As you probably know, WUUC is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Significant changes to Article II of the Association’s bylaws have been proposed for consideration and vote at the 2023 General Assembly. Article II lists our Seven Principles and Six Sources, the Purposes of the UUA, a Statement of Inclusion, and a Freedom of Belief statement.
Our community has a wide range of opinions and feelings about this proposal. In the WUUC April newsletter, our Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF) outlined reasons for their endorsement of the proposed changes to Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Thank you to the RJTF and all who worked on composing that endorsement for our consideration. In the same spirit, I would like to share a perspective that may help explain why some people oppose the changes to Article II.
The rewrite of Article II removes the seven principles and six sources, replacing them with six values and a paragraph entitled “Inspirations.” An article by Kenneth Ing brings up points I believe it’s important to consider. I’ve included below two excerpts from his commentary that particularly stood out to me:
“It is likely that the [current] Principles and Sources in Article II were a magnet that brought you to UU and are a vital glue that binds together your UU community… [They] are guiding lights for becoming a better person and making the world a better place… The Principles, as written, make it clear that there is no boundary on our circle of concern and care.”
To me, this is the perfect way to articulate the value of our current Principles. Ing also points out in his article that change is only sometimes better. I’m open to the possibility of change, but in this case, I believe what we have is better than what is being proposed.
And finally, from Ken Ing’s article, his outline of the case for retaining the current Article II concisely summarizes why the principles as they exist are, in my opinion, better than the rewrite. The highlights are listed below. If you would like a more detailed explanation, please check out his full-length article at https://savethe7principles.org/why-retain-the-uu-principles/ The full text of the current Article II is shown side-by-side with the proposed rewrite starting on page 13 at the link.
Ing offers these reasons for retaining the current Principles:
“Clarity: A strength of the Principles is clear, concise, and cohesive language. The Principles show what makes UU unique.
Freedom: The Principles protect the freedom and sovereignty of each person, whereas the rewrite emphasizes the collective.
Tolerance: The current Freedom of Belief explicitly protects freedom of belief. The rewrite removes that language.
Inspirations: The list of specific Sources is a potent visual reminder of UU’s embrace of spiritual and intellectual diversity.
Polity: The current primary purpose of the Association is to serve its member congregations. The rewrite removes that role.
Agency: The Principles let us decide how to express our values. Covenants in the rewrite will determine our priorities.
Accountability: … Standards are unknown. Enforcement is not defined. UUs judging other UUs would be divisive and toxic.
Universality: The current language is easily understood. The rewrite adds ambiguous words and phrases that have special meanings. These can be misinterpreted all too easily.
Covenant: The proposed covenants through the Association would reverse the flow of power and authority in UUism to be top-down, with congregations subject to UUA control.
They Work: The Principles are fully capable of inspiring and guiding us. Replacing them is not necessary nor wise.”
My only goal in presenting this perspective is to explain why someone in this community, where we share so many values, might oppose the new Article II. I offer this respectfully in the spirit of bridge-building and curiosity. There are people in the congregation with whom this perspective resonates. I know it resonated with me. For those who feel differently, I want you to understand my viewpoint. Disagreement isn’t the same as conflict. We can disagree and still be a joyful and inclusive spiritual community that accepts and celebrates all our diversity and supports each of us on our life journeys.
I want to make it clear that I’m sharing this article as an individual member of WUUC, not as a Board member. A 2022-23 Board Goal is to:
“Foster the development of healthier congregational communication and interactions, aiming to grow mutual understanding among the diversity of perspectives and beliefs represented and build a community where all belong together.
“…The Board as a whole groupwill NOT take a position on any of the topics of concern … Individual members of the Board may express their own personal viewpoints, but those opinions do not represent the Board as a whole.”
Regardless of the outcome of the Article II process, I hope that our WUUC community can be a source of support, joy, acceptance, and inclusion for all its members, now and beyond the vote. Thank you all for journeying with me.
Thanks to five anonymous donors who pledged a $10,000 match, as well as generous donors who seized the matching opportunity, the $10,000 pledge drive match has been met, boosting our annual campaign significantly! As of 4/30/23, our WUUC pledge drive total now stands at $305,977.
Our goal is $326,000, so we are still facing a shortfall. Although the drive has officially ended, if you are considering increasing your pledge, now is the time to do so.
Exact figures are likely to change as this newsletter goes to print (and as you decide to increase your pledge!), so watch your email for any updates on final pledge drive totals.
The Finance Committee and the Board will decide how to best manage the shortfall for the coming year. Revenues from the preschool rental, auction and rummage sales help, but our goal is to not be dependent on these sources of revenue to meet our operating expenses.
Thanks again to everyone for your ongoing support of WUUC.
If you have not already pledged, it is not too late.
Pledges and pledge increases will continue to be gratefully accepted at: https://forms.gle/LE7pCmTgZjY7VkG18 or by completing and returning the pledge form.
The Advocates for Social Justice will be sponsoring its monthly Special Collection during the service on May 21 for NAMI – Eastside, a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for those impacted by mental illness through advocacy, education, and support. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States experience a mental health condition; NAMI – Eastside supports families, friends and individuals living with these challenges.
In March the monthly Special Collection raised $382 for Camp Ten Trees, the Pacific Northwest’s only residential summer camp programming for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their allies, and for children/youth of LGBTQ or non-traditional families.
