3003 Plenary III
Planning Committee Sponsored

Watch the Moderator's Report from this event! (RealVideo instructions for use)

Saturday Plenary passes Statement of Conscience on Alternatives to Drug Laws; reports from Officers and Committees

The Stage
David Carl Olson
The Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee
Jim Gunning
Energy Break
Erica Kapitan-Daniel
Gregory Boyd
Rev. Meg Riley
Emily Dulcan

(Québec City, QUE - June 23, 2002) Saturday's plenary began with Moderator Diane Olson calling the delegates assembled in the Centre des Congres to order for the presentation of Study Action Issues (total of five to be presented).

Presentation of Proposed Study Action Issues
The Rev. David Johnson, Brookline, MA, spoke to a proposed action on Civil Liberties, asking the delegation to consider whether the impingement of their basic liberties is consistent with our Unitarian Universalist understanding of freedom: "If you belong to an organization that has a protest that turns violent, you can be accused [of a crime]…is this liberty, is this what we have talked about? You can be stopped at an airport and turned away without documentation…is this freedom?"

Barney Fraber Dale, Newton, MA, spoke to a proposed action on Modern Slavery, saying, "On Sept. 11 in addition to the loss of life, we all lost a little freedom. But millions of people have no freedom. They are slaves, with no escape, forced to work with no pay. They are in every nation, including the US and Canada, and there are more slaves now than were taken from Africa during all of the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries combined. They are raped, mutilated, they are forced to live under the most dangerous conditions… Anti-slavery crusaders have already learned what works…job one is to simply spread the word. Choosing this as our study action issue is so important…"

Rose Edington, UU Fellowship of Athens, OH spoke to the proposed action on Peace and Terrorism. She said, "Our world is a family made up of all sorts of beings, who should be allowed to live in peace without fear. What can we UUs as members of the world's family do to promote peace for all and eliminate for some this need to promote terror? We can begin, individually, congregationally, and beyond, to imagine everyone practicing peace…Peace requires organizing for social and environmental justice. This study action issue provides a way for us to imagine…and I mean really imagine, ways to seek a peace that both promotes security and democracy."

Jane Shakmeier, Unitarian Church of Mequon, WI, spoke to the proposed action on Prison Reform. She said, "During the past 30 years massive incarceration has disrupted the social fabric of crime ridden communities, breaking up families and isolating offenders…Youth, particularly young men and women of color, suffer disproportionately and grow up with one or both parents behind bars…UUs have an important role to play in prison reform…"

Vicki Waits, UU Fellowship Key West, FL, spoke to the proposed action on US Foreign Aid. She observed, "By funding health, education and food production rather than more powerful weaponry, we may be able to end the hopelessness that breeds terrorism. The relatively small size of this budget makes it more doable…

Moderator Olson then called for one hour of advocacy statements on behalf of the proposed actions.

Bill Thompson of Surprise, AZ, speaking on prison reform, said, "I have served four years on commissions in counties in Arizona on issues of reducing prison population, and on the religious advisory task for the Director of Corrections [of the State of Arizona]. I'm satisfied that the money we are spending in this country to incarcerate people in jails and in prisons is far more than is necessary to control people who have committed crimes… It costs over $50/day to keep people in prison. For less than half of that, they can be put on intensive probation and earn money and be reformed." Manish Mishra of All Souls Church, Washington DC, who spoke representing the Young Adult Caucus and with the support of Youth Caucus said, "The process [for passing a study action issue] is a long one… we noted that prison reform was a potential study action issue last year and not selected…we are concerned that we will lose the opportunity to study something of great importance. Our prisons are disproportionately filled with people of color. Female inmates are raped…people have no way to make their suffering known. We have to speak for the voiceless. Please join with the young adults and youth of our movement in studying prison reform."

