EVENT: B2018 0624 GENERAL SESSION 7 1:30 PM 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 AFTERNOON. I HOPE EVERYBODY ATE. THIS IS THE LAST SESSION, Y'ALL. I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE 7TH?AND FINAL GENERAL SESSION OF THE 57TH?GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION. >> IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF CENTERING. >> SPIRIT OF LOVE, SPIRIT LIFE, THE ESSENCE OF THE HOLE THAT I MOVES AMONG US WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER LIKE THIS THAT RESIDES INSIDE EACH OF US. WE ENTER THIS LAST GENERAL SESSION, THIS TIME OF REFLECTION AND WORK TOGETHER, GOING TO BRING ALIVE THE BEST OF LUCK WE EACH ARE AND THE BEST OF WHAT OUR FAITH CAN BE. IN THAT SPIRIT, WE FATHER ONCE AGAIN. MAY WE DO THIS WORK WELL. AMEN. >> PAT, KIM, GREG, CHELSEA. COME ON DOWN. THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SERVE ON THE FOLLOWING BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES: BOARD OF TRUSTEES REV. PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN [APPLAUSE] GREGORY BOYD TIM ATKINS CHELSEA HENDRICKS LATIFA WOODHOUSE AND FOR THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE AISHA HAUSER SANA SAEED AND REV. JOSEPH CHERRY >> GUIDED BY LOVE FOR THIS TRADITION AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DULY ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND COMMITTEES OF THE ASSOCIATION. WE WELCOME THEIR GIFTS, SKILLS, TIME, SACRIFICE AND VOICE TO BE SHARED IN LOVE, TRUST AND DEDICATION IN THE YEARS TO COME.AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME SLIDES. WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR THESE FOLKS TO BE INSTALLED AND YOU ALL PLAY A PART IN THAT. SO YOU'RE GOING TO JOIN WITH ME. PLEASE JOIN WITH ME AS WE COVENANT TOGETHER TO INSTALL THESE LEADERS TO THE OFFICES TO WHICH WE HAVE ELECTED THEM.YOU ALL CAN SAY THIS PART WITH ME. >> MAY OUR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FAITH AND HERITAGE INFORM YOUR WORK AND DEEDS AS YOU SERVE WITH OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR CONGREGATIONS AND OUR STAFF. MAY YOUR EFFORTS AND WORK INSPIRE GOOD WILL AMONG ALL. >> I COVENANT TO AFFIRM AND PROMOTE JUSTICE, EQUITY AND COMPASSION IN HUMAN RELATIONS. >> AGAIN, IT SAYS SECRETARY, BUT I THINK THIS IS ALL OF US, SO AS YOU SIGNIFY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM IN THE WIDER WORLD, MAY YOU SERVE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RECONCILIATION, HOPE, AND WELCOME. >> I COVENANT TO AFFIRM AND PROMOTE A GOAL OF COMMUNITY OF PEACE, JUSTICE, AND LIBERTY FOR ALL. >> MAY YOU DEAL FORTHRIGHTLY AND HONESTLY WITH US, KEEPING FOREMOST IN YOUR HEART THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF OUR MOVEMENT, SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH WITHOUT FEAR OF REPERCUSSION AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. >> I COVENANT TO AFFIRM AND PROMOTE THE RIGHT OF CONSCIENCE AND THE USE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. >> IN THE SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG PEOPLE MAY ALL WHO CROSS YOUR PATH FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN HEARD AND SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED >> I COVENANT TO AFFIRM AND PROMOTE THE INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY OF ALL. >> WE'RE ALMOST THERE. WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE. ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY. BRINGING IT HOME. WE COVENANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND SUPPORT YOU AS YOU SERVE OUR MOVEMENT. MAY OUR TRUST CARRY YOU THROUGH BOTH DIFFICULTY AND TRIUMPH. IN GRATITUDE, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. >> WITH GRATITUDE I ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT THE TRUST THAT YOU HAVE PLACED IN ME. [APPLAUSE] >> ELEVEN MONTHS AGO, THE UUA BOARD, ON BEHALF OF ITS MEMBER CONGREGATIONS, ENTERED INTO A NEW LEADERSHIP RELATIONSHIP THAT WAS INTENDED TO MODEL WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO WORK TOGETHER AND A PROVIDE PASTORAL PRESENCE AS A WAY TO HELP LEAD OUR FAITH. WE HEARTILY APPROVED CO-MODERATORS OF THE BOARD OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION WITH THE GOAL OF SHARED LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. HAVING SEEN THE BENEFITS SINCE THEN, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR BYLAWS AND IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF COVENANT, WE ASK THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BLESS MR. BARB GREVE AND ELANDRIA WILLIAMS AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY IN LEADING US TO LEAD AND LIFT UP THIS FAITH THAT WE LOVE. PLEASE JOIN US IN THESE WORDS, ADAPTED FROM GINA WHITTAKER. THE CO-MODERATORS AND THE SEARCH COMMITTEE WILL READ THE WORDS IN BOLD TOGETHER, AND THE ASSEMBLY WILL READ THE WORDS IN ITALICS. >> WE GATHER HERE THIS WEEK, A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS WITHIN A LARGER COMMUNITY OF FAITH. OUR WORK BEFORE US, WE ARE CALLED TO "DELIVER THE GOODS" WITH COMMITMENT, REASON AND FORESIGHT. >> REMEMBERING WE ARE A RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, WE STRIVE TO SET OUR GOALS, DEVELOP OUR POLICIES AND EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS WITH LOVE AT THE TOP OF ALL AGENDA ITEMS. >> REMEMBERING WE HOLD OPEN THE DOOR TO WELCOME THE MULTITUDES WHO MAY YET ENTER WE SET THE PACE, TEACH BY EXAMPLE AND ENCOURAGE GROWTH SUSTAINING A SPIRIT OF ABUNDANCE AND A CONNECTION TO THE GREATER GOOD. >> REMEMBERING WE HOLD THE LAMP TO ILLUMINE OTHERS' VISIONS, WE PLEDGE OUR SERVICE, LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND POOL OUR INDIVIDUAL GIFTS WITH TRANSFORMATION AS OUR OVERREACHING GOAL. >> AND TOGETHER. >> SERVING TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM, WE ARE BONDING IN UNITY AND LOVE WE ARE BLESSING EACH OTHER. [APPLAUSE] >> IN THE SPIRIT OF CITATION, I OFFER THAT THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE REVEREND SOPHIA BETTENCOURT FROM OUR LAYING ON OF HANDS LAST YEAR WHEN WE INSTALLED OUR PRESIDENT, THE REVEREND SUSAN FREDERICK GRAY. IN OUR TRADITION, THE AUTHORITY OF LEADERS, OF MINISTERS, LAY LEADERS, AND PRESIDENTS OR CO-MODERATORS IS GRANTED BY THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE WE HOLD IN COMMUNITY. THE CALL TO SERVE MAY ORIGINATE WITHIN A PERSON OR WITHIN WHATEVER HOLY CONVERSATION HAS GROUNDED THEIR CONVICTION. BUT IN OUR POLITY, THAT CALL MUST BE RECOGNIZED AND CAN ONLY BE RATIFIED BY THE CONGREGATION, BY THE PEOPLE. OURS IS AN EMBODIED FAITH THROUGH WHICH THE SACRED FINDS VOICE AND OUR OWN COMMUNICATION AND MOVES IN THE WORLD THROUGH ACTIONS. THE PRACTICE OF LAYING ON OF HANDS AND ORDINARY NATIONS AND INSTALLATIONS AND CIRCLES OF HEALING AND BLESSING REMINDS US OF THE SOURCES AND CONTEXTS OF OUR POWER. LEADERS DO NOT SERVE