UUA Florida District Leaders Roundtable 

September 18, 2010 ~ First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches 

The purpose of this meeting is to exchange our best practices and to support each other around shared challenges. Our District Staff will guide you to and through a variety of resources to make congregational leadership more rewarding. 

Leaders Roundtable Flyer 

Register for N. Palm Beach/September 18th Leaders Roundtable 

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Help Unitarian Universalists in Tennessee and Kentucky Recover From Recent Flooding 

UUs in Nashville, TN, and Kentucky are currently facing a devastating crisis and need your support 

Read More 

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Building the World We Dream About 

Facilitator Training & Teambuilding 

September 11, 2010 ~ University UU Society 

Is your congregation ready to implement the new Building the World We Dream About curriculum? Here is an opportunity for your facilitation team to receive training and network with other facilitators for ongoing support. 

Training Facilitator – Reverend Alicia Forde, UUA Program Coordinator of Multicultural Congregations 

Building the World Flyer 

Building the World Online Registration 

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Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response 

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee relief work continues in Haiti 

Make a contribution to the UUSC/UUA Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund  

I welcome this reminder that Unitarian Universalism — although begun in theological dispute — is much more than trying to craft a “right belief.” Indeed, as I visit with congregational leaders, our leading cause of congregational heart-burn stems from some trying to enforce a creedal purity, even to the point of censoring what words we use to express our highest hopes and deepest aspirations.

Were I to wave the magic wand for our District congregations, it would be to put an end to the word wars that so often divide, even hurt our sense of beloved community. Not having such power, I call your attention to our origins: Our congregations were born in the mid-17th century ambition to be a community of inquiry, as noted in the 1629 Salem Covenant: We bind ourselves together “to walk together in all God’s ways, … as he is pleased to reveal himself to us in his Blessed word of truth.”

A less archaic version updates that ideal:

“We covenant with one another ? and do bind ourselves together in the presence of this religious community to express our deepest and most cherished convictions, as they are borne by each person, to find a common vision for a better world, to seek the life of the spirit, as it is known by each person, choosing with reverence its name, and to walk together in the way of truth and love, as it is shown to us and to all people, in word and deed.”

At our best, we Unitarian Universalists show respect for each other’s worth and dignity by engaging in an on-going dialogue toward mutual spiritual growth.   At our less than best, we sometimes try to clone one another spiritually.

As we move toward the annual fall up-charging of our ministries, I pray you will keep in mind we are one heart and one ambition — to nurture the soul & heal the world — amidst all our diversity of faith conviction and expression. Our faith is a way of life, far more than it is a way of belief. May we walk well together, my friends.

Rev. Kenn

“When does church begin?”

My observations revealed that, with but modest weather-swings and less dramatic changes in daylight, with an early school start and an dispersed snow-bird arrival, planning a rally-together Ingathering or Home-coming Sunday is hard to do.That said, school does start in a few days. Families will shift gradually to a “fall” mindset when Sunday worship and faith education become more central. Our congregations should be gearing up by now. “Church” begins!

Some congregational Boards hold planning retreats in late spring and over the summer. Many wait ‘til fall. It doesn’t matter, as long as you have one. Here are some questions our leaders ought to consider as you think of the program year ahead:

What are our strengths, what things do we do very well?
What do we do okay but we could improve?
What new thing should we begin to do?”

The first is the most important. Also, too often, I see congregations over-reaching and stressing themselves out. So, I argue our congregations should do fewer things better. That alone should help you with your planning.

There is one other, a fourth question, that too rarely is asked: We have to live with limitations, so now and then we should ask:

“What is it that we should stop doing?”

Remember the seven last words of a dying congregation are: “We have always done it this way.” Inertia is the enemy of both quality and excitement. As you think of gearing up your ministries this fall do two things:

Go with what you are really good at, more vigorously.
Go with what excites you now, not yesterday.

You’ll serve your ministry more effectively and with more satisfaction.

Wishing you a joyful and spirit-filled year, Rev. Kenn

PS: Congregational Leaders, come bring hour planning challenges to this month’s Leadership Roundtable, in Tampa, August 21st, or next month in North Palm Beach, September 18th. Click here for more information.

