3003 Plenary III
Planning Committee Sponsored
The Rev. Meg Riley
Remarks
June 22, 2002
Statements from the UUA Washington Office
My name is Meg Riley. For the past eight years, it has been my honor and privilege to serve the UUA as Director of its Washington Office. Our office is charged with taking the positions created here at General Assembly and giving them voice in the wider world--to elected officials, to media, interfaith coalitions, and everywhere else we can. Each year we print up a comprehensive list of all the statements we've made in the past year--in the interest of sparing trees, we'll offer them on the business tables for people who want to read them.
A glance through this year's positions may remind you of that old folk song, "Whatever it is, I'm against it!" Although thanks to the exceptional work of our legislative director, Rob Cavenaugh, we were grateful to celebrate small but real victories in our work around campaign finance reform, in the failure of making the estate tax repeal a permanent measure, and in amending the Patriots' Act so that immigrants may not be detained FOREVER without explanation--theoretically they may only be detained for seven days now.
This has been an exceptional year in our office. Not only because of September 11. And not only because of the steadily increasing requests for our voice to speak out publicly on issues ranging from marriage promotion as a solution to poverty to stem cell research, as Bill Sinkford has already mentioned.
Not even because I was called by "The Weakest Link" to appear on their clergy special -- how would YOU feel if you were told that something you had written made the producers of "The Weakest Link" think you were a perfect contestant for their show??? Unfortunately, my schedule did not allow me to appear...
But, what has been most exceptional about this year is that we were 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, and for this we are inexpressibly grateful to the UUA Administration and Board.
Just last month our offices moved to grand new headquarters in Washington DC. These offices, unlike our crowded old ones, contain room enough for dreams. One of the most compelling dreams is to house a social justice internship program for young adults, community ministers, and other UUs to spend a year practicing their religion: answering a resounding YES to the question, "If they accused you of Unitarian Universalism, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" After a stupendous design team launched this vision, we began its implementation this year with three young adults fresh out of college, and a community minister spending some months with us. Rev. Lori Staubitz serves as an advisor to the program.
Last year at GA a fellow I had never met before, by the name of Ed Law, from San Diego, approached me and asked if I had ever heard of an organization called RESULTS, and if the UUA might consider partnering with them to eradicate poverty. I did know the group, and respected them enough to tell Ed to send me more information about them, which he did. What I did not know then was that Ed is a generous enough person that he had in mind personally funding an intern's position to do this work. After a number of conversations between RESULTS and UUA staff, we saw that the partnership could be very beneficial for both of us. And so, I would like to take a moment to thank Ed and Betty Law, who could not be at GA this year, for their huge generosity in making one of our internships possible.
I'd like to introduce you to the two interns who have been with us since January, Lissa Gundlach and Emily Dulcan [Full Remarks]. I have asked them to take two minutes of my time to tell you about the initiative on which they have both spent most of their time, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Emily is going to do this by presenting what is called a "laser talk" by RESULTS. Look for their workshops on this topic or come to the booth and talk to them about it.
Finally, in my brief report this morning, I have been asked to report to you how UUs are following up on statements of conscience. I have already told you how the Washington Office follows up--we use the statements to define the parameters of what we will say to policy-makers and others on behalf of the UUA. Since the statement which was ratified last year was NOT primarily a legislative agenda, though it had some legislative components, but rather it was primarily a congregational education program, I want to take a few moments to ask you to wave your hand, hoot or stand up if you have done any of the following in your congregation:
Let me start with this: How many people remember what Statement of Conscience we ratified last year? I'll give you a clue: __________ is our moral imperative...RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION IS OUR MORAL IMPERATIVE!
All right, let's see what your congregations are up to. Have you: o Started a simple living group in your church? o Held a letter writing campaign about any environmental issue, from coal
emissions to Arctic drilling?
- Started carpools to your congregation on Sundays?
- Become a green sanctuary? There are four such congregations: one in Vermont, one in New Mexico, one in Ontario, and one in Oregon.
- Begun the process to become a green sanctuary? I understand that there are fifteen declared candidates in this process currently. Please see the Seventh Principle Project
- Encouraged congregants to undergo audits of their impact on the earth, using websites such as the Center for A New American Dream?
- Held alternative holiday events which emphasize hand made presents or socially responsible giving?
- Otherwise 'acted courageously and encouraged UUs to tread more lightly on the
earth'?Thanks so much for your time! Drop by and visit our booth--we'd love to talk with you!
Remarks by Emily Dulcan and Lissa Gundlach,
Interns in the UUA Washington Office
Plenary, Sunday June 23, 2002Some of the most startling portions of the House welfare bill involve the UU issues of marriage, sexuality, and family formation. The House TANF bill authorizes an $100 million annual fund to provide grants to states to encourage the formation of two-parent families, the reduction of non-marital births and the prevention of teen pregnancy. Additionally, $50 million has been authorized for unproven abstinence-only sex education programs in our nation's high schools. These welfare policies outwardly discriminate against single people who choose not to marry, BGLT welfare recipients, and victims of domestic violence, as well as ignoring public opinion which overwhelmingly supports the government staying out of these sacred, private decisions. Back to Story.
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