On June 1 at 8:00 pm Eastern there will be a pre-General Assembly candidate forum for a seat on the UUA Board of Trustees.
Description
The Candidate Forum is sponsored by the Election Campaign Practices Committee (ECPC). It will involve statements by, questions to, and discussion between the two candidates for the contested seat #8 on the UUA Board of Trustees: Rev. Sam Trumbore and Jay Kiskel.
Rev. KC Slack and Beth McGregor of the ECPC will serve as moderators. Attendees are invited to submit questions for the candidates in advance by email to elections@uua.org, or during the forum by typing them into the Q&A panel.
Pre-registration Required
You must pre-register to attend. Register at this link.
All are invited to attend. Please share this date and registration information with others.
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One analogy to explain the changes going on at the UUA is to say we used to be like the Am Library Association where members are automatous independent member libraries that created the Association to assist, learn and communicate with other members organizations. Now the UUA attempts to be the headquarters of a large corporation and the member churches are merely franchise units under the direction (& control) of the corporate headquarters. “If the corporate board decides that Shrimp Baguettes will be offered on Sunday’s menu, you will be evaluated on the Sunday services you provide. Contact the UUaticum for… Read more »
Is it wrong to want to reckon honestly with centuries of past abuses?
No it is not wrong. I have read and appreciate your comments on this site. I am appalled by the FPP.
Today, the flags of the nation of Canada are flying at half-mast, after the remains of 215 indigenous children were found at a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia (CBC news, May 30, 2021). Why isn’t the UUA calling on the US and US state governments to fly our masts at half-mast as well? Yes, today is Memorial Day in the States, but is it really helpful to confine memorialization to a narrow interpretation? When the straight-line parts of the US-Canadian border were created by the US and British governments, there was no consultation with the indigenous people. It tore… Read more »
On the topic of race, Mr. Kiskel is a co-founder of this Fifth Principle Project, which “was started in response to the April 2017 decision to declare that the Unitarian Universalism Association (UUA) was based on white supremacy culture.” A recent publication on this site says anti-racist UUs of color are on “a quest for power (and money), disguised in “caring” rhetoric.” Does Mr. Kiskel stand by this claim?
That’s a lie. The comment to which you refer does not mention POC, anti-racists or otherwise.
If it’s not referring to UUs of color who claim they are harmed by White supremacy culture within UUism and therefore want things to change, who is it referring to? Their allies? In context: “If white supremacy within UUism has reached such an extent that it is destroying the lives and damaging the heart muscles of people of color then it is an emergency that must and should take priority over all other principles. If it is not, then those promoting the Harm Principle are causing real and devastating harm to the “beloved community” they claim to care so much… Read more »
It’s referring to “those promoting the Harm Principle” and the “culture of victimhood.” Seems pretty obvious.
And who does this author believe is “promoting the Harm Principle” and a “culture of victimhood,” if not anti-racist UUs of color or their allies?
Actually, we don’t need to wonder. The author tells us that people “promoting the Harm Principle” and a “culture of victimhood” are the same ones who “claim to care so much about ‘beloved community [sic].” What is “Beloved Community”? It is a term popularized by MLK meaning an inclusive, anti-racist community, so those who “claim to care so much about ‘beloved community’ are indeed anti-racist people of color or their allies.
I attended the forum and want to congratulate Jay on his well informed, thoughtful and considered answers to the questions asked. The differing views on the COIC report were especially illuminating. It’s hard to see how anyone could defend such a poorly constructed document. Its flaws are much more than just a “lack of footnotes.” Jay’s points regarding it were particularly insightful and well-founded.
I am really sorry to have missed it; was it recorded?
Yes. It’s here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/elections
Jay, is, indeed, impressive.
Why is Fifth Principle Project OK with impugning the motives of people of color but incensed when the motives of White folks are questioned?
Mr. Kiskel,
I appreciated hearing from you during the candidates forum. Thank you for your participation.
Could you speak to what kind of support from your local congregation and/or minister you have as a candidate? Were you selected as a General Assembly delegate this year? If not, how are you accountable to or representative of your home congregation?
I look forward to hearing from you. Good luck with your campaign.