Apparently many feel that AI is just too removed from the issues and the feelings concerning them. Here is the alternative.
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Bravo!!!!
Thanks, Frank.
My congregation unanimously voted against A2R and us 3 GA delegates all voted against it at the GA (of course). The question is, how can UUs communicate with each other across congregations to get the word out, and then, break through the denial of the fact the UUA Board is determined to re-define UUism into the opposite of what it has been? And even if we UUs are able to do that, we still have to contend with UU ministers, who largely support the oligarchic UUA Board, all having a vote at the General Assembly. I’m not meaning to imply… Read more »
Many thanks for your comment, beautifully written saying what needs to be said. In your comment you say ” break through the denial of the fact the UUA Board is determined to re-define UUism into the opposite of what it has been” I hope by ‘has been’, there is still room for the use of the present and future tenses. And I would love to see a good cogent paragraph on what you mean in your statement by ‘UUism,’ and then ‘the opposite.’ That is just a wish as I know that it is difficult to put into words a definition… Read more »
John, you’re welcome, and thanks for your fulsome praise for my comment. To elaborate by what I mean by “UUism” and its “opposite” — UUism to me is well-described by the 7 Principles. Following those principles means (IMO) approaching others (humans, non-humans, and the rest of the natural universe) with a spirit of respect, wonder, and awe (along the lines of the Hindu greeting of Namaste– which I’ve been told means “the divine within me rejoices to meet the divine within you.’). Following those principles also means developing discernment, fostering wisdom, rejecting fallacy and deceit, practicing democracy and egalitarianism, while… Read more »
Barbara,
Grateful thanks for your long and clear reply.
John
I love your attitude, Barbara, and that is what it will take to win in June 2024! One of my UU congregations has started a campaign to inform the whole congregation of what the UUA is attempting, since that has been quite hidden, by design. One of the things I’m doing personally is to post, on each UU congregation’s Facebook page, a link to the latest Savingthe7Principles video, and noting which ones I’ve done that at in a notebook. I just started, and am just on Alaska, so far, but am looking forward to each and every one of them.… Read more »
That’s a great idea, Terri (sending Save the Principles link to congregations) — good for you!
I hope that if others have other good ideas for inter-congregational outreach, they will share them here!
I should add that, as you, no doubt, know, there are hundreds and hundreds of UU churches, so anyone can join in on posting the Savethe7principles video to their Facebook pages. You can pick based on your favorite state, a letter of your choosing (all the “O” states), or whatever. I’m glad you said something, Barbara, about reaching out, because now is definitely the time to “save our UU ship”! https://savethe7principles.org/videos/saving-uus-soul/
Your call to save our principles and our faith is simply monumental. May your plea be heard by all UU’s.
Another viewpoint. Our principles and faith can survive with or without the UUA. They are not dependent on UUA survival. Wasting time trying to win over the current UUA administrators is an exercise in masochism and futility. Resolving problems of this kind requires participants acting in good faith. The bad guys are not people of good will. They are pursuing power, and money. Why provide them power and money?
I’ve no idea why you would say that we, or me in this case, is supplying the UUA with power and money. If anything I’d see them deprived of it. And I wouldn’t be so sure of the survival of our faith without a national organization that would do what the UUA is from bylaws mandated to do, support local congregations. I don’t want to compare us to Lincoln, but its a bit like saving the Union, because democracy needed the Union. If we fail, we fail. But I’m not gonna fail sitting on the side lines watching it all… Read more »
Burton, I fully agree with part of what you write (the importance and existence of our principles are not dependent on the the UUA Board). However, if the UU further implodes by accepting A2R, the UU will not be an organization where those principles are being given precedence. Also, I did not notice that anyone was calling on anyone to win over the current UUA administrators. Instead, Frank was calling on congregations to vote down A2R. No one (that I notice) is calling for giving the UUA admin more money and power. Problem is, they already have (by my standards)… Read more »
I’m sympathetic with Burton’s point of view. I have joined the NAUA, and feel it is the alternative where I am welcomed. But the question remains, is it still possible to direct effort and resources to confront the A2 changes after a GA approval of 85% in June to proceed? I’m pessimistic, based on both the fact that the UUA continues to control most of the communication channels on this subject, and many UUs, who may know a little bit about this, don’t seem to care enough to fight it. I have personally discontinued all financial support for the UUA,… Read more »
I left my church 3 years ago after a BLM banner was put over the front door of the church. I complained to the pres. of the church that I didn’t support BLM’s political agenda. She suggested I enroll in the church anti-racist program. So I left.
They have since adopted the 8th principle. They aren’t trying to hide anything at my old church. I don’t know how it’s been received because I left. It’s not for me but if that’s what they’ve democratically decided that’s what they want their church to be, it’s not for me to criticize.
Years ago, the Minister of my Church told me our Church (founded in 1843) was here before UUA and will be here after UUA gone. I’m sympathetic to your voices on this site, but the problems with UUA surfaced years earlier, and it’s time to start thinking of what a Liberal Faith should look like post UUA. I’ve belonged three UU societies and the UUA never figured high in any of the congregations. A center’s faults and fumbles won’t concern most UUs. It might be time to work on new alternatives as UUA withers away.
Thank you Frank. Very well said. The purpose of the UUA has always been, as stated in Article II, to serve the needs of the congregations. This allowed the congregations to be autonomous. The members of the congregations were not encumbered by goals or statements of the UUA, or even General Assembly proclamations, unless they chose to implement these ideas in their own congregations. Free choice. It appears to me that the UUA leadership wants to flip that around so the congregations serve the mission of the UUA. The introduction of covenants and accountability statements seem to be designed to… Read more »
Is this available in a reading format? Please advise.
Dear Frank Casper, Thank you for your video and for your work on this Fifth Principle Project. I am wondering what will be the best way to introduce UUs to these issues who are pretty much ignorant of the last ten years of UUA politics–which I think is the large majority of UUs. One of the best materials that I’ve found so far, for this purpose, is Rev Kowalski’s “How the UUA Manufactures Consent,” because it narrates the history of the new UUA governance model that was introduced in 2011. So it gives a sense of how it has been… Read more »
I see that your book, _Used to be UU_, covers just about all of this ground, in considerable detail and in an admirably calm tone of voice. But it’s a very long book! A five- or ten-page “executive summary” (with page references to the book, for key issues) would be very helpful.
You might look at my 8 minute video as an executive summary, but your point is taken. The book would have benefited from that.
You could still write one up! 😉 I, for one, would distribute it widely.
Well, give me a bit of time and I’ll look into it.
Absolutely. Thank you!!
Thanks, Mr. Burton, for your kind remarks. Your preferences for text notwithstanding, I think the only way to reach rank and file UU’s is with videos like this. It is a very efficient way to convey a message without asking someone to read an essay or book. This site will continue to publish articles and essays, however, because that is the only way really to express a sustained rational argument. I say this despite the clear unwillingness of those pressing for the demise of UUism to read a rational argument as they tend to regard them as “white thinking.” The… Read more »
I can tell by your tone that you understand exactly what is going on with the UUA, an attempt to dismantle UUism. This is an exceedingly important time in Unitarian Universalism, and it deserves every bit of attention UUs can muster. Yours is an excellent video, but I have a few questions, one being, how are we going to make sure the vote in 2024 is a fair vote? They have arranged it so that it will be totally virtual, and I think that is on purpose, under the guise of, after all of these years, “people can’t afford to… Read more »
That is a good question, and one that I think we should prevail on those in power to answer.