Follow-up

This is a follow-up to my last entry. Thanks for reading; thanks for caring.

Please, discuss these issues within your congregations. Hopefully, all this will lead to substantive discussions among members and congregations and with your respective delegates and your UUA trustees.
DELEGATES: Come to Minneapolis prepared: to learn; to seriously weigh the factors involved; to come to a reasoned, carefully thought out decision; and to vote.


“So, when I have conversations in my congregation, or with delegates, or with trustees, what should I be focusing on?” Outstanding question! I’m glad you asked.

Remember that the board put this issue on the agenda for a couple reasons:

1. to get a lot more people involved in the discussion of what is the right thing to do in this case, and
2. to get all of us to focus on our principles in making important decisions like this one.

So, a few questions to stimulate your thinking:

- Which of our principles is in play here? One of them was specifically called out in the motion; are there others?

- The board decided that we want to make a statement opposing the new Arizona law. What’s the best, most effective, way to do that? Should we take our money and go elsewhere? Should we stay in Phoenix and make a visible public witness opposing the new law? Some other action?

- Does it matter that, if we move away from Phoenix, the UUA will have to pay just over $600,000 for defaulting on existing hotel contracts? Or, should principle overshadow any monetary cost that might be charged?

- What would you tell our members who are concerned for their personal safety in Phoenix?

- Does it matter that several other organizations have moved major meetings away from Arizona? For example, the following organizations have moved:
• The United Church of Christ has moved their 2011 SW conference meeting.
• The Immigration Lawyers Association has moved their national meeting.

- Whichever way you have decided, what would change your mind?

- What are the long-term policy issues when it comes to future GA sites? Should we avoid cities that:

• Have adopted laws we find oppressive of minority populations?
• Have adopted laws against marriage equality?
• Have recently been the target of ICE ([Federal] Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids?
• Have particularly poor environmental records?
• Others?

BOTTOM LINE: We want to make a reasoned, carefully thought out, decision on how to proceed. If you can participate at GA in Minneapolis, great. If can’t make it to GA this year, please ensure you’re your delegates know your thoughts.

Also, please let me know (lphinney@uua.org) so that I can participate on your behalf.

Special Board Meeting

Well, after much research, conversation, questioning, contemplation, some gnashing of teeth, many questions, and lots of disgust at the actions of the Arizona legislature and governor, the UUA Board determined last night to propose a resolution for consideration at General Assembly in Minneapolis to move General Assembly 2012 to a location outside of Arizona.

Here’s the resolution:

“Whereas the state of Arizona has recently enacted a law, SB 1070, that runs counter to our first principle, affirming the worth and dignity of every person,

Whereas the Association stands in solidarity with allies using a widespread economic boycott of Arizona as leverage for Love against this hateful legislation;

Be it resolved: we will not meet in a state of fear.

Accordingly, the Assembly hereby:

• Directs the UUA General Assembly Planning Committee to recommend to the Board of Trustees an alternate location for General Assembly 2012 at a location outside the state of Arizona;

• Pledges to generate from Member Congregations the amount sufficient to cancel arrangements in Phoenix for GA 2012;

• Pledges further to generate an equal or greater amount to fund ongoing efforts to Stand on the Side of Love in Arizona.

• Pledges to renew and redouble our efforts to become a multicultural, anti racist Association; to live as a people standing faithfully in opposition to systemic racism in our congregations, local communities, and in our own lives.”


So, what happens next? The resolution above will be on the GA business agenda. Delegates will be asked to vote on this resolution. However prior to any vote, delegates will have the opportunity – no, the obligation -- to learn:
• about the new law,
• its anticipated affects,
• the financial affect on our association of defaulting on existing contracts with hotels in Phoenix,
• the nature of the fund raising commitment involved in this resolution (to cover our own costs as well as support for “Standing On The Side of Love in Arizona,”
• the views of leaders of the Phoenix UU congregations and of the Pacific Southwest District,
• et cetera – there’s a lot involved here.

Please, discuss these issues within your congregations. In my next blog entry, I’ll summarize, as best I can, the various factors that the Board wrestled with. Hopefully, all this will lead to discussions among delegates, members of congregations with each other, delegates with their congregations, members and congregations with your respective UUA trustees.

DELEGATES: Come to Minneapolis prepared: to learn; to seriously weigh the factors involved; to come to a reasoned, carefully thought out decision; and to vote.