Happy New Year! The Denominational Affairs Team (DA) kicks off 2022 with a renewed sense of purpose which includes expanded communication with the Unitarian Church of Evanston (UCE) community. Watch for regular articles about DA activities and stories about UU work at UCE and beyond. Our team seeks to strengthen ties between our congregation and the larger association. We alert our members to resources offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and encourage participation in local, regional and national activities. DA maintains a flyer on UU organizations that thrive in and support our UCE community. Check out the updated version here.  

Spotlight on UU Organization: The MidAmerica Region of the UUA provides congregational life services to approximately 187 congregations, 3 emerging congregations, and 10 covenanting communities across 13 states. In a year of adaptation, these services include relationship building, leadership development, faith formation, cultural competence, and support for dismantling systemic white supremacy culture, as well as coaching in stewardship and conflict transformation. The Friends of MidAmerica monthly newsletter offers a wide range of information and resources. Check out the January 2022 issue here and consider signing up for regular updates. 

Several UCE members & friends attended General Assembly in Columbus, OH in June. Rather than writing one, big summary article, we chose to ask attendees about their “favorite moment” at GA.  Here’s a sampling of impressions from GA:

Also note, you can watch talks/speeches/performances, etc from GA by browsing this page.

From Martha Holman:

“High point for me was seeing many many youth and young adults amass at the microphone on the very last day to say Wait a minute! They were very disappointed in the seemingly easy dismissal of a Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) on the issue of race. As was I. These young people, many of them people idolize, proposed a responsive resolution that the UUA and congregations across the country step up and act to help end racial injustice. They said “the Black Lives Matter banners are fine, “but what else will we do to work at healing, to make this country and our congregations safe for everyone? The moderator invited this large group up on stage to speak at the podium. The resolution was passed.”

From Heike Eghardt:

Two favorite moments: 1) Rev. Barber at the State of Emergence event. I particularly liked it when he told the gathered crowd that the next time we have an event like that, we should have it outside – inclement weather or not –  because we need to be visible if we want to make a difference. Watch his speech here.

2) I loved it when the angels blocking out Westboro’s message of hate.

From Peggy Boccard:

For me there were three major highlights among a host of smaller ones:the powerful message of Rev Dr William Barber at the Thursday morning address and later in the day at the racial justice rally; Bill Sinkford’s gently phrased but firm admonition to UUs to do better at the Service of the Living Tradition; Ware Lecturer Krista Tippett who reminded us that Words matter; that Listening is a social art and questions are civic tools; and to Dare to Name Love. Other joys, in no particular order, the inspired performance of Glen Thomas Rideout performing and leading the GA Choir; Dawn Clark Cooley at the Opening Celebration; the Angel Wing team in response to Westboro. The surprise winner for me: the Social Action Witness Sermon Contest Award on Friday afternoon; the only time this year we had a mass rising of the Youth Caucus and Young Adult Caucus* together to join with the Black Lives UU (BLUU) team to chastise is for weak-kneed response to action on Black Lives Matter (which left me shaken and in tears) at the end of the last Plenary on Sunday afternoon which led directly into a powerful Closing Celebration.

Additional reflections on GA will appear in future newsletters, Also, feel free to ask GA attendees questions about their experiences (at church, via email, etc.)

Some additional reflections from UCE members who attended General Assembly (GA) in June:

From Karen Courtright:

The single most important thing for me was the courageous sermon delivered by Reverend Sinkford. The take home message was: The UUs were great allies in the ’60’s civil rights work, until they weren’t. DON’T SCREW UP THIS TIME. Stand by the movement even when it gets difficult. This is what I was thinking about when we declined to lead the action that OPAL requested (I was in Europe and could not offer to work on the issue). Too difficult because of Dallas police shootings??? I say we step into this work, and don’t step away.