We must be leaders in insuring human rights for immigrants and refuges, and to acknowledge this as a moral issue. We need to continue to witness against Arizona SB 1070 and its implementation. The dignity of all the world’s humans is central to UU principles and values, and I strongly encourage your congregation get involved in one or more of the many topics for immigration study and action. These include, but are not limited to: educating ourselves on the definitions and international agencies accountable in the issue; the economic impact of immigration on countries and individuals; the ways immigrants enrich the society in which they settle; myths vs. realities regarding immigrants; and who the immigrants are in our communities. Also we UUs need to participate and support events that support the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees, and efforts to change both national and international laws; and develop intentional awareness and programs of cultural sharing, inviting immigrants to be a part. I suggest looking at the GA Agenda from our meeting in Minneapolis for the full printing of our current CSAI.

Among other actions our AIW calls for us to join in tourism and product boycotts of Arizona in order to apply economic pressure on the state, to call on the U.S. President to reassert the federal government’s exclusive control over the laws pertaining to immigration, to monitor legislation in other states and witness against similar anti-immigrant proposals, and to persist in our efforts until humane/just federal comprehensive immigration is achieved.

It is important that we UUs do more than just verbally support those in our faith who are “walking our social justice talk”. Please know I am available to converse on issues that concern us all: jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727. I also hope you are enjoying a relaxing summer as you continue to important work in your congregation.

Not only is Minneapolis a beautiful, welcoming, clean city…our annual meeting was just simply a “dynamite, dynamic” event. UUs worked hard…and speaking for myself (perhaps others, too) had little time for play. There were many excellent workshops and lectures. Between 3800 and 3900 UUs were together during this important time. Although there are many events and activities on which I could report, my themes for reporting this year will be “change” and social justice.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA 2012

I had gone to GA with a “questioning” frame of mind especially regarding the UUA Board of Trustee’s (BOT) business resolution which we submitted to the GA Agenda very shortly after the Arizona SB 1070 was passed, and the opinion “voiced” by our UUA President Rev. Peter Morales, in the June 10th letter to UUs (found on the UUA web site). As you know when the BOT made the decision to propose a boycott of Phoenix for the 2012 GA the Board was very concerned about responding to our first Principle and was unable to “see” how our UUA in good conscience could hold GA there. Others and definitely the majority of UUs decided we should go to Arizona and bear witness. At the pre-GA UUA BOT and President Morales meeting we created a joint statement that stated in part, our commitment to justice and equality, and celebrated the quality of the discussion and level of engagement created by placing the business resolution on the agenda. After thanking everyone for contributions to the discussion we looked forward to a “fruitful and vigorous debate”, and hoped this debate would be open and respectful with consideration to the financial impact of the decision and accountable to historically marginalized communities both within and outside of our faith.

At two well-attended business mini-assemblies (I was there) the pros and cons of meeting in Phoenix were aired passionately and respectfully. After much negotiation and compromise a consolidated resolution was drafted (possible only in min-assemblies, not on the plenary floor), which was revised by a small group which included leaders from DRUUMM, LUUNA, and ARE. It was the intention from the inception of the consolidated resolution to limit, but not eliminate programming, and the content for a “Justice GA” in Phoenix 2012 would focus on organizing, teaching attendees the “hows” of specific activities, anti-racism/anti-oppression, and competencies in cultures. All of the programs would be focused on standing on the side of love with immigrants being discriminated against. It was agreed that there will be a need for communal worship for the entire GA. There was also concern that the UUA BOT might add irrelevant business items and/or others might try to place items on the agenda that could be taken care of at GA 2013. As you know by this time the resolution to hold GA 2012 in Phoenix passed with an overwhelming majority.

THE DISTRICT PRESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (DPA)

The DPA and BOT met all day Wednesday (pre-GA) to discuss governance and possible regionalization structure. It is known we have layer upon layer of governance in a very small denomination when the goal of good governance is good output not management. There is not a whole lot of collaboration between congregations because we don’t seem to see the value of interdependence. Congregations operate in isolation; there is a middle adjudicatory layer between congregations and the national level. The purpose of our Association is to support local congregations, and districts may provide a container of additional isolation. By that I mean it doesn’t concern us whatever other districts are doing, that is their problem. There are inequities in how our UUA funds districts; one example found in our UUA paying a range of 28 to 82% of the district executive’s salary. Our districts are a layer of governance that has hobbled us politically by repeatedly designed structures which are not sustainable? Why aren’t we able to change even though we commit to change? How are we structured so that we don’t nurture congregational growth and vitality? Is the system cumbersome and too much energy being spent in unproductive things?

