EVENT:  B2017 0621 GENERAL SESSION 1 AND OPENING 
CELEBRATION 730PM CST
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY:
HEAR INK
http://www.hearink.com
Phone: 314-427-1113

**********DISCLAIMER**********
THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROM 
THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE.  THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT 
VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD.  TO DO SO IS AN EXTRA 
FEE.  THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS.  PLEASE CHECK WITH THE 
SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION.

THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE COPIED OR DISSEMINATED TO ANYONE 
UNLESS YOU OBTAIN WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OFFICE OR 
SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS PROVIDING CART CAPTIONING TO 
YOU; FINALLY, THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE USED IN A COURT 
OF LAW.
**********DISCLAIMER**********
 
>> GOOD EVENING, NEW ORLEANS.  I HAVE SERVED AS YOUR 
VICE-MODERATOR SINCE FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR.  IT IS AN HONOR 
TO SERVE THIS GROUP.    
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR LIVES.  WE 
RESPECT PETER'S DECISION, THOUGH WE WISH HE WOULD HAVE 
REMAINED.  
>> THERE IS SO MUCH OF US IN THE GATHERING OF AS WE GATHER 
IS HELP US FIND THE HOPE IN OUR HISTORY AND THE COURAGE TO 
ACCEPT THIS PRESENT OPPORTUNITY WITH EMBRACING LOVE.  
SPIRIT OF LIFE, HELP US ANSWER YOUR CALL WITH A FAITHFUL 
YES.  YOU WILL YOU SING WITH US?  
[SINGING SPIRIT OF LIFE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  A LITTLE BUSINESS FOR THIS 
EVENING.  THE PROPOSED RULES OF PROCEDURE CAN BE FOUND ON 
PAGES SEVEN THROUGH 79 OF THE FINAL AGENDA OF YOUR PROGRAM 
BOOK.  THESE RULES WILL GOVERN OUR CONSIDERATION OF AND 
VOTING UPON THE BUSINESS ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE US DURING 
THESE GENERAL SESSIONS.  THE RULES ARE LARGELY THE SAME AS 
THEY HAVE BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.  THERE ARE A COUPLE OF 
ITEMS, HOWEVER, SEVERAL ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR 
ATTENTION TO.  RULES FOR ACTIONS OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS HAVE 
NOT BEEN INCLUDED THIS YEAR.  PLEASE NOTE THAT RULE FIVE 
PROVIDES THAT NO AMENDMENTS TO A BUSINESS RESOLUTION, A 
BYLAW CHANGE, OR RULE CHANGE WILL BE IN ORDER NEWSPAPERS 
SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR 
THAT ITEM.  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AMENDING AN ITEM, YOU 
MUST GO TO THE MINI-ASSEMBLY.  ALL PLEASE NOTE RULES 5B 
INDICATES THAT 30 MINUTES IS ALLOWED FOR THE DISCUSSION OF 
ANY PROPOSED BYLAW OR RULE AMENDMENT, RESOLUTION, OR ACTION 
ON A REPORT ON OR ADMITTED TO THE FINAL AGENDA.  THE 
SPECIFIC CHANGES STATES THAT THE CLIMB INCLUDES TIME 
DEVOTED TO DISCUSSING ANY AMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSE 
AMENDMENTS.  ANY MOTION TO EXTEND TIME FOR DEBATE MUST BE 
MADE FROM THE PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE BEFORE TIME FOR THAT 
DEBATE EXPIRES.  THIS IS AN ADJUSTMENT THAT SIMPLY 
CLARIFIES THE RULE, PROVIDES OTHER THAN IF THERE ARE OTHER 
BYLAWS THAT REQUIRE ACTION.  ALSO, RULE 5C CLARIFICATIONS 
HAVE BEEN MADE TO EXPLICITLY INCLUDE OFF-SITE DELEGATES AND 
ADJUST TIME LIMITS.  THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS AT THE PRO OR 
CON MICROPHONE.  RULE SEVEN PROVIDES THAT SEPARATE 
MICROPHONE WILL BE DESIGNATED AS PRO AND CON FOR PROPOSED 
BYLAW AMENDMENTS, RUSE, RESOLUTIONS, OR ACTIONS.  THE PRO 
MICROPHONE IS HERE.  THE CON MICROPHONE IS HERE.  AND THE 
PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE IS HERE IN THE MIDDLE.  REALLY TEN 