ALONE AND OURS IS ALWAYS A PARTNERED MINISTRY. I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD, BARB AND ELANDRIA, A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE CENTER. THERE WE GO. WE WOULD NOT SIMPLY INSTALL YOU IN YOUR OFFICE, BUT WE WITH WISH TO BLESS YOU ON THIS JOURNEY. WE INVITE YOU TO BE STILL, TO CLOSE YOUR EYES, AND BE HELD IN TRUST BY OUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE HERE, THE LIT RALLIED TOUCH OF OUR HANDS. YOU ARE COMPANIONED MOST CLOSELY NOW AND WILL BE IN THE DAYS TO COME BY YOUR FAMILY. I ASK THE FAMILIES OF BARB AND ELANDRIA COME FORWARD NOW. JOIN US AND GATHER HERE AND LATELY LAY YOUR HANDS ON BARB AND ELANDRIA. WE HOLD IN OUR HEARTS OTHERS WHOM YOU LOVE, NOT ABLE TO BE PRESENT WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON, YET PRESENT IN YOUR SPIRIT. INTO THIS CIRCLE WE DRAW STILL OTHERS PRESENT ONLY IN BELOVED COMMUNITY. ALLOW THOSE NAMES TO COME TO YOUR MIND NOW. BREATHE DEEPLY. REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. REMEMBER WHERE YOU COME FROM. REMEMBER WHERE YOU LIVE, WHERE YOUR HEART IS MOST AT HOME. REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE COME HERE TO DO. AND WHOSE WORK YOU ARE DOING. YOU ARE COMPANIONED IN THIS CALL BY A LONG LINE OF WORTHY PREDECESSORS. WE INVOKE THE SPIRIT OF ALL MODERATORS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE YOU AND INVITE THEM INTO THIS CIRCLE NOW. YOU ARE COMPANIONED BY STRONG LEADERS OF OUR ASSOCIATION, CALLED TO SERVE AND ELECTED BY OUR PEOPLE, JUST AS YOU HAVE BEEN. YOU WILL BE PARTNERED BY COMRADES WHO CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT YOU, WHO WILL DRAW YOUR STRENGTH FORWARD AND LOOK TO DRAW OUT WHAT IS BEST IN THEM. I NOW INVITE THE MEMBERS OF THE UUA BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO COME FORWARD AND LIGHTLY PLACE YOUR HANDS ON THE FAMILIES OF BARB AND ELANDRIA. YOU ARE COMPANIONED ALSO BY YOUR BELOVED COLLEAGUES IN SHARED MINISTRY. I ASK RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONALS HERE ON STAGE OR OUT HERE IN THE GENERAL SESSION HALL NOW TO RISE IN BODY OR IN SPIRIT AND EXTEND A HAND FORWARD. I ASK MINISTERS, SEMINARIANS, MUSICIANS, AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THE CONGREGATION TO RISE IN BODY OR IN SPIRIT AND EXTEND A HAPPENED FORWARD. I INVITE OUR UUA STAFF TO RISE IN BODY OR IN SPIRIT AND EXTEND A HAND FORWARD. YOU ARE COMPANIONED BY ALL OF THESE PEOPLE. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU ARE COMPANIONED IN THIS WORK BY OUR PEOPLE, THE COUNTLESS LAY LEADERS WHO SERVE THEIR CONGREGATIONS AND OUR MOVEMENT. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE, NO ECCLESIASTICAL BODY, NO BISHOP WHO CAN RECOGNIZE AND AUTHORIZE THIS NAMING OF YOUS AS OUR CO MODERATORS. THE VERY HANDS AND HEARTS THAT EMBODY OUR FAITH BEYOND THIS PLACE AND EVERY CONGREGATION LARGE AND SMALL, MID-SIZED AND IN BETWEEN IN WORSHIP N PEACEMAKING, AND IN JUSTICE SEEKING, AN INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT AND THE DAY-TO-DAY CELEBRATION OF LIFE, THE VERY HANDS THAT HOLD OUR FAITH ARE LAID UPON YOU NOW. I ASK THOSE ON STAGE TO COME FORWARD AND LAY YOUR HANDS I ASK THOSE TO RISE IN BODY OR SPIRIT AND EXTEND THE HAND FORWARD. IS FROM THERE TRUST AND THEIR VISION THAT YOUR AUTHORITY DERIVES. YOU ARE CALLED SPECIFICALLY BY THIS PEOPLE, CALLED OUT AND CHOSEN TO LEAD AND TO LISTEN, TO LEAN ON THEM, ON US FOR WISDOM, CLARITY, AND COURAGE. OPEN YOUR EYES. LOOK AROUND AT ALL THE PEOPLE. LOVE IS BEAMING RIGHT OUT AT YOU. WHO GRANT YOU THIS SACRED TRUST, THIS SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY THAT ONLY THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO GRANT. LET US PRAY. BARB AND ELANDRIA, WE GRANT YOU SACRED AUTHORITY. YOUR OFFICE IS A HOLY OFFICE. WE REMIND YOU NEVER TO FORGET WHO YOU ARE OR WHOSE YOU ARE, WHAT YOU HAVE COME HERE TO DO AND WHY YOU MUST DO IT. BARB AND ELANDRIA, THE DAYS HAVE ALREADY BEEN LONG, SOMETIMES HARD, AND OCCASIONALLY THANKLESS. WE CALL TO MIND GRATITUDE, COMMUNITY, THE YOUTH CAUCUS FROM WHICH YOU HAVE BOTH SERVED. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A MULTIGENERATIONAL TRUST AND THAT YOU TWO ARE IN A LONG LINE, A LONG AND UNCEASING LINE OF HOLY LEADERS. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW, WE ARE HERE WHEN YOU NEED US. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE NEED YOU. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW YOURS IS SACRED WORK AND WE ENTRUST ALL OF THIS TO YOU. IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND BEYOND ALL NAMING, THAT SPACE THAT CONNECTS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO ALL OF US AND BEYOND THROUGHOUT ALL SPACE AND ALL TIME, WE SAY TOGETHER, BLESSED BE. >> BLESSED BE. >> AMEN. >> AMEN. >> AND ASHE. >> AND ASHE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. [APPLAUSE] >> WOW AND THANKS. ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE WELCOME OUR PRESIDENT SUSAN FREDERICK-GRAY FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE PRESIDENTS' ANNUAL AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE. [APPLAUSE] >> THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL AWARD FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION (UUA) IS GIVEN TO THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT AS HAVING GIVEN EXTRAORDINARY AND VITAL SERVICE TO THE UUA AS A VOLUNTEER. I AM PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE LIBERAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2018 VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> I'D LIKE TO READ WITH YOU SOME OF THE INSCRIPTIONS THAT ARE HERE. SINCE 1955, LREDA HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. LREDA'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UUA TO CREATE A RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CREDENTIALING PROGRAM SET A KEY STANDARD FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS NATIONWIDE. AND THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMON CODE OF ETHICS, GOOD OFFICES, AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AND TRAININGS, LREDA HAS CONTINUALLY INVESTED IN AND SUPPORTED THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. LREDA AND ITS LEADERS HAVE LONG CHARGED OUR ASSOCIATION TO LIVE AND LEAD AT THE MARGINS OF OUR FAITH, FROM THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TEAM TO FOCUSING ON THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF THE TOUGH TOPICS OF RACE, HUMAN SEXUALITY, DEATH, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY. FROM THE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS AND LEADERSHIP THAT CREATED THE ABOUT YOUR SEXUALITY AND LATER THE OUR WHOLE LIVES CURRICULA, TO COMMISSIONING THEIR OWN ANTI-RACISM AUDIT, TO BECOMING THE FIRST WELCOMING ORGANIZATION IN OUR FAITH, AND MOST RECENTLY, MEMBERS OF LREDA LEADING THE CALL AND DEVELOPING