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Rev.John Crestwell, Liz Echols, Monica Young, Mike Papantones, and Race
& Joyce Dowling
August 20, 2006
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.
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