REQUIRES ANY RESPONSIVE RESOLUTION MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 
6:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY.  I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU SPEAK 
WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, TOM BEAN, IF YOU ARE BRINGING A 
PROPOSED RESPONSIVE RESOLUTION.  HE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST 
YOU WITH THE WORDING AND SO FORTH.  PLEASE NOTE THAT POINTS 
OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND POINTS OF INFORMATION MUST BE 
MADE FROM THIS PROCEDURAL MIC, NOT FROM THE PRO OR CON MIC 
OR FROM THE AMENDMENT MIC, WHICH IS TO MY FAR LEFT AND I 
BELIEVE THAT'S YOUR RIGHT.  BY THE WAY, ONLY DELEGATES MAY 
SPEAK FROM THE MICROPHONE EXCEPT BY EXPRESS PERMISSION FROM 
THE MODERATOR.  STRONGLY URGE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ATTEND 
THIS GO GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE FIRST TIME TO PLEASE READ 
THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, PARTICULARLY LOOK AT PAGE 6, RULE 
SIX, EXCUSE ME, ON PAGE 78 OF THE RULES SO THAT YOU 
UNDERSTAND THE TIME LIMITS.  THE MICROPHONE WILL GO OFF 
WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.  NO PERSON MAY SPEAK ON ANY MOTION 
FOR MORE THAN TWO MINUTES.  30 MINUTES IS THE TIME ALLOWED 
FOR DISCUSSION OF ANY PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTS.  RULE 
CHANGE RESOLUTION OR ACTION ON A REPORT THAT IS ON OR 
ADMITTED TO THE FINAL AGENDA.  OUR LEGAL COUNSEL THIS YEAR, 
ONCE AGAIN, IS TOM BEAN AND OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN WILL BE NINA 
ELMO.  THEY WILL BE HERE IN THE MORNING.  ARE WE ALL CLEAR 
ON THIS?  OF COURSE YOU ARE.  YOU READ IT BEFORE YOU CAME.  
GREAT.
[APPLAUSE]
WILL THE BOARD SECRETARY MAKE THE APPROPRIATE MOTION WITH 
RESPECT TO THE RULES AND PROCEDURES?
>> MY TIME IS UP.
[LAUGHTER]
>>  MODERATOR RIMES, I MOVE THE RULES OF PROCEDURE.
>>  DOES ANYBODY WANT TO -- IS THERE A SECOND?  I'M SORRY.  
IS THERE A SECOND?  THANK YOU.  I SEE THAT THERE IS A 
DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE.  THE MODERATOR 
RECOGNIZES THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MODERATOR.  CARL PONDERMAN, DELEGATE 
FROM THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF GREATER LANSING 
IN LANSING, MICHIGAN.  I HAVE READ THE RULES OF PROCEDURE.  
I HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION AND IF I DON'T LIKE THE ANSWER 
I GET, I'M GOING TO -- I GUESS I'M GOING TO RUN OVER TO THE 
AMENDMENT MICROPHONE.  MAYBE I'LL LIKE THE ANSWER AND THE 
POINT WILL BE MOOT.
>> IS THIS A CHALLENGE?
>> ANY SEE IT ADDRESSED IN THE RULES OF PROCEDURE.  WHAT 
IS THE REQUIRED VOTE UNDER OUR RULES OF PROCEDURE? WHAT IS 
THE REQUIRED VOTE FOR A MOTION OF PREVIOUS QUESTION?
>> LET ME CHECK WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.  WILL YOU HOLD ON ONE 
MOMENT?  THANK YOU.  WAS IT THE MOTION TO MOVE THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION?  WAS THAT YOUR QUESTION?
>> THAT IS MADE FROM THE FLOOR.  WHAT VOTE IS IT?  IS IT 
A SIMPLE MAJORITY OR TWO-THIRDS?  WHAT IS IT IN ROBERT'S 
RULES?  I BELIEVE IT'S TWO-THIRDS.
>> IT IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
>>  RUSH TO AN AMENDMENT MICROPHONE, THEN.
>>  THE MODERATOR RECOGNIZES THE DELEGATE AT THE AMENDMENT 
MICROPHONE.
>> THANK YOU, MADAM MODERATOR.
>> CARL PONDERMAN FROM THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH 
OF LANSING.  HE'D LIKE TO MOVE WE AMEND THE RILES OF 
PROCEDURE SO THE MOTION OF PREVIOUS QUESTION REQUIRES A 
TWO-THIRDS VOTE
>>  I BELIEVE THE MOTION IS OUT OF ORDER GIVEN THAT THE 
RULES OF PROCEDURE SAY NOTHING ABOUT CALLING THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION.  THERE'S NOTHING TO AMEND.
