Joan Lund
June, 2010, General Assembly, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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. Read more »