The bottom line is our Association and forms of governance must be the best they can be. It is time to re-imagine roles of distribution of services and how we are to be led. To reach this goal our district staff and the staffs throughout our 19 districts have begun to explore collaboration through regional organization. Our region, aptly named Southland, consists of Florida, Mid-South, Thomas Jefferson, and the Southwest Conference. Two regions have already met to discuss how to best serve our faith, its members, and be financially good stewards of our faith. Our Southland region plans to hold a December meeting between as many district boards and staff to explore the many issues facing our denomination and to determine what no longer may be in our best interests as governing bodies. I came away from the Wednesday meeting with the thought that transformation occurs when we question our taken-for-granted assumptions; hopefully we can learn, and then we do things differently.

STANDING ON THE SIDE OF LOVE IN LORING PARK

Truth be told, this Saturday event was one of my favorite happenings during GA. We were invited to be a part of an Interfaith Community Public Witness Event during the Pride weekend in the Minneapolis. This is a big event…the 4th largest Pride in the nation. We marched over from the convention center behind a recently “wed” bridal couple in a chariot pulled by some “roosters” (I have no idea if there was any significance to the roosters). Our UU values mean there should be no legal, legislative, civic, religious justification for not recognizing relationships of love, legal commitments, and relationships of mutuality. We listened to several ministers of different faiths who are standing on the side of love and the most enduring words to me were, “we need to be fools for love”. We need to stand on the side of love for equality for all gender identities and sexual orientations. We must value all people and all families.

THE WARE LECTURE

This is an event to which I look forward each year. I am rarely disappointed. Winona LaDuke, well known Native American activist, and vice-presidential candidate with Ralph Nader, urged us to become environmentalists. Her passion was palpable when she said it is time to “take back” our country by turning our lawns into gardens and find ways to have our communities erect wind turbines, reject oil and coal…not to “wait for someone else to save the world”. LaDuke believes we must create a green economy at the local level, one in which an efficient economy doesn’t transport products great distances and we are not feeding the gas tanks of Hummers. She implored us to free our minds from a sense of entitlement to taking responsibility and reminded us that “we are the people who are here now” and those to come are depending upon us to do the right thing.

SURPRISE VISIT BY SENATOR AL FRANKEN

Meg Riley introduced Sen. Franken who began by telling us our church is so cool he decided to base his talk on God, about whom he gained his insight through his father. He spoke with great warmth and humor about the last days of his father’s life and the visit from the rabbi. He talked about Jews having to be just and do justice; this informs him as to how he should be as a senator. Sen. Franken spoke of our founding fathers, who weren’t really Christians…they were deists, and believed we must be just and good. Sen. Franken considers himself a very fortunate person who has been married 35 years, “many of them very happy”. He considers his marriage successful mainly because of “fear”…fear of being alone, and his wife’s tolerance of him. Then he related some heartwarming stories about his two children. He ended by thanking us for being a church that “embraces all different kinds of things” and for being a church that believes in social justice. He closed by saying, “You are my favorite kind of church”. As you can imagine there was much laughter during Sen. Franken’s appearance. Someone commented to me following Sen. Franken’s words it is interesting that among our best speakers were the two politicians who came before us (the other being Minnesota Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie).

STATEMENT OF CONSCIENCE ON PEACEMAKING

Briefly, the Statement summons us to working on peacebuilding, peacemaking, and peace keeping; and to promote a culture of peace by transforming public policies, religious consciousness, and individual lifestyles. Delegates debated and voted upon the Statement, which required a 2/3 majority to pass, at Friday morning’s plenary meeting. Thursday, preceding the Friday plenary, the Commission on Social Witness (CSW) listened to questions and concerns. We were reminded to consider carefully personal interests versus the sense of what might pass by the delegates, whether the changes that might be recommended would increase or decrease the likelihood of the voted needed to pass. As you know an earlier version of the Creating Peace Statement was presented for a vote at GA 2009; it was referred back to the CSW for further study, which can only occur once on any statement of conscience. The Peacemaking SOC passed. I urge your congregation to begin working on this important SOC.