>> MAYBE BY ASSERTING THAT COMMENT?  BYLAWS SAY --
>> THE BYLAWS SAY WE'RE GOVERNED BY RULES OF ORDER? 
>>  WELL, THAT'S THE QUESTION.  THAT WAS WHAT MY QUESTION 
IS.
>>  DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER AT THE PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE WE 
DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER AT THE PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE.
>>  I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO INSERT, MAKE AN 
AMENDMENT TO THE PROCEDURAL RULES AS THERE'S NOTHING IN THE 
PROCEDURAL RULES THAT WOULD DICTATE CALLING THE PREVIOUS 
QUESTION.  SO SHOULD WE GET TO THAT POINT IN OUR DEBATE, 
WE WILL REVIEW ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER AND MAKE A DECISION 
AT THAT TIME. 
>>  KENDYL GIBBONS FROM KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.  AS THE 
PARLIAMENTARIAN OF THE UUA MA, I HAD OCCASION TO RESEARCH 
THIS.  IT IS TWO-THIRDS IN ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER TO CAL 
THE QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KENDYL.  AND WE WILL CROSS THAT 
BRIDGE AS WE COME TO IT.  THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION 
OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE, DISCUSSION IS NOW CLOSED AND A 
VOTE IS IN ORDER.  SO THIS IS A CHANCE FOR YOU TO USE YOUR 
VOTING CARDS.  THOSE BRIGHT YELLOW CARDS THAT YOU GOT IF 
YOU ARE A DELEGATE.  ALL IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE RULES OF 
PROCEDURE STATED, PLEASE DO SO BY RAISING YOUR VOTING CARS.  
THANK YOU.  ANY OPPOSED?  THE MOTION CARRIES AND THE RULES 
OF PROCEDURE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AS SOON AS WE CHECK WITH OUR 
OFF-SITE DELEGATES.  100% OF OUR OFF-SITE DELEGATES CHOSE 
TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE RULES OF PROCEDURE.  
BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE 
WEATHER.  WHO KNEW THAT THE MODERATOR ALSO GOT TO BE THE 
WEATHER WOMAN?  AND NOW A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE BEEN WORRIED 
ABOUT THE WEATHER AND THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND OUR STAFF 
ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER PUBLIC SAFETY 
OFFICE.  IF THERE ARE ANY IMMINENT ISSUES, THEY WILL LET 
US KNOW THERE IS A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM HERE IN THE 
BUILDING.  SO WHEN YOUR MOBILE DEVICE TWEETS THAT THERE HAS 
BEEN SOME SORT OF WARNING AND EVERYONE IN THE ROOM GOES, 
OH, MY GOSH, THERE'S A WARNING, SIT STILL.  WE WILL BE -- IT 
COULD BE FROM A NEARBY PARISH OR NEARBY CITY.  THE GA 
PLANNING OFFICE, THE STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE 
WILL LET US KNOW IF ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.  WE ARE IN 
A SAFE PLACE.  THERE ARE NO WINDOWS.  WE ARE IN AN INTERNAL 
ROOM.  PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING 
ARE BEING LOOKED AFTER.  ALSO, ADD THAT IF YOU ARE A 
DELEGATE ON A RELATED WEATHER NOTE, IF YOU ARE A DELEGATE 
WHO WAS NOT ABLE GET HERE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND YOU 
ARE WATCHING THE LIVESTREAM, IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO GO TO THE 
GA WEB SET ON THE YOU FEEL.  A WEBSITES AND SWITCH YOUR 
STATUS TO OFF-SITE DELEGATE IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.  WE LOVE 
TECHNOLOGY.  IT'S MY PLEASURE NOW TO INTRODUCE TWO OF MY 
BOARD COLLEAGUES, SARAH DAN JONES AND ELANDRIA WILLIAMS.
[APPLAUSE] 
>>  TAKE A BREATH WITH ME, FRIENDS.
>> HALLELUJAH 
>>  MY NAME IS SARAH DAN JONES AND I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR 
OF MUSIC AT THE STARR KING UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 
FELLOWSHIP IN PLYMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND I ALSO SERVE ON 
YOUR UUA BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
>>  TELL EVERYBODY, BABY.
