind.

1920  The U.S. Department of Agriculture publishes a pamphlet urging Americans to grow marijuana as a profitable undertaking. Addiction rate in the US is now estimated at between 3 and 5%.

1930  The Federal Bureau of Narcotics is formed.  Many of its agents, including its first commissioner, Harry J. Anslinger, are former prohibition agents who, having successfully prohibited alcohol, turned their attention to other narcotics.

1937  The Marijuana Tax Act is enacted, making it virtually impossible to legally sell marijuana in the US. The bill was passed on the grounds that marijuana caused "murder, insanity and death" especially among the "less civilized races". The AMA was against the bill because it outlawed drugs they had been prescribing for decades. There is now very clear evidence that the act itself was based mostly on racism and wild, entirely unsupported claims. Addiction rate in the US is now estimated at between 3 and 5%.

1956  The Narcotics Control Act is enacted; it provides the death penalty, for the sale of heroin to a person under eighteen.

1969 President Nixon coins the term "war on drugs." He states privately on the infamous “Nixon Tapes” "Every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish. What the Christ is the matter with the Jews. Homosexuality, dope, amd immorality in general are the enemies of strong societies. That's why the Communists and the left-wingers are pushing the stuff, they're trying to destroy us. Radical demonstrators are all on drugs, virtually all. Enforce the law, you’ve got to scare them."

1971 The controlled substances act is passed. Addiction rate in the US is now estimated at between 3 and 5%.

The 1980s Congress passes minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines, thus taking judgment away from judges.

The 1990s Law enforcement begins seizure of property under RICO Laws. Addiction rate in the US is now estimated at between 3 and 5%.

The 2000s 1.5 million people in the US are imprisoned. 60% of them for drug related infractions. 40% of those are African-American.

2006 To date, 1,007,860 people have been arrested for drug offenses this year. So far this year, we have spent 32 Billion dollars on the drug war. The estimated addiction rate in the US is now estimated at between 3 and 5%.

The stated goals of current U.S. drug policy -- reducing crime, drug addiction, and juvenile drug use -- have not been achieved, even after nearly four decades of a policy of "war on drugs". This policy, fueled by over a trillion of our tax dollars has had little or no effect on the levels of drug addiction among our fellow citizens, but has instead resulted in a tremendous increase in crime and in the numbers of Americans in our prisons and jails. With 4.6% of the world's population, America today has 22.5% of the worlds prisoners, spawning a cottage industry in “prisoner maintenance”. But, after all that time, after all the destroyed lives and after all the wasted resources, prohibited drugs today are cheaper, stronger, and easier to get than they were thirty-five years ago at the beginning of the so-called "war on drugs".

There have been many unintended consequences in the war on drugs. One of the unintended consequences of the successful interdiction of large amounts of marijuana was that it caused many marijuana dealers to switch to harder drugs that were less detectable and far more profitable, pound for pound. Among those drugs were heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. An even worse consequence was that in a few short years the price of marijuana increased by 2,500 percent, from $160 a pound to $4,000 a pound, causing many users to switch to harder drugs, which were less detectable, more plentiful and were becoming ever cheaper. The war on drugs actually increased drug usage and made it more likely that those using soft drugs would choose harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

With this in mind, current and former members of law enforcement have created a drug-policy reform movement -- Law Enforcers Against Prohibition (LEAP). They believe that to save lives and lower the rates of disease, crime and addiction. as well as to conserve tax dollars, we must end drug prohibition. LEAP believes that a system of regulation and control of production and distribution will be far more effective and ethical that one of prohibition.

They do this in hopes that Law Enforcement can regain the public's respect and trust, which have been greatly diminished by their involvement in imposing drug prohibition. This group consists of police officers, judges, local and federal prosecutors. They are not from the far left, they are people who have experienced the "war on drugs" first hand.

For more information, I have a DVD available or please see their website.

STATEMENT OF CONSCIENCE: GLOBAL WARMING - Liz Echols

As I mentioned earlier, there was a prolonged debate – extending to two plenary sessions on the Global Warming – statement of conscience.

When the issue was brought to the floor at the Friday morning plenary session, a few hundred of the delegates had something they wanted to say about it.

To do so, they had to go to one of the three microphones set up on the Plenary Floor for that purpose.

Those who agreed with the statement were to go to the Pro microphone, those who wished to speak against it were to go to the Con microphone, and procedural questions were to be addressed (not surprisingly) from the Procedural microphone.

Not long into this debate -  at what was the beginning of a long chain of procedural questions -  one delegate pointed out that it was hard to understand the difference between the Pro and Con speakers.

Indeed, it was pretty clear from the beginning that there was near unanimous support for a Statement of Conscience on The Threat of Global Warming. 

The debate centered on the need for stronger wording than that contained in the proposal prepared by the Commission on Social Witness.

Those opposed to that version wanted to incorporate significant amendments to strengthen it.

Delegates felt the proposed statement

- didn’t accurately state the threat of global warming and

-did not adequately articulate the serious ethical and justice issues connected with it.

More than 60 amendments were proposed, and

In an effort to make the Statement as scientifically current and as powerful and persuasive a religious document as possible, the UU Ministry for Earth offered an entirely revised version, including a Science Appendix…

However, delegates from those congregation that had discussed the proposed statement and provided input to the Commission on Social Witness objected because their congregations had not had an opportunity to review the revised version.

As I said earlier, only 10% of congregations had bothered to provide comments to the Commission.