A member of the UU church of Ft. Lauderdale, speaking on the proposed foreign aid action, said, "How many people remember the Marshall Plan? For those who are youngsters, the Marshall plan was an extensive US Foreign Aid plan that helped war-ravaged Europe recover from World War 2. I am appalled that over 99% of our foreign aid budget is spent on the military, and less than 1% spent on humanitarian needs…"

Neal McBurnett of Boulder, CO, spoke to the proposed civil liberties action, saying, "We are now establishing the legal framework for the future of ideas. Congress continues to pass unconstitutional laws restricting the freedom of speech and reading, for example, and censorship of internet access and libraries…It is getting to the point where new bills in Congress will try to restrict the ability of people to have computers and digital VCRs work the way they want to… I want people to consider how these massive changes in online freedoms need to be faced and understood, and a two year study period would be an ideal way to examine these and other important civil liberty issues."

Charlene Brotman of Newton MA spoke on the subject of modern slavery, saying, "New slavery in Thailand forces prostitution. Slaveholders tend to be successful capitalists or slaveholders. Girls are cheap and expendable. If a girl escapes from the brothel she is tortured…girls are turned out on the streets to starve…girls are forced into prostitution at earlier and earlier ages…we must educate ourselves and others about the existence and reality of forced prostitution and support activists who are fighting it."

The Rev. Barbara Whittaker Johns of Arlington, MA, spoke on peace and terrorism. She said, "Most of us can remember what we were doing on the morning of Sept. 11. This peace and terrorism action issue embodies the hope that this type of deep reflection will continue in this body of faith. As in many of our congregations, much of the justice work that has gone on in our church has focused on achieving social and economic freedom, but we need to focus on the world's suffering and the sacredness of human life itself. This action embodies the confidence that we can offer such hope again on nothing less than a global scale. The Rev. Sydney Morris of Manaqua, WI said, "This will not be an easy process for us in our congregations. I speak as a mother who on Sept. 11 remembered at 9 AM that my son was to have his first job interview at the World Trade towers. He overslept. And when he woke up, the place where he was to work did not exist any more. The process of what the world has been experiencing, coupled with our noble heritage can make a very important moment."

Following additional comments, Olson called for a vote by written ballot on the five proposed study action items, with the results of the vote announced later in the plenary. She then announced the creation of a Moderator's Task Force on how costs of attending General Assemblies can be reduced so that larger groups of people can attend GA. Appointed to the Task Force are: former Planning Committee member Patsy Sherrill Madden, Board of Trustees member the Rev. Burton Carley, former Financial Advisor Arnold Bradburd, Parish Minister the Rev. Kristen Harper, and current Planning Committee member the Rev. Douglas Morgan Strong. Their charge is to report back to UUA Board of Trustees by April, 2004 on the issue of affordable General Assemblies.

Moderator's Report and Social Justice Reports
Following her Moderator's Report, Olson called on Meg Riley, Director of the UUA Washington Office, for her report [Complete Remarks]. Riley reviewed legislative activities managed by Rob Cavenaugh, and then reported, "We have been given a green light and some green dollars to move forward with a long held vision of a stronger more vital presence of Unitarian Universalism in the nation's capital. Last month, our offices moved to new headquarters in Washington DC. These offices hold room for dreams, unlike our old ones. One of our most compelling dreams is to house a social justice internship program for other UUs and community ministers, so that they can spend a year practicing UUism, and answer a resounding yes to the question, 'if you are accused of being a UU, is there enough evidence to convict you?' We began this year with three young adults just out of college, and a community minister advising them .

"After a number of conversation between RESULTS, a community change agency, and the UUA, we realized that a partnership would be possible, and we want to thank Ed and Betty Law for making another internship possible." Riley introduced two of the Washington Office interns, who talked about their internship experiences.

Olson then moved on to ask how many UUs were doing work in their communities and with their congregations to follow up on past statements of conscience. She asked the Rev. David Carl Olson leader of Community Church of Boston, who serves as president of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) to speak. Olson reviewed the focus of GBIO on affordable housing, and spoke of the organization's success in promoting affordable housing in the Boston area. Olson said, "We have built a broad-based organization encompassing 80 congregations from every neighborhood of Boston, from Quincy and Cambridge and beyond, from near and distant suburbs. We worship on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. We are Christians and Jews and Muslim and Buddhists, and representatives from seven UU organizations. We are in this for the long haul. I want to share from my own experience how working in community-based organizations has met our needs. It is in my self-interest to develop new and capable leaders for my organization.