[APPLAUSE]
I'M ELANDRIA WILLIAMS, MEMBER OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY 
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND 
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE HERE AT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE 
AND GO CAN TRYING TIMES IN THE WORLD AROUND US AND ALSO 
WITHIN OUR UU FAITH INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITIES.  WE EACH 
HAVE DIFFERENT SOURCES TO HELP US MOVE THROUGH.  ONE SOURCE 
THAT MOST OF US TURN TO AND WHICH IS CONNECTED TO MY 
MULTICULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL TRADITION IS TURNING TO OUR 
ANCESTORS FOR GUIDANCE, REMEMBRANCE, AND FOR ME, THE HOLY 
OR THE SPIRIT.
>> THERE'S A SONG BY SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK CALLED WE ARE.  
AND IN A SONG THEY SING, WE ARE GRANDMOTHER'S PRAYERS AND 
WE ARE A GRAND FATHER'S DREAMING.  WHILE WE ARE NEAR BODY 
AND SPIRIT, THERE ARE THOSE OF US THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE 
AMONGST US THAT HAVE JOINED THE ANCESTORS ACROSS THIS 
COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.  THEY ARE NOW OUR ANCESTRAL GUIDES.  
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WAS JIM KEY.  I MET JIM AS A TEENAGER 
WHEN WE STARTED ON THE BOARD.  I'M NOW 37, ABOUT TO BE 38 
IF THAT HELPS IN TERMS OF TIME.  HIS INFECTIOUS SMILE AND 
LAUGH, AS WELL AS HIS PASSION FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM 
AND JUSTICE WAS UNCONTAINABLE.  I WILL MISS JIM AND A LOT 
OF US WILL MISS JIM WITH ALL OF OUR HEART AND SPIRIT.  WE 
TALKED ABOUT HONORING OUR ANCESTORS AT THE LAST IN-PERSON 
BOARD MEETING BEFORE HE PASSED SO SUDDENLY AWAY.  IT IS 
CUSTOMARY AT THE BOARD FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS TO LEAVE AN 
OPEN CHAIR AROUND OUR TABLE.  THIS CHAIR IS TO HONOR THE 
VOICES THAT HAVE BLESSED THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE PAST AND 
TO LEAVE SPACE FOR OBSERVERS, THOSE IN THE PRESENT, TO JOIN 
US WHEN APPROPRIATE.  IT IS AN IMPORTANT CUSTOM AND A 
SACRED ONE WHEN WE MEET AS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.  WE GIVE 
THANKS TO DENISE RIMES FOR SUCKING THAT WE 
HONOR -- SUGGESTING THAT WE HONOR BOTH JIM AND ALL OF THE 
OTHER ANCESTORS IN OUR LIVES, IN YOUR LIVES WITH AN OPEN 
CHAIR.  THIS OPEN CHAIR WILL REMAIN AS SUCH THROUGHOUT THE 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, REMEMBERING THAT ALL ARE IMPORTANT.  IN 
THE SPIRIT OF REMEMBERING AND HONORING ANCESTORS AND 
AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURES AND TRADITIONS 
BEFORE LIBATIONS, LIBATIONS ARE POURED TO HONOR THEIR LIVES 
AND REMEMBER THE LESSONS THEY TAUGHT US.  WE ARE GOING TO 
POUR LIBATIONS THIS MORNING TO REMEMBER JAMES JIM KEY AND 
OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD GREAT VALUE IN ALL OF OUR LIVES.  
WE'RE PERCENT GOING CALL OUT SOME NAMES FROM HERE ON THE 
PODIUM.  AFTER WE CALL EACH NAME, WE WILL POUR SOME WATER 
ONTO THIS PLANT AND AFTER WE SAY EACH NAME, WE WILL SAY 
ASHAY.  CAN EVERYONE SAY ASHAY WITH ME?  ASHAY.  AND SO 
AFTER WE DO THIS PROCESS, WE'RE GOING TO DO FIVE NAMES AND 
THEN WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO CALL OUT A NAME AND THEN WE'LL 
POUR LIBATIONS AND SAY ASHE, ONE MORE NAME, AND THEN WE'LL 
CLOSE IT OUT.  DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?  OKAY.  JIM KEY.
>> ASHE
MARJORIE BOWENS WHEATLEY.
ASHE.
MARLYS BRINKMAN.
ASHE.
PHILANDO CASTILLE.
ASHE. 
>>  NOW, PLEASE SAY A NAME, AND DURING THIS PROCESS, WE WELL 
ALL SAY ASHE AS THE WATER IS POURED.  MY FRIENDS, LIFT YOUR 
VOICE UNTO THE MOON. 
>>  MAY WE ALL SAY ASHE.
ASHE.
FOR ALL THE NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN SPOKEN AND UNSPOKEN, WE 
SAY ASHE3 TIMES.