ACTIONS OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS (AIW)

An AIW expresses the conscience and carries the authority of the delegates at the General Assembly at which it is passed. Unlike a Statement of Conscience, an AIW does not carry the full authority of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA); rather, it expresses the conscience and carries the authority of the delegates at the GA at which it is passed. Six AIWs were proposed. One, Reinvigorating Our Youth and Young Adult Structures at a Congregational Level, was ruled out of order because it was deemed not to be a public policy issue. The remaining five needed two-thirds vote to be adopted. Three received the necessary votes: Opposition of Anti-Immigrant Measures at the State Level and the Hastening of Federal Immigration Reform; Gulf Coast Environmental and Economic Justice 2010; and Clean Up the Clean Energy Bill. Even though AIWs carry the authority only of the GA at which they are adopted, they reflect considerable thought, collaboration, and commitment. So again, I urge your congregation to advocate for these AIWs.

CONGREGATIONAL STUDY/ACTION ISSUES (CSAI)

This year five CSAIs were presented to the GA delegates. The five presented were: Energy, Peace, and Justice; National Economic Reform: A Moral Imperative; Immigration as a Moral Issue; Ending Slavery; and Revitalizing American Democracy. Immigration and Economic Justice were the top vote getters. Then there was a runoff vote which Immigration was selected.

A FEW LAST WORDS

I attended the Bridging Ritual/Ceremony on Friday evening. The worship included voices from across the generations; the service honored our bridging youth and lifted up our multigenerational relationships. It celebrated our faith and community in worship for all ages. This, also, is an important time and event for our youth when transitioning to young adults in our congregational life. I hope it is a part of your congregation’s rituals.

The programming, special events, and business meetings are available for you to view on www.uua.org; just link to General Assembly 2010 and you may select any or all the many “happenings” at GA for listening and watching. I especially suggest selecting Winona La Duke, Al Franken, and the Service of the Living Tradition. I hope if you were at GA you will share your impressions and experience with your congregation and beyond, as you associate with the congregations in your area and/or cluster. Sharing and working together beyond our congregation walls is part of what “it’s all about” folks. Over the next two years we will be urgently and seriously preparing for our “Justice GA 2012” in Phoenix. It is very important and appropriate for you to start the work now AND for many, many Floridians to be in attendance both in Charlotte 2011 and Phoenix the next year. Our UUA will have many resources available to help us so WE can be ready. Thanks for reading my reflections.
The next UUA Board of Trustees meeting is in October. There will be a report following that meeting. Contact me if you are so inclined. Be well and enjoy the rest of the summer.

The 49th Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly may prove to be one of those seminal moments in our larger ministry.

The polarizing issue of whether to move our 2012 GA out of Arizona — in response to that state’s legislation regarding immigration issues — was managed by the adoption of a compromise resolution to go but to re-configure GA into a “justice” assembly. The adopted resolution calls for us to not conduct business as usual but to live our values by witnessing for what UUA President Morales characterizes as the “civil rights issue of our time.”

With the active direction of those most likely to be effected, our people of color and accent, the compromise received the support of the UUA Board and Administration before being adopted by an overwhelming majority. As with any compromise, there is some gain, some loss. Not all are happy. One Latino colleague said to me, “Kenn, I hate it, but it is a good thing. I won’t go, but you Anglos go, with my blessing.”

President Morales argued that a boycott was a minor issue compared to our larger concern for human dignity. Arizona’s SB 1070 legitimates racial/ethnic profiling and political bullying. This is an issue of national, moral consequence.

Tipping the argument for me was the observation that 29 other states — with Florida next in line — are considering similar legislation. Moving our GA from one state to another could be a on-going series of moves.

One hopes that by 2012, the US Congress will get off its duff and address what is clearly its responsibility, rendering our debate moot. More important, July 29th is when Arizona’s SB 1070 goes into effect. Many Unitarian Universalists will join others in witnessing against this heinous act. Both Presidents Bush and Obama have put forth sensible ideas to Congress. Now, not two years from now, is the time to move the political discourse along. Check in with www.uua.org to learn of unfolding actions.

Among other actions of GA was the adoption of rule changes regarding the elections of the Moderator and President, potentially leading to single six year terms and shaping the selection process to be less like our national civic elections and more like that used when seeking ministerial leadership for a congregation.