"I need new leaders. It is in my self-interest to develop a new congregational culture of relationship and co-responsibility. Learning the centrality of the relational meeting means that we are only just beginning to see each other as multi-dimensional human beings…this changes our congregational culture, and I need that. And it is in my self-interest as a person committed to the deconstruction of the social sin of racism, to become a partner with people of color in resolving the issues -- the real life and death issues which our society is confronted with. We will transform Boston because working with each other, we are transformed."

Jim Gunning, chairman of the Socially Responsible Investing Committee of the UUA, was introduced. Gunning, a member of First Unitarian Church in Brooklyn, NY, talked about the work of the Committee. He said, "We want to be responsible in religious terms because we are religious people. We can have it both ways. We can obtain competitive financial return and also use our clout to improve the lives of people at home.

We must bear witness to the whole world and the community. Our goal is the sixth principle: world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all, nothing less. Socially responsible investing is a ministry, nothing less. Our ends and outcomes are similar to many ministries. Our path is to use our assets to achieve greater bang for the buck. Our path is in part to call out, to witness in our world, that companies in which we invest can do a better job, relative to their financial mission. Our task is to bring religious and ethical beliefs into the countries in which we invest, and show managers that it is good business to be good citizens. Our efforts have been to assist the UUA investment committees to screen the processes by which the UUA invests money. We will turn to our congregations and individual UUs and offer assistance on this broader base. We want you to join us in the ministry of socially responsible investing. We want to welcome you to this mission." [Click here for Gunning's complete remarks.]

The Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee presented information which reviewed their charge and activities, including a skit in which Ben Van Dyne, a delegate from Arlington, VA, asked questions about the work of the committee. Danielle DiBona, a member of the UUA staff who works on justice issues, discussed the history of the Jubilee World Working Group, which has been active in some different iterations since 1985. The effort began as the Black Concerns Working Group and became the Jubilee Working Group. In 1985, said DiBona, "these pioneers were charged with eradicating racism in the UUA and beyond. They were provided with $5,000 to accomplish this work. My friends, the dream continues and the work continues. I have heard that one of the original members, the late George Squire, knew that the Black Concerns Working Group would be his dying legacy to his faith. And as we sunset this committee and as the anti-racism work of this effort is interspersed through our community, we recognize those people who helped our faith to be more authentic in this way."

DiBona then recognized those present who were members of one of these groups: Dr. Leon Spencer, Rev. Anne Hines, Gini Courter, Norma Poinsett, Tamara Payne Alex, Rev. Melanie Morel Sullivan, Margaret Link, Rev. Kurt Kuhwald, Rev. Mel Hoover, and Rev. Nannene Gowdy. DiBona said, "We owe them a debt of gratitude because they have helped us on the road to achieve the beloved community…thank you."

Vote on Proposed Statement of Conscience: Alternatives to the War on Drugs
Diane Olson called for actions on the proposed UUA Statement of Conscience - Alternatives to the War on Drugs. Youth participated in a silent demonstration asking the delegates to not amend the proposed statement of conscience in the name of, and on behalf of, youth. Richard Nugent, Chair of the Commission on Social Witness, introduced the action. He said, "while many of you many not be able to state the name of last year's Statement of Conscience, I suspect that many of you can state the issues of our longstanding support. All of them started as a social witness statement started by a past General Assembly.

"Today's debate," said Nugent, "is likely to be lively… May it be done remembering that we are all members of the same faith." Nugent then moved adoption of the statement "Alternatives to the War on Drugs."

As thirty minutes of debate on the motion began,strong opinions both for and against the proposal were voiced. A physician's assistant who treated drug abusers for 17 years testified that the Statement, as written, would improve
the lives of addicts and protect children.

Susan Manning of Summit, NJ, speaking against the motion, said, "I thought I would be speaking from the other microphone…I find there is so much intemperate language in this document that I can not support it…I want to be able to take this to my legislator, to the New York Times, but I can not. It says we support the legalization of all drugs…this is overly broad and does not address the real issues of abuse. I ask you to consider the amendments as they come up and read this more carefully than you have already."