When a procedural motion was made to refer the matter back to congregations, thus delaying it for another year, delegates overwhelmingly defeated the motion.

This delegate body wanted a strong Statement of Conscience to come from this Assembly.

When it became obvious – after more than 2 hours of debate – discussion, and procedural maneuvering, that the delegates were not ready to vote, the Moderator rescheduled it for consideration at an extended plenary on Sunday.

The Moderator, who presides at General Assembly then jokingly hit herself on the head with the gavel several times, stating that it always feels good when we stop.

The current Moderator, Gini Courter, is skilled, knowledgeable, and possessed of a quick wit and a good sense of humor.

One of the Bloggers covering GA had this to say about the debate:

“We were a messy, messy, body this morning and moderator Gini Courter handled it with asskicking grace, diffusing tension with humor and exemplifying a kind of professionalism that I frankly envy.”

In response to that blog, someone else said “democracy is messy and this morning was okay. It’s not always going to run smoothly because it is a difficult process.” What the world needs more of is asskicking grace.

I agree.

We did vote and overwhelmingly approve a very complex and lengthy Statement of Conscience at the extended plenary on Sunday.

It includes many calls for action on the part of individuals and congregations.

Copies of the final version are on the table in the lobby. It states in part:

Global warming is the most profound and far-reaching physical, moral and spiritual crisis confronting earth’s people. Humanity and all life will be forever diminished unless we embrace new practices, ethics and values to guide our lives on a warming planet.   

We declare by this Statement of Conscience that we will not acquiesce to the ongoing degradation and destruction of life that human actions are leaving to our children and grandchildren.

As I stated earlier, I hope we will arrange a forum for further discussion and action on this NOW OFFICIAL Statement of Conscience.

(Listened to "Voices" by Holly Near during offering)

RIGHT RELATIONS - Joyce Dowling

This was my 9th General Assembly.

I used to concentrate on Religious Education issues, then Growth & Internet issues, which I still do, but now I’m more focused on issues of Diversity & Anti-Racism.

This fed right into this year’s theme which was “Toward Right Relations”.

The song by Holly Near reminds us to listen to the voices of the Indian Nation. We heeded this call by inviting the local Native Americans to provide a welcome message for us at the beginning of each GA as we recognized that they were here first. Since the Osage people who once lived in the St. Louis area had been moved to a reservation in Oklahoma, members in Kansas City were invited to attend. Their response was “why should we?” “This is your work, you need to do it.” So for the first year in many, we didn’t have a Native American presence at GA. You can read more about this in the latest UU World. It got me to thinking. How many people in this congregation know the Piscataways? They are the natives local to this area. I have a contact with the Tayacs, a family of the Piscataways, but I never mentioned Unitarian Universalism or our congregation to them. Maybe we could think about how we can connect with natives here and show support and respect for their traditions, history, and continued presence in our society.

For the first time this year, I was invited to the People Of Color suite to participate in the JOURNEY TOWARD WHOLENESS book project. Expect to see our church mentioned in it. This is to learn more about our history in becoming a more diverse religious organization.

Also, this year was the start of the new anti-racism organization, Allies for Racial Equity. This is their Vision Statement:

We ground ourselves in a vision of an anti-oppressive, multicultural Unitarian Universalist faith. We will be accountable to DRUUMM (which is an acronym D-R-U-U-M-M that stands for Diverse & Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) by building a movement among white UUs to understand white privilege and unlearn racism and white supremacy. Recognizing that we have a long journey to becoming an anti racist, anti oppressive, multicultural faith community, we begin with a commitment to:

• Develop an anti-racist practice


• Support DRUUMM leadership and DRUUMM initiatives


• Include diverse perspectives committed to recognizing our humanity


• Cooperatively journey together in mutuality and right relationship towards transformation, and wholeness


• Support other white UU's as we struggle together to effectively use our anti-racist power to help transform the institution and Unitarian Universalist congregations


• Provide resources for a sustainable road to justice built on love, faith, hope, and courage.

My first act as a member after I joined was to volunteer at the DRUUMM booth. I was to help DRUUMM members in whatever way I could and promote membership in what they’re calling A-R-E (we love our acronyms). A problem came up already, while I was there. A woman, who appears white, came over to talk to a DRUUMM member about how a previous volunteer told her that she had to join ARE not DRUUMM. There are actually many members of DRUUMM who appear white, but we are asking that everyone self-identify – it’s not about appearance. It’s about IDENTITY.

Identity is not just a social experience, it can be a deeply meaningful experience – one that connects with our spirituality. The UUA Identity-Based Ministries includes the Office of Accessibility Concerns which has the goal of total accessibility so that people living with physical, sensory, emotional, and cognitive disabilities can fully participate in worship, study, service, and leadership; the Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Concerns; and the Office of Racial and Ethnic Concerns.

We want to be welcoming to all & we do it pretty well, because I often hear people say that we are very friendly here at Davies, but is it possible we’re not doing it for everyone? If so, it is probably unintentional, but we want to learn to do it better. Please tell us if we need to improve in some area & if you'd like to work to help us be more welcoming in some area, there are a lot of resources at the UUA. We are part of a movement - a Movement of Justice, Equity & Compassion for all.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS - Rev. John Crestwell
(Spoke extemporaneously, primarily to invite everyone to attend the next and/or future General Assemblies - more information here.)

Chalice Extinguishing from Mary Oliver's "In Blackwater Woods"
To live in this world
you must be able
to do three things:
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones knowing
your own life depends upon it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go.