Good Officer Response to MFC Regarding Eklof

June 12, 2020

All,

Over a number of years the Rev. Dr. Todd Eklof grew increasingly alarmed by a disturbing trend he noticed in Unitarian Universalist leadership circles – a move away from the historic liberal, democratic principles that had drawn him (and many, many others) into the Unitarian Universalist community, towards authoritarian, dogmatic, top down styles leadership.

Prominent UU leadership proponents of this shift have proclaimed that historic UU values were based on false premises which they have characterized as a “trinity of errors”: individualism, mistrust of authority and the conviction that UUism has exceptional characteristics as a non-dogmatic free faithmovement.  In other words, the values, ideals, and wisdom that has evolved in our tradition and provides our spiritual foundation, are now declared null and void.

Out of concern for the integrity and well being of our free faith tradition Rev. Eklof began examining this trend by conducting a number of interviews and doing considerable research. Rev. Eklof described the nature of this disturbing trend in a small, self-published book (“The Gadfly Papers”). which he felt called to distribute for free to other UU members.

The reaction of the UU leadership – who grossly mis-characterized this book – was uniformly negative and shockingly vitriolic, devoid of any faint signs of openness, tolerance, grace, or compassion – just strident denunciation. In fact, a number of those who opposed the book, staged what is close to a modern version of a “book burning;” they literally took (free) copies of the book and publicly, self-righteously, and angrily threw them into the trash.

Subsequently, Rev. Eklof was given a “letter of censure” by the UU Ministers Association (having been given no opportunity to hear the specifics, nor present his own case) This was followed by a year-long campaign by UU leadership to discredit him.

He was repeatedly criticized (quite falsely) for “failing to engage” with his critics, when in reality, his critics refused to allow him any opportunity to engage in genuine dialogue.

Indeed, many of his fiercest critics acknowledged (some even proudly) that they had not even read his book, but were nonetheless convinced it was heretical, beyond the pale.

This vindictive campaign against a UU minister, who was responsibly exercising our liberal ministry’s historic freedom of expression, has now culminated in his removal from ministerial fellowship (essentially an excommunication) by the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee, or MFC (set in motion by completely baseless charges about how he wrote his book).

In classic “kangaroo court” style it began an investigation led by an individual who was on record as having condemned Rev. Eklof’s book. This was little more than a setup to provide a predetermined outcome.

Rev. Eklof quite naturally objected to the process, not only because of the investigators’ compromised standing, but also to the fact that the spurious complaint upon which it was ostensibly based violated any reasonable interpretation of freedom of the pulpit. He argued that until these problematic issues were addressed, he could not in good conscience participate in this MFC process.

The MFC then flipped around. Instead of charging him with the original (clearly bogus) complaint, it instead charged him with refusing to participate (cast as a violation of UUA’s Rule 28). It was a Catch-22 for Rev. Eklof – participate and be guaranteed to get “convicted,” or opt out and be convicted for non-participation.

Yet, on this flimsy basis, the MFC decided to remove him from fellowship. In effect, the UU leadership has declared Rev. Eklof to be a heretic (to the new UU trends) and thus no longer worthy of remaining a UU minister. (Fortunately, in our tradition the local congregation has sole power to call and ordain ministers, thus Rev. Eklof can continue to serve his congregation in Spokane.)

This is a sad story, not just for Rev. Eklof, but for most of us who wish to preserve the historic, core UU values.

Here you will find my letter to the MFC (see below) spelling out in more detail Rev. Eklof’s concerns and objections (which the MFC effectively ignored).

Rev. Rick Davis

Acting as Rev. Todd Eklof’s Good Officer

Rev. Rick Davis Letter