CURRICULUM RESOURCES AND TRAININGS FOR A WHITE SUPREMACY TEACH-IN IN WHICH OVER 700 CONGREGATIONS PARTICIPATED, LREDA HAS EXEMPLIFIED HOW COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS CREATE SPACES WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME. THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY AND IN THIS MOMENT, LREDA AND ITS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN BOLD AND FEARLESS IN CHALLENGING OUR FAITH TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES OF THE TIME WITH HONESTY AND COURAGE THROUGH AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPMENTAL LEARNING AND GROWTH.THIS ISN'T ON THE AWARD ITSELF, BUT THIS AWARD COMES WITH THE FINANCIAL AWARD OF $1,000 TO BE GIVEN TO THE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION OF ONE'S CHOICE. LREDA HAS SELECTED THE PROMISE AND THE PRACTICE CAMPAIGN TO FUND BLACK LIVES OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM FOR THEIR GIFT OF THE [APPLAUSE] ONCE AGAIN, LREDA IS CENTERING THE WORK OF ANTI-RACISM AND ANTI-OPPRESSION AND LEADING THE WAY IN OUR FAITH!AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE IN THIS ROOM. THAT'S MY GUESS. SO IT IS MY HONOR AND GREAT PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE THE PRESIDENT OF LREDA, ANNIE SCOTT. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. OUR LECTURER THIS YEAR CALLED US TO HONOR OUR ANCESTORS. BEFORE YOU ARE CURRENT AND PAST LREDA BOARD MEMBERS. WE REPRESENT 70 YEARS OF LREDA AUDACITY. 70 YEARS OF BEING SERVED BY AND SEARCHING LIBERAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION. 70 YEARS OF BUILDING A WORLD OF EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND LOVE. WE STAND ON THE SHOULDERS AND BUILD ON THE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US. BACK IN THE 2000S, MY MENTOR PRESENTED AND COLLEAGUE, DR.?HELEN BISHOP, GAVE A LASTING CONTRIBUTION TO LREDA WHEN SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE LREDA DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TEAM. SHE TOLD US WE NEEDED A MORE RESPECTFUL WAY OF INVITING PEOPLE INTO SONG THAN PLEASE STAND. SHE SUGGESTED, RISE IN BODY OR SPIRIT. LREDA ADOPTED THE PHRASE AND INVITED OUR MEMBERS TO TAKE IT HOME TO THEIR CONGREGATIONS. RIGHT IN BODY OR SPIRIT NOW LIVES AS COMMON PRACTICE IN OUR CONGREGATIONS AND HERE AT GA. RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ARE COLLABORATORS. ONCE THE CREDENTIALING PROGRAM WAS TERMLY ESTABLISHED, SOMEONE ASKED PAT ELLENWOOD, THEN LREDA PRESIDENT, WHEN WILL CREDENTIALED RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS BE RECOGNIZED AT THE SERVICE OF THE LIVING TRADITION? AND PAT SAID, WHEN PIGS FLY. [LAUGHTER] PAT WAS WORN OUT, DISCOURAGED BY ALL THE EFFORTS TO GET THE CREDENTIALING PROGRAM INSTITUTED, AND WHEN ONE OF US GETS DISCOURAGED, WORN OUT, OR RUNS OUT OF HOPE, WE HOLD ONE ANOTHER. AND WE HOLD ONE ANOTHER ACCOUNTABLE. COLLEAGUES LOOK ON THE EFFORTS AND CREDENTIALED RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AT THAT BELOVED CEREMONY. LASTLY, THE LREDA BOARD WANTS TO REITERATE BRITTANY PACKNETT'S WORDS FROM LAST NIGHT: ASK YOURSELF, AFTER EVERY SERMON YOU WRITE, EVERY SONG YOU PLAY, EVERY POST YOU SHARE, EVERY DONATION YOU MAKE, EVERY STRATEGIC PLAN YOU WRITE, EVERY HIRE YOU DO, EVERY CAUSE YOU PICK UP, EVERY BIT OF ATTENTION YOU SEEK, EVERY PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE YOU SHARE, EVERY LESSON YOU TEACH, EVERY WORD YOU SPEAK, AND EVERY ACTION YOU TAKE. DID I JUST UPHOLD SUPREMACY OR PLAYED MY PART IN ITS DESTRUCTION? THE LREDA BOARD IS COMMITTED TO A PRACTICE OF ASKING OURSELVES AND OUR MEMBERS, DOES LREDA ACTION UPHOLD SUPREMACY OR DOES IT PLAY A PART IN THE DESTRUCTION OF SUPREMACY? WE WILL NOT DO IT PERFECTLY, AND LREDA HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE IMPERFECTLY AUDACIOUS AND COURAGEOUS. WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN HONOR OF THE YOUTH. COULD YOU YOUTH RISE IN BODY OR SPIRIT? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] COULD YOU JOIN US IN A LITTLE PEEL, PEEL, PEEL, BANANA. PEEL, PEEL, PEEL, BANANA. PEEL, PEEL, PEEL, BANANA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> ARE WE READY? WE HAVE TO DO MORE VOTING. BUT WE'VE GOT SO FEW TO DO. SO WE ARE ABOUT TO DO AIWS. SO WE'LL DO A LITTLE RULES AND PROCESSES, BUT NOT MUCH. AGAIN, YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW. WE'RE GOING TO TALK INFORM NATIONALLY. WE HAVE 30 MINUTES OF DEBATE TIME MAXIMUM. YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT YOUR AMENDMENTS. NO ONE CAN SPEAK FOR MORE THAN TWO MINUTES AND NOT MORE THAN ONCE, EXCEPT BY PERMISSION FROM THE MODERATOR. THERE ARE 30 MINUTES TOTAL, AND JUST TO REMEMBER, FOR AIW'S, THERE'S UP TO 20 MINUTES, SO YOU KNOW, FOR, LIKE, THE OTHER BYLAWS AND STUFF, IT'S 15 MINUTES. THIS IS 20 MINUTES. YOU CAN SUSPEND THE RULES AT ANY TIME, AS WE ALREADY KNOW. WE'VE DONE THAT A LOT. AND TIME TAKEN AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC WILL NOT COUNT AGAINST DISCUSSION TIME. ALL RIGHTY. ARE WE READY FOR THE AIW'S? AND SO I WANT TO DO THIS ONE MORE TIME, BECAUSE I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY NOW. REMEMBER WE ALREADY DID AFFIRMATION. WE HAD CLOSE VOTES ON SIX ACTIONS THAT WERE ADMITTED AND PLACED ON THE AGENDA. HERE IS OUR STATEMENT. >> WHEREAS ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT AS WE WORK TO BUILD A BELOVED COMMUNITY AND BETTER WORLD THAN WE ENVISIONED. WE JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE, WE ARE VOTING ON THREE, BUT WE WILL DO A THING LATER THAT AFFIRMS, AGAIN, THE FACT THAT WE THINK ALL SIX ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT. ALL RIGHTY? OKAY. I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE SUSAN DECK HER REPRO MIC. >> THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS MOVES THE ADOPTION OF THE ITEM ON THE CSW ALERT ENTITLED WE ARE ALL RELATED, SOLIDARITY NOW WITH INDIGENOUS WATER PROTECTORS, WHICH IS PROPOSED AIW-F. >> SO WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE ONLY?-- THERE'S ONE MORE THING I WANTED TO SAY. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SPEAK FOR SOMETHING, YOU GO TO THE PRO. REMEMBER? IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN, YOU GO TO THE CONCERN MIC. THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART. >> NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE MOVE INTO DISCUSSION. SO TAKE TWO MINUTES AND CHAT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR QUESTION IS WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP ENACT THIS AIW? WE'LL TAKE THAT AFTER DISCUSSION. SO WHAT WILL YOU DO IN YOUR LOCAL CONGREGATIONS TO HELP ENACT THE AIW? >> AMY WILLIAMS CLARK FROM CEDAR HURST UU IN MARYLAND. ASK CAN AMENDMENTS STILL BE ADDED IN >> IF THEY WERE BROUGHT UP AT THE MINI-ASSEMBLY, YES. I RECOGNIZE IT IS DELEGATE AT THE PRO MICROPHONE. >> MADAM MODERATOR, I AM CLYDE GRUBBS OF THE ALL SOULS CONGREGATION IN BRAIN TREE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND I'M ONE OF THE ORIGINATORS OF THIS. THE OTHER ORIGINATOR OF THIS, THE REVEREND KAREN VON FOSSEN, HAS RETURNED TO BISMARK, BECAUSE THE TRIAL OF RED FAWN IS TOMORROW. RED FAWN IS ONE OF THE WATER PROTECTORS WHO ARE BEING BROUGHT BEFORE THE FEDERAL COURTS BECAUSE THEY DEFENDED THEIR LAND AGAINST AND THEIR WATER AGAINST INTRUSION OF A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR CORPSE WITH THE AID OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THIS RESOLUTION ASKS US TO BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO DEFENDED THEIR WATER AND CONTINUE TO DEFEND OUR RESOURCES OF THIS LAND, THE PEOPLE'S RESOURCES OF THIS LAND AND ALSO TO BE AWARE THAT THESE WATER PROTECTORS FACE FEDERAL CHARGES IN BISMARK MANAGEMENT WHERE POLLING SHOWS THAT 77% OF THE JUNIOR I-ELIGIBLE POPULATION?-- YOU ARE I-ELIGIBLE POPULATION OF THOSE COUNTIES HAVE DECIDED THAT THE WATER PROTECTORS ARE DIFFICULTY AND I THAT ALL REQUESTS, ALL REQUESTS FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE HAVE BEEN DENIED. AND WHEN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WENT TO STANDING ROCK, TO THE CAMPS TO BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE PEOPLE, THEY WERE GIVEN HOSPITALITY AND WE NEED TO RETURN HOSPITALITY IN RETURN SO THAT THIS RESOLUTION ASKS US TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO THE STANDING ROCK SACRED STONE CAMP AND ALL THE ASSOCIATED CAMPS IN WELCOMING US AS BROTHERS AND AFFIRM THAT GO ALL PEOPLE BELONG TO THE HUMAN FAMILY, TO AFFIRM SOLIDARITY WITH THE WATER PROTECTORS, INCLUDING DEFENDANTS, INMATES, AND THEIR BELOVED ONES, AND TO EDUCATE OURSELVES IN THE WAYS HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> IS THERE A DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURE MIC? >> SALLY GALLERT. I WAS WONDERING IF IT WE COULD SUSPEND THE RULES TO BRING THE AMENDMENT IN EARLIER THAN 20 MINUTES. >> ALL RIGHTY. >> IN FIVE MINUTES. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUSPENDED THE RULES? >> AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF DISCUSSION. >> AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF DISCUSSION? OKAY. SO CAN WE GET A SECOND? OKAY. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUSPENDING THE RULES TO ALLOW THE AMENDMENT TO COME, PLEASE RAISE YOUR CARD. I DO NOT HAVE THE OFF-SITE ON THE SCREEN. SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO TELL ME. OKAY. PUT YOUR CARDS DOWN, PLEASE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHTY. IT PASSES IN THE HALL. LET'S WAIT FOR THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE VOTE. IT PASSES. ALL RIGHT. SO I WANT TO SAY IT WAS FOR FIVE MINUTES. WE'RE NOT THERE YET IN TERMS OF TIME. BUT THERE'S NO ONE AT EITHER MIC, SO HERE WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS SO NOT RIGHT IN ORDER, BUT YOU WHATEVER. SO THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU WANT TO MOVE?-- I HATE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER. SO THE AMENDMENT YOU WANT TO ADD IS AS CORRECT LOS ANGELES DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND SUPPORT FOR NETWORKING AMONG UUS TO WORK IN SOLIDARITY WITH WATER PROTECTORS. CORRECT? CORRECT. CLYDE, CAN YOU COME BACK, PLEASE? MAKE YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT THIS. >> THIS IS A FINE AMENDMENT. I'M NOT SURE IT'S ACTUALLY NECESSARY. I THINK THE EDUCATIONAL PEOPLE AT THE UUA ARE ALL IN FAVOR OF DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, WHICH IS ASKED FOR IN THE RESOLUTION AS IT STANDS AND AS WE DISCUSSED IT, SO THIS SIMPLY MAKES IT MORE SPECIFIC, AND I THINK IT PERHAPS IS A LITTLE BIT OVER THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE NO OPPOSITION TO IT AT ALL. >> SO YOU'RE OKAY WITH IF WE MOVE IT FORWARD? OKAY. CAN SOMEONE MAKE THE MOTION? SO CAN YOU PLEASE MAKE THE MOTION? I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE AMENDMENT MIC. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] UNITARIAN, PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY. I MOVE TO INCORPORATE AMENDMENT A ON THE HANDOUT. >> CAN I HAVE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS. PLEASE PUT DOWN YOUR VOTING CARDS. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS. PLEASE LOWER YOUR VOTING CARDS. NOW WE'VE GOT TO WAIT. SO IT PASSES. SO THE THING WE HAVE ADDED IS LINE 53. IS THERE ANY DEBATE PEOPLE WANT TO DO AROUND THE MAIN MOTION WITH THIS AMENDMENT OR ARE WE READY TO CALL THE QUESTION? ALL RIGHTY. CAN WE GET A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION WITH THE AMENDMENT ADDED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? WE'RE WAITING FOR OFF-SITE. WE'RE AT 90. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. [APPLAUSE] I RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR ON THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS ON THE PRO MIC. >> THANK YOU. THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS MOVES THE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS C, END PRISONS FOR PROFIT, DISMANTLE PREDATORY MEDICAL PRACTICES IN PRISONS. >> IS THERE A SECOND? THE MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, ASSEMBLY. WE'RE GOING TO INVITE YOU TO EVERYONE GAGE IN SOME DIALOGUE AND PROTECTION ON THIS TOPIC AS WELL FOR TWO MINUTES. OUR PROMPT QUESTION FOR YOU ON THIS. WHAT LANGUAGE DO YOU NEED RELATED TO THIS TOPIC IN THE AIW IN ORDER TO GO BACK AND EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE IN YOUR CONGREGATIONS ON THIS ISSUE? PLEASE TURN TO OTHERS NEAR FOR YOU TWO MINUTES. >> I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PRO MIC. >> MEG RILEY, CHURCH OF THE LARGER FELLOWSHIP. I AM SO EXCITED THAT OUR MORE THAN 870 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST MEMBERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED WILL GET TO BE TOLD THAT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEARD ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON FOR THEM AND CARED. [APPLAUSE] >> MANDY GOHEEN, DELEGATE FOR CHURCH OF THE LARGER FELLOWSHIP. I AM SO PROUD AND HONORED THAT THESE VOICES NOT ONLY WILL BE HEARD, BUT THEY WILL SPREAD THE WORD THAT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM IS A SAVING PLACE FOR THEM, A PLACE THAT CARES ABOUT THEIR OPPRESSION AND CARES ABOUT JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR ALL OF THEM. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> WE'RE STILL ON THE FIRST SPEAKER. >> RIGHT. I'M CHARLES DUMAN, A MEMBER OF CLF, LEBANON OF THE CLF BOARD AND I'M TRYING TO DE-CENTER OLD WHITE GUYS, SO I JUST STAND HERE INIAL SOLIDARITY WITH MY OTHER CLF MEMBERS. [APPLAUSE] >> WE REALLY HOPE THAT THIS WILL NOT JUST BE PASSED, BUT THAT EACH OF YOU WILL TAKE SERIOUSLY THAT THESE ARE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS. EVERYBODY IN OUR CONGREGATIONS HAS FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE INCARCERATED. THIS ISN'T ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. THIS IS ABOUT AUTHORITARIANISM THAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN THE UNITED STATES. [APPLAUSE] >> I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> AN GREENWOOD FROM THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF BERKLEY IN CALIFORNIA. I WOULD LIKE A POINT OF CLARITY ON THE WAY YOU READ THE TITLE OF THIS AMENDMENT OR THIS ACTION. YOU READ AND PRISONS FOR PROFIT FIRST, BUT THE WAY THE TITLE IS PRINTED ON THE HANDOUT THAT'S LAST. ARE WE VOTING ON IT THE WAY IT'S PRINTED OR THE WAY YOU SPOKE IT? >> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND SUSAN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT WAS AN INCORPORATED AMENDMENT, AND SO WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON IS WHAT'S WRITTEN. IT'S BASICALLY MOVED PRISONS FOR PROFIT IN THE FIRST PART OF THE TITLE TO THE SECOND. >> THANK YOU. DO I SEE A DELEGATE AT THE CON MIC? I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE CON MIC. >> THIS IS FROM APRIL LITTLEFIELD FROM THE UU CHURCH OF ATHENS AND CESQU OGON IN PENNSYLVANIA. I FEEL THE AIW DESCRIBES A BAND-AID AND DOES NOT DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS TO END FOR PROFIT PRISONS. THIS AIW ASSUMES THAT RESIDENTS EVER THESE PRISONS ARE THERE IN A JUST AND FAIR PRACTICE. THEY ARE NOT. THE ENTIRETY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES IS COMPLICIT IN THE FOR PROFIT PRISON SYSTEM, FROM THE EXTREMELY BIASED PRACTICES OF POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE USED RACIAL PROFILING AS POLICY TO OVERBURDENED PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO THE UNJUST BAIL PRACTICES THAT ROUTINE JAIL OFFENDERS FOR SIMPLY BEING POOR TO JUDGES WHO CONTINUALLY GIVE HARSHER PUNISHMENTS TO PEOPLE OF COLOR. OUR AIW DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. IT IS MY HOPE THAT OUR CONGREGANTS OF COLOR WILL HAVE LIVED VOICE ON THE IMPACT OF THESE PRACTICES ON THEIR COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO INFORM THIS AIW MORE FULLY. THANK YOU. >> I RECOGNIZE THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> OKAY. LITTLE SCREEN UP HERE IS THE NOT ACCURATE, APPARENTLY. DID I SAY PROCEDURAL? MY APOLOGIES. THE PRO AND PROCEDURE, ARE GOING TOGETHER AT THIS POINT. AT THE PRO MIC, OFF-SITE DELEGATE. >> THIS IS FOR MARY DEVIT, FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE. I AM ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS AIW, BUT I WISH THE PROPOSED AIW LANGUAGE INCLUDED WORKING WITH PARTNER GROUPS IN A COMMUNITY ALREADY ENGAGING THESE ISSUES AND FOLLOWING THEIR LEES. OUR CONGREGATION AND OUR CONGREGATION OF FIVE AREA UU CONGREGATIONS IS ALREADY DOING THIS. >> THERE BEING NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AT EITHER THE PRO OR THE CON MIC, WE HAVE THREE MORE MINUTES FOR AMENDMENTS? OKAY. SOMEONE IS WORKING ON AN AMENDMENT AND THAT WILL BE IN ORDER SHORTLY. IN THE INTEREST OF MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THIS PROCESS IN THE WAY THAT THEY WANT TO AND GIVEN THAT WE'VE GOT 20 SECONDS BEFORE AN AMENDMENT WOULD BE IN ORDER, WE'RE WAITING ON SOMEBODY TO FINISH AN AMENDMENT. AND JUST FOR INFORMATION, A REMINDER FOR THE BODY, THE ONLY AMENDMENTS WE CONSIDER ON THE FLOOR HERE ARE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED IN MINI ASSEMBLY. I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE AMENDMENT MIC. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS DAVE RENO. I'M FROM FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AMENDMENT E AFTER LINE 66. IT WILL COME UP ON THE SCREEN AND YOU CAN READ IT. ESSENTIALLY, IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PRIVATE PRISONS, THEY ARE HERE TO MAKE A PROFIT AND I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THEIR COSTS ARE AND WHO IS MAKING THE MONEY AND WHO IS INVESTING IN IT AND HOW MANY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS GO TO POLITICIANS AND THE QUESTION UNANSWERED WOULD BE IF PROFITS -- >> CAN I ASK YOU TO WAIT A MOMENT? RIGHT NOW YOU'RE MOVING AN AMENDMENT AND I NEED A SECOND AND THEN YOU CAN GO TO THE PRO MIC TO SPEAK TO IT. >> ALL RIGHT. >> IS THERE A SECOND ON THIS AMENDMENT? I SEE A SECOND. NOW YOU PLEASE FINISH YOUR PRO STATEMENT. I APOLOGIZE. WHICH LETTER WAS IT? CAN YOU SAY IT AGAIN? >> AMENDMENT E, LIKE ECHO. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. AMENDMENT E. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO SAY IN SUPPORT OF YOUR AMENDMENT? >> WELL, WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT IS IF THESE PEOPLE ARE GIVING A COST AND MAKING PROFITS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THOSE WHO HAVE LITERALLY THE LEAST, WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS AND THEY SHOULD BE AUDITED AND ONE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FOR PROFIT PRISONS GO BANKRUPT? WILL THEY SIMPLY OPEN THE DOOR AND LET PEOPLE GO? AND HOW MUCH OF THIS IS POW POWER TO KEEP WHITE SUPREMACY AND KEEP PEOPLE IN AREAS OF THE WHITE POPULATION AND GERRYMANDERING? IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A CONVERSATION, NOT AN END. >> YOU THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO OFF-SITE DELEGATES AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> THESE ARE SIMILAR COMMENTS. THE FIRST COMES FROM RONALD CHAFER, UU'S OF SOUTHERN DELAWARE, LEWIS, DELAWARE. THE MODERATOR NEEDS TO GIVE THE OFF-SITE DELEGATES TIME TO VOTE AND HAVE OUR VOTES PROPERLY REGISTERED. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. >> SIMILAR FROM JOE [INDISCERNIBLE] ECHO KING UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN BURKE, VIRGINIA. PLEASE SLOW DOWN BETWEEN CALLING THE QUESTION VOTES AND VOTING ON THE ISSUE. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE A DELEGATE AT THE CON MIC? >> YES, THERE IS. HELLO. >> I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE CON MIC. >> I'M THE REVEREND ELIZABETH BUKEY. I SHERIFF THE CONGREGATION IN JAMAICA PLAINS, MASSACHUSETTS. AGREE WITH THE REASON THIS AMENDMENT WAS INCORPORATED, WHICH IS THIS IS BEYOND CONGREGATIONAL CAPACITY AND VAGUE AS TO WHO WE'RE CALLING ON, MY CONCERN. >> THANK YOU. ANY DELEGATES AT THE PRO MIC? I SEE A DELEGATE AT THE AMENDMENT MICROPHONE. IS THIS AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT OR A DIFFERENT AMENDMENT? THANK YOU. THERE BEING NO FURTHER SPEAKERS AT EITHER THE PRO OR THE CON MIC, WE ARE READY TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION. AMENDMENT E, ADD ONLINE 66, INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION AND SO ON THROUGH WHAT IF THEY GO BANKRUPT? IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF ADDING THIS AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS AND PLEASE OPEN THE VOTING FOR OFF-SITE DELEGATES. THANK YOU. PLEASE LOWER YOUR CARDS. ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO ADDING THIS AMENDMENT? THANK YOU. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THANK YOU. WE'LL WAIT NOW TO MAKE SURE THE OFF-SITE DELEGATES GET TIME TO VOTE. THE FACT THAT THIS FLASHES UP DONE MOON THEY'RE FINISHED. THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE CLICKING BUTTONS AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOWER INTERNET CONNECTIONS. YOUR AMENDMENT IS OVERWHELMINGLY DEFEATED. I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> I CALL THE QUESTION. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> EXCUSE ME. ORLANDO MONTOYA, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SAVANNAH. >> THIS IS A NON-DEBATABLE MOTION. IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR, I BELIEVE THE PROCEDURAL MIC TAKES PRECEDENT OVER OFFERING A NEW AMENDMENT. IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING DEBATE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS. AND OPEN THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE VOTING, PLEASE. PLEASE LOWER YOUR CARDS. ALL THOSE OPPOSED TO ENDING DEBATE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR CARDS. OKAY. WE'LL WAIT FOR THE OFF-SITE DELEGATES. THANK YOU. ABSTENTIONS? OKAY. WE HAVE VOTED TO CLOSE DEBATE. WITH WE ARE NOW YOU DIRECTLY ON THE MAIN MOTION, WHICH AT THIS POINT IS UNAMENDED EXCEPT FOR THE ALREADY INCORPORATED AMENDMENTS. IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS ACTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS. AND OPEN OFF-SITE VOTING, PLEASE. THANK YOU. YOU MAY LOWER YOUR CARDS. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR CARDS. THANK YOU. YOU MAY LOWER THE CARDS. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THANK YOU. WE'LL GIVE THE OFF-SITE DELEGATES A FEW MOMENTS. , SO YOU HAVE THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE COUNT? TECHNOLOGY IS SOMETIMES FRUSTRATING AND AMAZING, HAVING STARTED IN THE WORK WORLD WHEN AN ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER WAS AN ADVANCE. THIS IS TAKING ALL OF TEN SECONDS. DARN IT, ANYWAY. >> IT'S FLOATING, AND IF I THOUGHT WE HAD TIME FOR A SONG, I WOULD START US SINGING, BUT BY THE TIME OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR GETS UP HERE. WAITING FOR IT TO COME UP ON THE SCREEN. I LIKE THIS TEAM BUSINESS. IT'S SO NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO INTERFACE WITH TEXT WHILE I'M DOING THIS. AND BY THE WAY, AS LONG AS THERE'S WAITING, LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE TECH DECK AND ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE PROVIDING US WITH SUPPORT. [APPLAUSE] SOMETIMES I JUST HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL. WE KNOW WHAT THE VOTES R WE JUST CAN'T SHOW THEM. THE MOTION PASSES OVERWHELMINGLY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> I RECOGNIZE THE COMMISSIONER FROM THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS AT THE PRO MIC TO MAKE THE MOTION ON OUR FINAL AIW FOR THE AFTERNOON. >> THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS MOVES TO ADOPT PROPOSED ACTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS A, END FAMILY SEPARATION AND DETENTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AND ABOLISH ICE. >> WE NEED A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> HERE IS YOUR DISCUSSION QUESTION. HOW WILL YOU ENACT THIS IN YOUR COMMUNITY? >> FROM THE SAN MARCOS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP IN SAN MARCOS, TEXAS. I'M PART OF THE GROUP WHO HELPS DRAFT THIS AIW COFOUNDER OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED MONOAMIGA, DOING IMMIGRANT RIGHTS WORK IN TEXAS, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS GROUND ZERO. I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY OTHER THAN THE TWO MINUTES I SPOKE YESTERDAY, BUT IT SPEAK TO THE IMMEDIACY OF THIS, THIS MORNING THE TEXAS TRIBUNE REPORTED THAT THE HEADLINE SAYS KIDS IN EXCHANGE FOR DEPORTATION, DETAINED MIGRANTS SAY THEY WERE TOLD THEY COULD GET THEIR KIDS BACK ON THE WAY OUT OF THE UNITED STATES. I MEAN, I JUST SAW THAT 15 MINUTES AGO. I THINK, AGAIN, THAT SPEAKS TO THE IMMEDIACY OF THAT, OF THIS ISSUE. THE PERSON CODE IN THIS STORY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES SEEKING ASYLUM LEGALLY. THEY'RE SEPARATED FROM THEIR CHILD AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TOLD THEM THEY COULD GET THEIR CHILD BACK ON THE WAY BACK TO A COUNTRY THEY MIGHT VERY WELL DIE IN. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> WE HAVE ABOUT 100 OFF-SITE DELEGATES VOTING TODAY. I RECOGNIZE THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE WAS FIRST. >> BILL HILTON, UU CHURCH OF PALO ALTO. WHAT DOES ABOLISH ICE SEEN IN WILL WE ADVOCATE FOR I'M GRACIOUS OR CUSTOMS CONTROL AT THE BORDERS? CAN I HAVE A COMMISSIONER SPEAK TO WHAT THAT MIGHT BE? >> I WOULD ASK THE PROPOSING FOR THEIR DEFINITION. >> I TURN TO THE PROPOSER AT THE MIC FOR THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION FROM THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE. >> MY NAME IS KATIA HANSON FROM PALOMARUU FELLOWSHIP IN VISTA, CALIFORNIA. I PROUDLY SERVE UU REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES AND EDUCATION. ICE IS A FEDERAL AGENCY THAT WAS STARTED IN MARCH OF 2003 IN A MISGUIDED RESPONSE TO THE ATROCITIES OF 9/11. ABOLISHING ICE IS ASKING FOR AN END TO A PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION THAT IS NO LONGER WORKING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND WORKING TO BETTER THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, BUT INSTEAD HAS TURNED INTO A PARAMILITARY O THAT TARGETS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND DISPROPORTIONATELY WORKS TO DID HE IF ANY AND DEPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK OF THEIR LIVES. SO ABOLISHING ICE MEANS MOVING AWAY FROM A PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION AND MOVING TO SANE PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> IT, MR.?MODERATOR. I'M DINO RUDY FROM CEDAR LANE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH IN BETHESDA, MARYLAND. I CHECKED THE ICE WEBSITE YESTERDAY EVENING AND FIND THAT IT ENFORCES 400 FEDERAL STATUTES. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS IT THE INTENT OF THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS THAT SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS OF ICE SUCH AS ADDRESSING SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN, CHILD PORN, ILLEGAL GUN TRADE, ILLEGAL DRUGS, COUNTERFEIT MERCHANDISE, REPATRIATION OF CULTURAL TREASURES, AND ILLEGAL EXPLOITATIVE TECHNOLOGY, I GIVE ONE EXAMPLE, THE ARTIFACTS THAT WERE STOLEN THAT THE HOBBY LOBBY PERSON PURCHASED WERE INTERDICTED AND RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN BY ICE. SO IS IT THE INTENT THAT ABOLISHING ICE WOULD ALSO ABOLISH THESE FUNCTIONS? AND IF IT IS NOT THAT INTENT, HOW DOES THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS INTEND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT THE INTENT? >> WOULD ONE OF THE PROPOSE HERBS AT THE PRO MIC SPEAK TO THE QUESTION? I RECOGNIZE THE PROPOSER AT THE PRO MIC. >> KATIA HANSON AGAIN FROM PALOMAR-UU FELLOWSHIP. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AS A UUS GENERAL ASSEMBLY BODY, WE HAVE A LOT OF POWER AND A LOT OF LOVE AND WE WOULD HOPE THAT CALLING FOR AN END TO A DRACONIAN AGENCY WOULD MAKE IT HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY, BUT WE IMAGINE THAT THERE WOULD ACTUALLY BE A PROCESS BY WHICH THE CURRENT DUTIES OF ICE, WHICH ONLY STARTED WITH ICE IN 2003, WE WOULD GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF DETERMINING WHERE THOSE DUTIES WOULD END. WHERE THEY WOULD RESULT. SOME OF THEM MAY GO BACK TO THE FBI WHERE THEY WERE PRIOR TO 2003. SOME OF THEM MAY GO TO OTHER ENFORCEMENT AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. SOME OF THEM MAY ACTUALLY BE TERMINATED. >> DOES THE ANSWER SATISFY THE DELEGATES? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> MY NAME IS AL WINTHROP, DELEGATE FROM THE FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF CHICAGO. I'M ORIGINALLY HAVING A QUESTION WITH REGARD TO LINE EIGHT, WHEREAS ESTABLISHED ASYLUM PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN DISMANTLED. I REALLY QUESTION THE WORD DISMANTLED, BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ASYLUM PROCEDURES THAT ARE STILL IN EFFECT. JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, I HOUSED AN ASYLUM SPEAKER, A UU FROM BURUNDI FOR EIGHT MONTHS LAST YEAR. HE GOT HIS WORK PERMIT. YOU CAN LIE WAITING FOR HIS [INDISCERNIBLE] WHICH IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE LIKE A THREE YEAR WAIT. THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE. THERE ARE SOME PROCEDURES THAT ARE NOT DISMANTLED, SO WHY WAS THE WORD DISMANTLED USED? >> GIVE ME JUST A SEC. CAN WE HAVE THE TEXT UP ON THE SCREEN FOR THIS PROPOSED ACTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESSES? AND DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC, WHICH LINE WERE YOU REFERRING TO? >> LINE EIGHT. >> 18? >> EIGHT. >> EIGHT? THANK YOU. >> THE QUESTION IS WHY WAS THE WORD DISMANTLED USED? THERE'S SOME CHANGES IN SOME AREAS, BUT NOT TO OTHERS. AND RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PRO MIC TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. >> THE COMPLETELY HONEST ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THE 500 WORD LIMIT IN THE INITIAL AIW IS WHAT PREVENT US FROM SAYING SOME SPECIFIC ESTABLISHED PROTECTIONS HAVE BEEN DISMANTLED. THE PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DISMANTLED HAVE BEEN FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS OF GANG VIOLENCE APPLYING FOR ASYLUM. IT'S A RECENT DECISION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS THAT IS TURNING BACK THE CLOCK ON ASYLUM, WHICH CURRENTLY PROTECTS PEOPLE WHO HAVE A WELL FOUNDED FEAR OF PERSECUTION BASED ON THEIR RACE, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, MEMBERSHIP IN A PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUP, OR POLITICAL OPINION. WE FOUGHT VERY HARD TO HAVE MEMBERSHIP IN A PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUP TO BE EXPANDED BEYOND WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY THE INTENT, WHICH WAS FOR MEMBERS OF TRADE UNIONS. WE'VE MOVED MEMBERSHIP IN A PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUP TO INCLUDE LGBTQ PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, BECAUSE OF THE VERY ESSENCE OF WHAT THEY ARE, AND WHO INCLUDE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS OF GANGS AND DRUG CAR TELLS WHERE THEY ARE IN COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ARE UNABLE TO MANAGE CAR TELLS, AND THOSE ARE THE PROTECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED RECENTLY. >> DOES THE ANSWER SATISFY THE DELEGATE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE IT, BUT DID IT ANSWER THE QUESTION? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. BEFORE I RECOGNIZE THE NEXT DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURE MIC, I WANT TO REMIND YOU WHEN WE TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE PROCEDURAL MIC OR FROM THE AMENDMENT MIC, IT STOPS DISCUSSION AND DEBATE TIME. HOWEVER, TIME ACTUALLY DOES CONTINUE TO MOVE ON. I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> ORLANDO MONTOYA, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SAVANNAH A I WANTED TO REPEAT THAT AS WELL. IF YOU HAVE A CON, PLEASE GO TO THE CON MIC SO THAT WE CAN RUN THE CLOCK SO WE CAN GET TO A VOTE. >> I RECOGNIZE THE OFF-SITE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MIC. >> MORE EAST CARTER, UU CONGREGATION OF GREENVILLE, GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. I WANTED TO CALL THE QUESTION. >> IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. THIS MOTION IS NOT DEBATABLE. IT REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY. IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF ENDING DID HE BIT RIGHT NOW?-- DEBATE RIGHT NOW AND VOTING ON THE ACTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS AS AMENDED DURING THE MINI-ASSEMBLY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARD NOW. PLEASE LOWER YOUR CARDS. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? PLEASE LOWER YOUR CARDS. ABSTENTIONS. ALL RIGHT. OFF-SITE? WE'RE READY TO VOTE. WE NOW GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION AS PRESENTED. THERE ARE NO AMENDMENTS ON THIS MOTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PASSING THE PROPOSED ACTION OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS A ENTITLED END FAMILY SEPARATION AND DETENTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AND ABOLISH ICE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS NOW. THIS REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY. LOWER YOUR CARDS. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? LOWER YOUR CARDS. ABSTENTIONS? OFF-SITE? THE MOTION CLEARLY PASSES. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHTY. SO IT IS TIME FOR RESPONSIVE RESOLUTIONS. RESPONSIVE RESOLUTIONS ARE THOSE RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO US BY DELEGATES THAT ARE RESPONDING TO A REPORT MADE IN GENERAL SESSION.THIS YEAR WE HAD NO RESPONSIVE RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED THAT MEET THE CRITERIA. HOWEVER, WE WANT TO SAY TWO STATEMENTS, BECAUSE?