ASHE AND ASHE, WHERE AND ASHE.  WE SING IN THE MIDDLE LINE 
FROM THE SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK.  WE'RE GOING TO SING THAT 
LINE THREE TIMES.  FEEL FREE TO SING IT AS YOU WISH.  AND 
I'LL START US OFF.  IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, JOIN IN, LISTEN, 
AND YOU'LL LEARN.
[SINGING] 
[APPLAUSE] 
>>  THANK YOU SO MUCH.  IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE NOW TO 
INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR AMAZING RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TEAM.  
PLEASE WELCOME STEVE BALLESTEROS, REVEREND HANNAH 
VILLNAVE.
>> FRIENDS, WE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN FAITH, IN COVENANT 
AND IN COMMUNITY.  AND WE, AS MEMBERS OF THIS ASSEMBLY'S 
RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TEAM, ARE GLAD TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL 
IN MAGICAL NEW ORLEANS.  OUR TIME HERE WILL BE DELIGHTFUL 
AND FULL AS WE LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER AND GROW OUR HEARTS 
AND MINDS.  AND HERE NOW, WE FATHER AMIDST OUR CURRENT 
ADMINISTRATION AS VIOLENCE IS VISITED UPON MANY BODIES 
INJUSTICE FOLLOWS.  WHILE WATER STAYS IMPURE AND 
MILITARIZATION AND GREED MUCH FORWARD AGAINST OUR DEEPLY 
SPIRITUAL COMMITMENTS TO LIFE, TO LOVE, AND TO OUR SHARED 
FUTURE, HERE NOW, WE GATHER TO GROW AND TO BE REVITALIZED 
AS PROGRESS CHAMPIONS FORWARD UNDER THE FIRM HANDS OF OUR 
SIBLINGS OF COLOR, OUR WARRIORS FOR MOTHER EARTH, OUR 
FEMININE PROTECTORS, AND OUR FAMILIES IN FAITH.  HERE NOW 
WE FATHER AS OUR ASSOCIATION GROWS INTO ITSELF THROUGH THE 
HEARTS OF STEWARDS, IN THE WAKE OF MANY WAYS, AND AFTER THE 
LOSS OF OUR BELOVED MODERATOR, JAMES KEY.  AND OUR 
ASSOCIATION IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PAIN.  THERE IS NO 
QUESTION IN THIS REGARD AND IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE, AS A 
COLLECTIVE BODY, BEAR WITNESS AND MAKE MOVES.  DIVISION 
CAN TAKE MANY FORMS AS WE NAVIGATE OUR COMFORT ZONES AND 
THE NEEDS OF MANY AND CHANGE IS NECESSARY FOR A HOUSE THAT 
TAKES CARE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.  SO WE, AS MEMBERS 
OF THIS WIDER TEAM EFFORT, ARE PRESENT FOR THAT.  PLEASE 
LET US BE THERE FOR YOU.  AND SO WE GATHER AMIDST OUR 
PERSONAL LOSS AND JOYS TOGETHER, PERSEVERING ONWARD.  AND 
AS OUR ASSEMBLY CARRIES FORWARD, IT IS OUR GREAT PLEASURE 
AND HONOR TO WITHHOLD RIGHT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, DELIVER 
REPORTS ON THE STATE OF OUR ASSEMBLY, AND TO SERVE COMING 
BACK INTO COVENANT AND BELOVED COMMUNITY.  I, ALONG WITH 
MY CO-CHAIR, THE REVEREND HANNAH VILLNAVE, WOULD LIKE TO 
INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS YEAR'S RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TEAM.  
CLARYCE MASON, DANIEL MARTIN, DON FORTUNE, ELIZABETH 
MOUNT, MIGUEL RIVERA, PATRICIA STOUT, AND RACHEL MILES.
[APPLAUSE] PLEASE FIND US THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK IN OUR 
FIERCELY IDENTIFIABLE ORANGE WHEN YOU NEED TO PROCESS AND 
WHEN NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS AS YOU FEEL YOUR WAY IN OUR 
COMMUNITY.  FIND MORE INFORMATION IN YOUR PROGRAM BOOKS 
AND CONTACT US AT THE PHONE NUMBER LISTED THERE.  BELOVEDS, 
WE ARE IN THIS JOYOUS GATHERING AND IN THIS IMPORTANT WORK 
TOGETHER.  SO LET THIS BE A WEEK GUIDED BY TRUTH.  THANK 
YOU.