Greg DuBow, representing YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists), spoke in favor of the motion: "Last year we in Youth Council passed a resolution supporting this issue and we ask your support. We cannot stand for this injustice any longer. Prohibition does not work. Drugs have always been available, and yet it is becoming harder and harder to seek treatment and be in the community."

Bob Deniston of Arlington, VA said, "I have worked for 25 years in public health education, mostly focused on substance abuse by youth. While the intent of the [proposed] statement is laudable, it does little if anything to help our youth."

Debate continued, and two amendments were offered, as well as a proposal to defer the entire action to committee for another year. All motions failed, and debate returned to the main motion with time for debate expired.

Olson called for a vote, and the main motion, as shown in the amended final language for this Statement of Conscience, passed.

Commenting on the plenary action, Charles Thomas, President of UUs for Drug Policy Reform said, "Based on our experience, we trust that the Statement of Conscience is a good compromise between the small number of UUs who think that it goes too far and those who think that it doesn't go far enough," said Charles Thomas, executive director of the UUA affiliate group, UUs for Drug Policy Reform, which spent the past two years facilitating the drug policy study efforts of the UU congregations. "Among the congregations that studied the full range of reform options, we've heard almost universal support for the policy recommendations in the final SOC."

"Many UUs wanted the SOC to call for the full legalization of all drugs," said Thomas. "Instead, the SOC only calls for a legal market for marijuana -- and for the decriminalization and medicalization of other drugs. Apparently, two-thirds of the delegates agreed that this is a good compromise. Now, we ask all UUs to visit our web page at http://www.uudpr.org, and join our efforts to take our message for more just and compassionate drug policies into the public arena."

Reflecting on the results, Dan Harper, incoming Director of Religious Education for the Church of the Larger Fellowship, noted that he was "troubled by the process by which this action was passed." As a delegate when this issue first arose as a proposed study action item, Harper said he'd been concerned about the language in the proposal, and that, two years later, the lack of time on the plenary floor for considered debate of the final motion seemed to encourage hasty action without due consideration of the impact of the action on children and youth.

Following the vote, the Rev. William Sinkford, UUA President, commented, "As Unitarian Universalists, we are called by our religious values to speak out against misguided policies. The so-called 'war on drugs' is creating violence, endangering children, clogging the criminal justice system, eroding civil liberties, and disproportionately punishing people of color. It's time for a cease-fire."

*For further information on this issue and its coverage in the media, visit these articles:

• www.uua.org/news/2002/020627_drugreform.html
• Associated Press
• Washington Post
• Charlotte Observer
• Columbia Missourian
• Charleston Gazette
• Toledo Blade
• ABCNews.com

.

Results of Voting on First Year Statements of Conscience
Olson discussed the results of voting on proposed first year statements of conscience. She said that no issue had received a majority vote between civil liberties and prison reform, and called for a runoff vote. Civil Liberties carried in the voting as the new study action item.

President's Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service
Olson called on UUA President Bill Sinkford to present the President's Volunteer Service Award to Jan and Stu Sendell. Sinkford said, "Jan and Stu Sendell have been active for nearly thirty years in Morristown and Paramus, New Jersey. They have been members or the UUA Presidents Council for ten years, co chairing the council from 1997 to 2001, bringing radical hospitality and good ideas. They have overseen the successful completion of one capital campaign and the launch of another. They traveled to six cities, talking about the possibilities for the Association. Hundreds have been inspired by their commitment." In accepting the award, Stu Sendell said, "Unitarian Universalism is our fourth child. The UUA has the responsibility to nurture our existing congregations and grow the movement. Our estate will be divided into four parts, one for each of our children, and one for the UUA." Sinkford said, "Stu and Jan have provided wise and candid counsel to UUA Presidents, and I am personally grateful to them for their love of this faith. As a token of faith from me and our faith, I ask you to accept this award." (Click here for complete statement.)

Following the presentation, Trustee Judi McGavin offered process observations, and Secretary Wayne Arnason made announcements. The Plenary stood in recess at 12:25 PM and was scheduled to reconvene at 12:30 PM on Sunday, June 23, following the Service of the Living Tradition.

Reporter Debbie Weiner; Web Designer Anna Belle Leiserson.

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