For a full report on GA, see http://uua.org/events/generalassembly/2010/index.shtml . Meanwhile, plan now to attend our 50th Anniversary GA in Charlotte, NC, next June.

I would like to be writing about General Assembly 2010 but the column is due before my departure to our annual meeting. Hopefully those of you who attended GA returned energized and ready to share your perspectives and experiences with your congregation. It seems appropriate, no matter what decisions were made at GA to write about how we can become more welcoming of racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity, and to dismantle racism in congregations and the larger community. In a letter from our President, Rev. Peter Morales sent to all of us shortly before GA he said in part, “We are in a struggle for the future direction of American society. How we treat immigrants, especially those from Mexico and Central America, is today’s equivalent of the Civil Rights Movement.” 

The issue for all of American society is how we are going to live together in a time in which “whites” are in the minority. This issue is one which will affect each of us no matter where we live, or how we identify ethnically and culturally. Rev. Morales has said, “We can be the religion for our time”. I believe he means we can be a faith that crosses what divides us in race, class, and culture…a significant challenge for our UU faith with our northern European roots.

An excellent beginning for all of us might be engaging in the newly-developed adult education Tapestry of Faith curriculum, Building the World We Dream About (BtWWDA), which was field tested with forty-five congregations for over a year from 2007 to 2008. It is now available. The curriculum’s author is Dr. Mark A. Hicks, a George Mason University professor of transformational education, and JUUST Change Anti-Oppression Program Consultant.

The goals of the curriculum are to: 1) Promote multicultural welcome, inclusion, and affirmation in all facets of UU congregational life; 2) Cultivate participants’ knowledge and skills in addressing issues related to race, ethnicity, and cultural identity both individually and institutionally; and 3) Identify ways congregations can build multiracial/multicultural communities of love and justice. The curriculum includes a series of interactive seminars conducted over a 12-month period. Participants will explore topics that increase personal understanding on race and ethnicity, as well as systemic racism, through spiritual reflection, journaling, the arts, simulations, guest speakers, and field trips. This year-long effort culminates with the creation of action plans for anti-racist/multicultural congregational transformation.

UU groups may now download BtWWDA; using the link above.  You can contact me at jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727. I always look forward to hearing from you.

Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour. After an hour and a half, I felt anxiety rise. No one I knew had any idea where I was that day. Traveling alone can do strange things to the mind. For a fleeting moment, I worried about being pulled off the train and disappearing. The phrase “being without papers” in a land where I did not speak the language nor understand its customs took on new meaning. When I had my little blue book of identity back, the relief was palpable.

That overly anxious moment came to mind soon after Arizona passed its law to confront the problem of illegal immigration. I am not without sympathy; drug-running has compounded an already difficult problem there. Nonetheless, I join the chorus of condemnation at the act. Perhaps the ensuing uproar will stir our US Congress to face its responsibilities regarding immigration at long last.

Many now propose boycotting Arizona to bring economic pressure to bear on the matter. Earlier this month, our UUA Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting and decided to ask this year’s delegates in Minneapolis whether to pull our 2012 General Assembly out of Phoenix as a way of witnessing to our values and to show our solidarity with those opposing the requirement that (some) Americans must carry “papers” when we travel — at least in Arizona. [Read the UUA Board resolution.]

Two arguments, overly simplified here, are made:

• Because remaining in Arizona would put some of our own people at risk of arrest for appearing — what? — illegal, and because the most efficient way to dismantle bigotry is to strike its pocketbook, we should move our Assembly out of the state.
• The counter-argument is made that we could have greater impact for social justice were we to remain and devote the entire GA to education and faith witness on matters of immigration.

I see merit to both sides and await our debate to help shape my thinking. WUUD? What (should) a Unitarian Universalist do?

Your thoughts? Post them on our Facebook page.

I look forward to seeing many of you at GA! All blessings, Kenn

By Connie Goodbread

As Unitarian Universalists we are confused about what a sound bite is. We think that a Unitarian Universalist sound bite must somehow explain everything about our faith. When in fact a sound bite is a piece of truth, not the whole truth. None of the sound bites that we hear about other religions explain the entirety of a faith. What we need is new good sound bites that are pithy, fun, joyful and short. Can you come up with a sound bite that speaks a piece of our truth?