From Eileen Wiviott:

I do have to say that in addition to Rev. William Barber’s electrifying sermon (I can’t call it anything else) at the rally, the Sunday morning worship service was one of the best I’d been a part of. I particularly appreciated Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd’s message of opting out of the fake fights, to continue to connect and meet across difference. Here’s the link to the Sunday morning worship:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v-AR9-3JKY

From Barbara Ghoshal:

Besides the various General Sessions, Religious Services, and Ware Lecture, I attended seven ninety-minute programs (out of the hundreds being offered). These programs were replete with useful and surprising information for a relatively new Unitarian Universalist, and included:

• With You at Every Turn, offered by the All Souls Unitarian Church (Tulsa), on congregational leadership tips and tools;
• Healthy Leadership 101: New Patterns for Conflict Transformation;
• Beyond “The Word”: Sensory-Rich Worship for Our Whole Selves, offered by the Rev. Erika Hewitt;
• Congregational Leadership in the Interim Time, in which those connected with the Deerfield, IL church discussed their recovery process after their minister’s departure;
• The 2017 UUA Presidential Candidates Forum, with the Rev. Jeanne Pupke, the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, and the Rev. Alison Miller;
• Listening to the Humanist Voices: An Open-Hearted Unitarian Universalism;and finally,
• Creative Fundraising for Today’s Ministries, with Denny Davidoff, Jessica Cloud, and Sean Neil-Barron.

Another reflection about going to GA in Columbus OH in June:

From Ellen Rockett:

The best aspect for me of GA was just how diverse the experience was.

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout led the GA choir in civil rights protest songs for our warmups each day, and his music showed an important consciousness of African American musical traditions. He treated choir practices as spiritual gatherings, and really “ministered” to the choir as the short time allowed.

The speakers were of course almost universally spectacular and powerful, and it was food for thought to see the gap between their speeches and the actions being taken.

I appreciated the chance to connect with the young adults who were there and in particular the chance to find common ground with the young adults of color I met. It really gave me a chance to listen and learn about their experiences on a personal and more heartfelt level. Those connections left me realizing how little I know and how much work I have to do – because the UU denomination as a whole made it clear they aren’t going to step up and do it for me. In response to seeing the pain of the young adults of color around me, I understand better in my gut what is meant by the Lilla Watson quote, “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

And we saw how diversity can bring painful but important discussion – around the racial justice items and workshops, but also in the debate around the divestment from the occupied territories item and response to Rabbi Jacobs co-opting the opening ceremonies to bring a message he felt was very important. Seeing how messy the democratic process can get, even among a group of relatively-likeminded people, was an important experience to me in this election year.

All in all, I came away feeling better rooted in my spirituality and “put back into myself” by the community around me, but I also came away with a lot of the pain and confusion and anger of the people, and a motivation for action.

Another reflection about going to GA in Columbus OH in June:

From Lee Bannor

A great deal of my time at GA this year was spent circulating petitions for the “Action of Immediate Witness” sponsored by our church. The AIW called for the General Assembly to show support for the congressional resolution introduced by Cong. John Conyers to establish a commission to study reparations to African Americans. The other members of the UCE delegation circulated petitions as well and we had help from other groups as well. I’m pleased to report that we had more than twice as many signatures needed to place the AIW on the agenda.

The Commission on Social Witness winnowed out some of the proposals. Some didn’t have enough signatures, and some were too similar to recently passed AIWs. Ours was one of six placed on the Saturday agenda. On Saturday, the GA voted on which three would be on the final agenda Sunday. Unfortunately, our AIW didn’t make the cut. All of the proposals were worthy, though. In spite of this setback, UCE remains committed to racial justice.

In my opinion, the highlight of GA was the speech by Rev. Dr. William Barber, head of the N. Carolina NAACP who has been leading the charge to restore voting rights in our country. I also attend the forum for the three candidates for president of the UUA. I was impressed with all three, but I have a favorite at this point. Ask and I’ll tell you.

The Denominational Affairs Team recently had a retreat to review its purpose and role. We are pleased to present the final product of our discussion. Denominational Affairs (DA):

Seeks to strengthen ties between our congregation and the larger association:
We alert our members to resources offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and encourage participation in our Chicagoland area, regional and national activities. We aspired to achieve this by:

· Serving as a catalyst for greater connection between UCE and Unitarian Universalism (UUism)

· Being joyful in our work

· Creating fun-filled gatherings

· Advocating for UCE participation in local, regional, and national activities

Monitors External UU Organizations:

· Groups that UCE has representation or participation with, DA monitors for opportunities, including with the UUA, MidAmerica Region, and local Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council (CAUUC).