[APPLAUSE] 
>>  THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS 
IMPORTANT WORK.  I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME OUR 2017 GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY CHAFFS LYNN.  THE CHAPLAINS ARE AVAILABLE DURING 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WILL OFTEN BE IN THE CHAPLAIN OFFICE 
IN ROOM 211.  WELCOME TO THE CHAPLAINS.
[APPLAUSE] 
>>  HELLO, EVERYBODY.  I'M REVEREND JOHN CRESTWELL, 
REPRESENTING THE GREAT CITY OF ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND.  AND 
I AM SO HAPPY TO PROVIDE SERVICES AS ONE OF YOUR CHAPLAINS 
THIS YEAR.  I'M CO-CHAPLAIN, ALSO WITH ALEX HOLT.  ONE 
THING I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS EVENING IS THAT WHEN THE HAT 
IS ON, THIS MEANS WE'RE OFF DUTY I.  AND WHEN THE HAT IS 
OFF, SO OFF DUTY, OFF DUTY.  OFF DUTY I.  ALL RIGHT.
[APPLAUSE]
JOINING REVEREND ALEX AND MYSELF ARE REVEREND JAN 
CARLSSON-BULL, REVEREND MEREDITH GARMON, REVEREND JOAN 
JAVIER DUVAL, AND REVEREND MARIA CRISTINA VLASSIDIS.  LOOK 
FOR US AT OUR OFFICIAL CHAPLAIN SITE, ROOM 211.  LOOK FOR 
THE HAT AS WELL, AS I'VE MENTIONED, TO PROVIDE PASTORAL 
SUPPORT AND DEEP LISTENING FOR YOU THIS WEEK.  THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] 
>>  EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY 
YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE WORK OF OUR GENERAL 
ASSEMBLY ACCESSIBILITY TEAM LED BY PATTY CAMERON.  AND 
PATTY IS HERE THIS EVENING TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT 
ACCESSIBILITY AND HOW TO CONTINUE TO MAKE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
MORE ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE.  PATTY?
>> MY NAME IS PATTY CAMERON AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO 
COORDINATE ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
AGAIN THIS YEAR.  OUR SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE 
REGISTERED HERE AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OUR GOAL IS TO 
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE THAT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE 
FULLY IN GA.  BUT ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT MY JOB ALONE.  IT 
IS OUR COLLECTIVE ROLE TO PRACTICE RADICAL HOSPITALITY IN 
ORDER TO BUILD THAT BELOVED COMMUNITY.  A COMMUNITY THAT 
INCLUDES EVERYONE.  THOSE WHO USE MOBILITY EQUIPMENT, 
LISTENING DEVICES, INTERPRETERS, HAVE CHEMICAL 
SENSITIVITY, ASSIST ANIMALS, OR NEED SPECIAL SEATING TO 
ACCOMMODATE FOR VISION OR HEARING, IT'S OUR COLLECTIVE ROLE 
TO WELCOME ALL.
[APPLAUSE]
I ASK FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN RESERVING THE ELEVATORS FOR 
PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY OR HEALTH NEEDS.  I INVITE YOU TO BE 
WITH ONE ANOTHER THIS WEEK IN WAYS THAT ALLOW YOU TO 
PARTICIPATE -- TO PRACTICE, SORRY, TO PRACTICE RADICAL 
HOSPITALITY.  STRETCH YOUR COMFORT ZONE.  ENRICH YOUR 
SPIRIT.  AND WIDEN YOUR FIELD AS YOU TAKE IN ALL THOSE 
AROUND YOU, WHETHER THEY WALK OR RIDE.  WE ARE ALL PART OF 
THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ONE BELOVED COMMUNITY, A BRIGHT 
WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES.  BE WITH 
EACH OTHER IN LOVE.  THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] 
>>  THANK YOU SO MUCH, PATTY.

**********DISCLAIMER**********
THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROMN 
THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE.  THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT 
VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD.  TO DO SO IS AN EXXTRA 
FEE.  THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS.  PLEASE CHECK WITH THE 
SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION.

THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE COPIED OR DISSEMINATED TO ANYONE 
UNLESS YOU OBTAIN WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OFFICE OR 
SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS PROVIDING CART CAPTIONING TO 
YOU; FINALLY, THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE USED IN A COURT 
OF LAW.
**********DISCLAIMER**********

EVENT:  B2017 0621 GENERAL SESSION 1 AND OPENING 
CELEBRATION 730PM CST
CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY:
HEAR INK
http://www.hearink.com
Phone: 314-427-1113