The ASJ Committee thanks WUUC members and friends for their generous support of our monthly special collections, which take place during services on the third Sunday of every month. Instructions for giving are posted during the service, and you can also donate anytime the following week at https://onrealm.org/wuuc/-/give/now, or by sending a check to WUUC at P.O. Box 111, Woodinville, WA 98072. Please make checks out to WUUC and write “ASJ Special Collection” in the notes.
– Jean Fowler on behalf of Welcoming Congregations Committee
Please join us for the Second Annual “Woodinville PRIDE” celebration. June 10 from 12 – 4 PM. Wilmot Gateway Park, Woodinville. WUUC Social Justice Team and the Welcoming Congregations committee will sponsor a booth. The event will feature artists, crafters, and performers, at this local, family-oriented, safe and inclusive event.
– Cora Goss-Grubbs & Pam Green
Did you know that Woodinville has its very own Pride event? Their goal is to “elevate some of Eastside’s best queer artists/creators, LGBTQ+ business owners and some equity and equality focused organizations.” More info here: https://woodinvillepride.org/
As ASJ Coordinators, Pam Green and I have connected with the Pride organizers to find out how we can support this important event that aligns closely with our UU values. With their feedback, we’ve decided that the best way to support them (and have fun together while we’re at it!) is to sign up as a team to help with setup beforehand (9-11), then attend the event itself for as long as we’d like.
WE’RE LOOKING FOR 4-6 CHURCH FOLKS TO JOIN ME AND PAM IN VOLUNTEERING! If that’s you, please read on… If you can’t or don’t want to volunteer, please consider stopping by to check out and support the event.
– Leslie Morton I have two more meetings to lead as the President of WUUC’s Board. Will I be glad to be done? Yes and no. Yes, because I feel ready to move on to new areas to focus on at WUUC and no, because I have gained so much during the last three years with my Board experience. I’ve gained deeper connections with the people I’ve had the honor to serve with. I’ve grown in my ability to engage in sometimes difficult conversations while deeply caring for and respecting those I’ve disagreed with. I’ve gained insight into what it takes to keep this church running, why I’m involved in the church and it’s leadership, what this community means to other leaders in our community and how each of us bring our unique interests/skills/time/treasures to make WUUC the community that it is. I’ve also had fun!
In the coming days/weeks some of you will be getting calls asking you to consider being on the Board and I strongly urge you to consider this opportunity. “I don’t have the time”. “I’m not good at that kind of thing”. “I’m sure somebody else will do it”. I understand all of your concerns/fears because I’ve probably thought all of them especially when I considered being Board President. What made me decide to take on the Board lead was that I realized that all I had to do was to do the best I could with the skills and flaws I have; nothing more/nothing less. The Board meets generally once a month (typically the third Wednesday of each month, this year we have met from 6-8 but that can easily change depending on peoples needs/conflicts). On occasion we have met a second time for a developmental meeting or if something comes up; this month we will be having a second meeting for a discussion on the budget for next year). We have several roles: President (next year it will be Jan Radoslovich), Vice President, Treasurer (next year it will be Kermit Sprang), Secretary (take minutes and send out notices to the congregation) and the rest are members at large that participate in all meetings/discussions without additional duties. Rev Dan attends all Board meetings and I’ve found this a wonderful way to get to know him and his thoughts/hopes for our congregation.
If you get the call asking you to be on the Board, I ask you to please listen to the ask, ask any/all questions that you can think of, think of your unique gifts and how they can add to our community and then take some time to really consider it. YOU are worthy and wanted.
– Alaine Davis Join us on Saturday, June 17, 2023 @ 6 pm for a meeting of the WUUC Nonfiction Book Club, hosted by Jack Brand at the home of Alaine Davis and Lane Owsley in Kenmore. We will be discussing The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy by Anand Giridharadas. RSVP to Alaine <alaine.davis@yahoo.com>.
The lifeblood of any free society is persuasion: changing other people’s minds in order to change things. But America is suffering a crisis of faith in persuasion that is putting its democracy and the planet itself at risk. Americans increasingly write one another off instead of seeking to win one another over. Debates are framed in moralistic terms, with enemies battling the righteous. Movements for justice build barriers to entry, instead of on-ramps. Political parties focus on mobilizing the faithful rather than wooing the skeptical. And leaders who seek to forge coalitions are labeled sellouts.
In The Persuaders, Anand Giridharadas takes us inside these movements and battles, seeking out the dissenters who continue to champion persuasion in an age of polarization. We meet a leader of Black Lives Matter; a trailblazer in the feminist resistance to Trumpism; white parents at a seminar on raising adopted children of color; Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; a team of door knockers with an uncanny formula for changing minds on immigration; an ex-cult member turned QAnon deprogrammer; and, hovering menacingly offstage, Russian operatives clandestinely stoking Americans’ fatalism about one another.
As the book’s subjects grapple with how to call out threats and injustices while calling in those who don’t agree with them but just might one day, they point a way to healing, and changing, a fracturing country.
(Modified from penguinrandomhouse.com)
Four times a year, the WUUC Book Discussion Group gathers to read and talk about a nonfiction book. You only attend the meetings about books that interest you, so we end up with a different group of participants every time. We meet to share a potluck dinner, connect, and talk about a book in depth. Anyone is welcome to suggest a book and/or lead a discussion. Contact Alaine to RSVP, suggest a book, or offer to host a future discussion.