· Continue in leadership role for UUA’s General Assembly delegates and attendees (in-person and virtual)

· Groups that DA monitors for opportunities that UCE members may want to participate in: Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), CAUUC, Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI), Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ out of Washington D.C.), 8th Principal Learning Community. See DA flyer of groups posted on website at https://ucevanston.org/?s=denominational+affairs.

· Because the Association is often ahead of individual congregations in social justice causes, DA continues to monitor Unitarian Universalist (UU) social justice organizations for opportunities that might be of interest to UCE groups, e.g., REAL Team, Green Team, etc.

Connects with Internal UCE Groups:

· Educate and encourage UCE groups to consider the opportunities available with external UU organizations and the value of funding participation or access, e.g., Integrated Stewardship Council, Endowment Fund.

· Share information with UCE groups about opportunities available through UU social justice organizations, e.g., Social Justice Council (SJC), various social justice groups listed on DA flyer posted on website at https://ucevanston.org/?s=denominational+affairs.

· Membership Engagement, e.g., UUA and MidAmerica Region resources to support leadership development

· Youth groups

· Expands information on groups DA monitors

To see the current chart of the organizations Denominational Affairs monitors go to our flyer at: https://ucevanston.org/?s=denominational+affairs. Click on the links in the chart to learn more about these organizations.

The Denominational Affairs Committee meets the second Tuesday every month via Zoom at 11:00 a.m. You are welcome to join us any time. Contact Peggy Boccard via REALM or at admin@ucevanston.org.

Eight UCE members will serve as delegates to the UUA General Assembly June 20-23. Under consideration are proposed revisions to Article 2 of the UUA Bylaws, which describes our UU principles. The revisions replace the current UU Principles with the six Values of generosity, justice, equity, transformation, interdependence, and pluralism, with Love at the center as the power that holds us. This change calls out that we are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love. These proposed Values statements reflect an evolution of our Principles including the 8th Principle.

So why is it necessary to evolve our 8 Principles into the proposed Values of generosity, justice, equity, transformation, interdependence, and pluralism – all centered in Love?

Join the UCE delegates and Denominational Affairs Team via zoom on June 3 at 7 pm or in-person/zoom June 9 at 12 pm in room 3 to discuss the what’s and why’s of the proposed changes. The delegates are eager to share information and discuss Article 2 , and understand what members think about the proposed changes.

Zoom link for June 3 and 9 sessions:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81668335293?pwd=0JEXsB7opczyhJsdsiZUawqohbEhOX.1

Meeting ID: 816 6833 5293 Passcode: 318292

Read more about the proposed revisions to UUA’s Article 2 here.

What’s driving the revisions to Article 2?

Article 2 is part of the UUA bylaws passed by the consolidated Unitarian and Universalist churches in 1961.  Originally it included 6 principles, as well as the resources.  There was also a mandate to review both parts every 15 years.  The 7th principle was added by General Assembly vote in 1985, along with an update to gender-neutral language.  The concept of an 8th principle was introduced to UU congregations and communities in 2013 and UCE adopted it in May 2021.  To date, more than 223 congregations have passed it. However, it is not included in the UUA’s 7 Principles. The desired to address racism in the UUA Principles and the mandate to review the parts of Article 2 every fifteen years resulted in the UUA board appointing a 6-member commission to review Article 2.

Discussions began in the fall of 2020 and over the next 3 years hundreds of surveys were conducted. The commission met twice a month and submitted proposed changes in January 2023. The proposed changes included transforming the 7 Principles into 6 Values statements centered by Love, evolving the Sources into Inspirations, and simplifying the Freedom of Belief language.

The General Assembly voted in June of 2023 to continue a year of discernment about the proposed changes before calling for a vote at the 2024 meeting. For the past year UCE’s Denominational Affairs team has held sessions to discuss the proposed changes, posted information in the newsletter and hosted program tables, and Rev. Eileen has spoken about the changes from the pulpit.

The UCE delegates are eager to understand what members think about the proposed changes. Please share your thoughts with members of Denominational Affairs or UCE delegates at the June 3 or 9 sessions, in-person or through Realm:  Shirely Adams, Lee Bannor, Peggy Boccard, Lina Hilko (alternate delegate), Melanie Kitchner, Cheryl Mounts, Joe Romeo (alternate delegate), Steve Serikaku, Elaine Siegel, Betty Walker, and Carla Williams.

Author: Carla Williams, Denominational Affairs Committee