Resolution Toward Safe Congregations and Right Relations 1995 Responsive Resolution

WHEREAS in her report to the 1995 General Assembly, Executive Vice President Kathleen Montgomery called on our Association to promote safer congregations for women, children, and men; and

BECAUSE Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

BECAUSE we desire Unitarian Universalist congregations to be places safe from interpersonal violence or abuse;

BECAUSE Unitarian Universalists, along with many religious movements, have experienced incidents in which clergy or laypersons have acted in ways to jeopardize interpersonal safety within our congregations, causing pain and breach of trust; and

BECAUSE we recognize that both laity and clergy need to accept active responsibility for the prevention of interpersonal violence and abuse within our congregations and for healing where such violence or abuse has occurred, or may occur, so that there is a restoration of community; and

WHEREAS we recognize the moral complexity involved with the issues of justice, right relationship, power, and trust;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, to foster and support safe congregations and right relations, the Unitarian Universalist Association shall act, and urge its member congregations, affiliates, associates, and religious professionals, and individual Unitarian Universalists, to:

  1. encourage education and reflection on what it means to be a safe congregation and to be persons in right relationships;
  2. encourage the use of resources which examine the interpersonal ethics, religious issues, and spiritual dynamics that foster safe congregations and right relations between persons;
  3. utilize joint lay/clergy processes for congregational support in prevention, proactive crisis intervention, and healing, both short and long term;
  4. encourage the involvement of the laity and clergy as partners in understanding issues of interpersonal ethics and in developing codes of conduct for laity, clergy, and congregations; and
  5. encourage and enhance collaboration between committees and departments of the Unitarian Universalist Association and affiliated/associated organizations concerned with issues of safe congregations and right relationships; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the General Assembly requests the Executive Vice President of the Unitarian Universalist Association to, for the next five years, report annually on progress in implementing this resolution.