Great leaders are great leaders not because they can tell you what they are doing or how they will do it but because they can tell you why they are doing it. – Simon Sinek

For far too long Unitarian Universalism has been using terrible sound bites. Here are some examples: “We are the people who can believe anything we want.” Or, “Unitarian Universalists, the people with the seven suggestions.” Or, “God’s frozen people.” Or, “When given a choice UUs would rather talk about heaven than go there.” You have all heard these as well as the jokes that we, and others, tell about us. We do this in an attempt to keep a sense of humor about ourselves. Don’t get me wrong; keeping a sense of humor is a good thing. We are the fun faith. However, it is also important that we, at least some of us, take the faith seriously. Who does that?

Rev. Peter Morales, our UUA President, is using a sound bite that I would like to mention here. “We are the faith beyond belief.” Unitarian Universalism -the faith beyond belief. Now that is good.

Rev. Susan Smith says, “There is no fundamentalism in Unitarian Universalism.” Provocative and true. I have had more push back from this statement than any of these others. Fundamentalism asserts that it is the one way, the one truth, and that is not Unitarian Universalism. I like to say, “We are the people of the many paths.” This is what makes us non-fundamentalists.

“We are the people of the promise and the struggle.” This one could be a Jewish sound bite. But it is also true for us. Our promise is our Covenant. Our struggle is to develop, become fully human, not to be stuck or mired forever in one stage but continually evolving – alive, awake, aware. Here is another, “We are the people who value loving justice and just loving.” Love and justice, two of the deepest values we uphold.

Our UUA has been using – “Standing on the side of love.” “Nurture your spirit, help heal the world.” Wonderful, meaningful and catchy.

These statements cut to the heart of who we are. These sound bites tell people why we have a passion for Unitarian Universalism and why it might be meaningful in their lives too. These sound bites are not the whole truth but they are each, a piece of our truth. If we are to be all that we can be, then we need to understand why. Why we are. Why we exist. Why is this faith different? Do we have a deep message that could feed the people and save the world? Can we make simple statements that say why and that also inspires others? Not because of, or for, ourselves but because of our core values and because those core values could help others to become all they could be.

The UUA Board of Trustees held a special meeting May 6th, by teleconference to determine what action, if any, we will take regarding General Assembly (GA) 2012, scheduled to be held in Phoenix, AZ, in view of the recently enacted Arizona SB 1070. This column will reflect our thinking, and the decision we made (with thanks to two of my colleagues, Rev.’s Susan Ritchie and Jake Morrill for their summaries of our meeting). By the end of our meeting, we concluded that a values-first decision would make meeting in a location where UUs would be potentially subject to hostile, dangerous, and undignified treatment intolerable. We must also acknowledge our solidarity with those standing on the side of love within the state requires that not meeting in Phoenix represents a deeper, not lesser, engagement with the important witness against such hateful legislation.

We voted to include a resolution on the agenda of GA in Minneapolis:
Whereas the state of Arizona has recently enacted a law—SB 1070—that runs counter to our first principle, affirming the worth and dignity of every person,

Whereas the Association stands in solidarity with allies using a widespread economic boycott of Arizona as leverage of Love against this hateful legislation;

Be it resolved: we will not meet in a state of fear. Accordingly, the Assembly hereby:

• Directs the UUA GA Planning Committee to recommend to the Board of Trustees an alternate location for GA 2012 at a location outside the state of Arizona;
• Pledges to generate fro Member Congregations the amount sufficient to cancel arrangements in Phoenix for GA 2012;
• Pledges further to generate an equal or greater amount to fund ongoing efforts to Stand on the Side of Love in Arizona;
• Pledges to renew and redouble our efforts to become a multicultural, anti-racist Association; to live as a people standing faithfully in opposition to systematic racism in our congregations, local communities, and in our own lives.

There are also financial costs for making the decision, and for not making the decision. The cost to people in Arizona who could be arrested or treated violently because they “look illegal” is obvious, and may be an issue for many members of our own congregations. There would also be an impact on our UUA from UUs who would boycott a GA in Phoenix. The most serious cost would be to our authenticity in declaring our support for the inherent worth and dignity of every person. If we are not willing to support our principles with action, we sacrifice the heart of our covenant with each other.

Please know I am available for conversation regarding your questions and concerns: jlund@uua.org and/or 813-931-9727. Thanks for your support. I look forward to seeing many of you at GA.