Authors: Ginger Alonzo, Nancy Dolan, Martha Durkee-Neuman, Cynthia Grace, Rachel Maxwell, Nick Maxwell

 

Martha Durkee-Neuman:

Each year, member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association – which includes EUUC – gather together to live out our values of transparency, direct democracy, and congregational polity. We come together from around the country to make decisions about our denomination, our governance, and our structure. This is an important event for us to raise our voices about the things that matter to us.
This year especially, delegates were invited to review and then vote on whether or not to adopt a revision to Article 2 of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s bylaws. Article 1 is the name of our association, and Article 2 spells out our central shared covenant which historically contained our seven principles and six sources. Over the past several years, members of a study committee have been working to revise this Article to better reflect who we are today and the values that guide us as a people. Last year, they presented a draft to the General Assembly, and this year that draft was revised and voted upon. The new version of our principles passed! This is very exciting news for our denomination and places Love as the most important spiritual commitment we share. It was a historic moment and many of us were excited to be a part of this vote. Below you can read some reflections from members of EUUC who attended as delegates this year. 

Ginger Alonzo:
There were many important and challenging issues that delegates voted on during this GA.  I was pleased and felt informed by our discussions among us as we were making decisions on voting. I particularly appreciated discussion on the revised Article II of the UUA bylaws with 4 possible changes submitted to vote on before voting on the final Article II.  We voted to include only one of the four proposed changes, to change the wording in equity.  Our new Article II values of our faith that we voted for are:  Equity, Generosity, Interdependence, Justice, Pluralism, Transformation with the foundation of Love at the center.
I was glad the UUA GA was organized to both monitor and provide feedback for language that might be hurtful or egregious to others during discussions.  There were several instances of language that was hurtful to LGBTQ+, Black, Jewish and Palestinian members of our community.  I was glad there was some  responsiveness to this from the monitors and I hope we get better at being more immediately responsive in the future. 

Rachel Maxwell:
It was an honor to be part of the EUUC delegation to the UUA General Assembly this year because of the historic nature of the question before us – whether or not to approve the new draft Article II. The Article II of the UUA Bylaws contained the 7 Principles when the GA began and when GA ended, it contained a very different way of stating the purpose and being of our faith– through the lens of a set of Values rather than Principles and using a visual element as part of our shared being as a faith. Being present to and part of this conversation has influenced my own theology. I am looking forward to exploring more together at EUUC what it means to hold this new statement. How do we express putting love at the center of all we believe is right? 

Nick Maxwell:
One issue we EUUC delegates and the rest of GA considered was whether to include Peace as a value.  I value non-violence, I value countries not starting wars, and I value peace treaties that stop wars and provide justice.  Unfortunately, the proposal for adding Peace endorsed peaceful resolution of conflicts at all levels.  I support Ukraine defending itself.  I support the Allies liberating the concentration camps.  I support yelling at people who are being violent on the street.  I think it would be a mistake to try to engage in peaceful conflict resolution with someone shooting people at a concert.  “Peaceful resolution” and “at all levels” do not seem to capture the right idea about what our love of Peace is.  GA voted down the proposal adding Peace.  Article II is supposed to be reviewed and revised in 15 years.  Maybe between now and then, we can better articulate our love of peace.

Nancy Dolan:
I so appreciated being part of our wonderful delegation for this historic UUA Assembly.  I don’t remember having a more rich discussion among friends as our discussion on What’s App.
Nick describes well the issues around the Peace Resolution. Though I voted for it because I strongly feel we need to take a position on militarism in the name of protecting capitalism, perhaps that would be better expressed in an AIW. (Perhaps there is such an AIW.)  The resolution was generic and bland and did not flow with the rich language of the new articles.  And living these values based on love would produce a much more peaceful world.  I’m so glad the new articles passed with an overwhelming majority.

As for the Assembly itself, it was my first, so I have no basis of comparison. But I was impressed with how past lessons are being learned, and that “process observers” were there to guide us for more inclusive and accurate discussions on more contentious issues.