-- YES. SO HERE WE GO. READY? HERE'S OUR WHEREAS. WHEREAS WE HAVE VERY CLOSE VOTES ON THE SIX ACTIONS OF IMMEDIATE WITNESS THAT WERE ADMITTED TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR PLACEMENT ON THE AGENDA AND WHEREAS ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT AS WE WORK TO BUILD A BELOVED COMMUNITY AND BETTER WORLD THAT WE ENVISION. AND WHEREAS THERE ARE NUMEROUS GROUPS, FAITH BASE AND HAD SECULAR WORKING ON THESE AND OTHER ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE, BE THEY LOCAL, NATIONAL, OR GLOBAL. THEREFORE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFFIRMS THE RELEVANCE AND IMMEDIACY OF EACH OF THESE ISSUES AND ENCOURAGES UU'S TO READ AND CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON ANY OF THE PROPOSED AIW'S, EVEN IF THE UUA DOES NOT HAVE RESOURCES SPECIFIC TO THE TOPIC. IS THERE A SECOND? CAN ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE YOUR VOTING CARDS? THANK YOU. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? WE'LL WAIT ON THE OFF-SITE. THANK YOU. SO HERE IS THE OTHER THING THAT CAME TO US. AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR. SO WE HAD A VOTE AROUND LINKAGE. WE SAID IT THEN, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, BECAUSE JPD, LIKE A LOT OF DISTRICTS, WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WAYS OF GETTING AHOLD OF THE BOARD. IF YOU WERE AROUND LAST YEAR, SOME OF US KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF E-MAIL. LIKE A LOT. A WHOLE LOT. A LOT OF PHONE CALLS. SO SOME PEOPLE KNOW THEY CAN CALL US OR E-MAIL US. BUT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE THAT ABILITY. RIGHT? OR THEY WANT TO KNOW, IS IT TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION? WE'RE WORKING WITH THE REGIONAL NATIONAL LEADERS GROUP, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED NOW, WHICH ACTUALLY REPRESENTS REGIONS AND DISTRICTS ALL ACROSS OUR FAITH WILL BE WITH US IN OCTOBER AT OUR BOARD MEETING AND WE'RE INVITING OTHER PEOPLE TO COME AS WELL TO THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT LINKAGE DIFFERENTLY? HOW DO WE ACTUALLY DO OUR WORK DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY RESPONDING TO CONGREGATIONS, CONGREGATIONS ARE RESPONDING TO US, AND THAT IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET. WE DO NOT THE HAVE A PLAN YET, BECAUSE WE CANNOT DO THE PLAN. JUST HIRE ARC LIKELY. DOES THAT?-- HIERARCHICAL. IT MAKES SENSE TO DO A PLAN WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THAT'S WHY WE'LL GIVE ANOTHER PLAN LATER. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY. SOMEONE CAME UP VERY?-- WE DID NOT SHARE THE THEMES FROM THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD YESTERDAY. WE GOT 700 PEOPLE CAME AND WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA. AND SO WE GOT IT VERY LATE LAST NIGHT. SOME PEOPLE STAYED UP FOR THREE HOURS IN THE WEE MORNING GETTING IT SO WE CAN EVEN GET THE WORK CLOUD DONE. SO BECAUSE WE HAVE GENERAL SESSION, WE HAVE WORSHIP THIS MORNING, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO ALL THE WORK THAT WAS NEEDED. BUT WE WILL SEND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY. IT WILL BE ON THE WEBSITE. WE WILL MAKE SURE IT GETS TO ALL OF YOU. MAYBE WE'LL GIVE IT TO UU WORLD AND THEY'LL ALLOW US TO GET IT IN THERE AND FIGURE OUT WAYS FOR EVERYONE TO GET INFORMATION. >> CAN I ADD TO THAT?-- [APPLAUSE] >> -- IN ADDITION TO US FEEDING YOU INFORMATION, OUR HOPE IS THAT YOU TAKE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED YESTERDAY AND BRING THEM HOME WITH YOU AND ASK YOUR FELLOW CONGREGANTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHEN THEIR ANSWERS ARE AND THAT YOU ENGAGE IN A DEEPER CONVERSATION SO AS THAT WE MOVE THROUGH THE YEAR AND INTO OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEXT YEAR, WE ALL CAN CONTINUE TO DEEPEN THE WIDER CONVERSATIONS. AND I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE. >> HI. I'M REVEREND ELIZABETH UKE FROM JAMAICA PLAIN AGAIN AND I HAVE A FRIENDLY POINT OF INFORMATION FOR THE BODY. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING ANSWERS FROM THE BOARD FOR E-MAIL AND SOMEONE SITTING NEAR ME SAID I'M SURE THEY HAVE A STAFF ADMINISTRATOR PERSON WHO IS FULL TIME AND GETS PAID TO DO THAT. AND THEN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IS INCORRECT. IS THAT RIGHT? >> WHEN WE GET E-MAIL, WE DO HAVE AN AMAZING PERSON WHO WORKS WITH THE, STEPHANIE CARRIE MAROON, OVER THERE. WOO-HOO, STEPHANIE! BUT YOU STEPHANIE'S JOB IS NOT TO LOOK THROUGH ALL OF OUR E-MAIL. SO CHRISTINA RIVIERA, WHO IS OUR SECRETARY FOR THE ASSOCIATION IS ACTUALLY WHO IS RESPONDING GENERALLY TO ALL THE THINGS UNLESS IT COMES TO THE CO-MODS. >> TO BE FAIR, SOMETIMES IT COMES TO US AND THEN WE SEND IT TO CHRISTINA. >> AND THEN SOMETIMES IT COMES TO OTHERS AND THEN IT COMES TO THE BOARD OR ANY OTHER WAY IT COMES, BUT IT'S TRUE. SO ALL OF US ARE VOLUNTEERS, AND SO WE'RE VOLUNTEERS ANSWERING OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO NOT GETTING PAID TO DO THIS, EITHER. SO THAT'S WHY?-- THANK YOU. SO PLEASE HAVE SOME GRACE, BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE VOLUNTEERS TO STAY UP FOR, LIKE, THREE HOURS OFF THE WARE ELECTRIC TOUR PUT TOGETHER THE INFORMATION. -- LECTURE TO PUT TOGETHER THE INFORMATION. THAT'S WHY WE DON'T HAVE IT ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> SO WHILE WE'RE WAITING, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S APPROACHED THE PROCEDURAL MIC, I WANTED TO EXPLAIN A FINER NUANCE OF ROBERTS RULES THAT WE ENGAGED IN. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE TOOK THE LAST VOTE, THE MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION WAS OUT OF ORDER. THERE HADN'T BEEN ENOUGH TIME THAT HAD EXPIRED. THERE WAS ALSO NO ONE AT THE CONCERN MIC. SO THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VOTE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YOU WOULD HAVE VOTED ANYWAY. WE VOTED TO VOTE WHEN WE DIDN'T NEED TO, AND THAT'S BECAUSE I ALOUD IT. >> BECAUSE WE LIKE VOTING. >> BECAUSE WITH WE LIKE VOTING. IT'S FUN. IT FEELS EMPOWERING. IT'S YELLOW. IT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. AND I RECOGNIZE THE DELEGATE AT THE PROCEDURAL MICROPHONE. >> I'M BOBBY SPRODE FROM FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY IN NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS. AND AS A POINT OF INFORMATION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU PUBLISHED THOSE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO GO TO THE SESSION. SO I'M HOPING THAT WHEN YOU PUBLISH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT CAME OUT OF THEM, YOU'LL ALSO TELL US WHAT WENT INTO THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE DID NOT PUBLISH THEM AHEAD OF TIME. WE NEED TO KEEP SOME THINGS, KEEP THE ANTICIPATORY FEELING OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAPPENING. AND OF COURSE WE ARE HAPPY TO SHARE THEM NOW THAT THE ANTICIPATION IS OVER AND YOU'RE JUST SITTING WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF WHAT EVERYONE INPUTTED. >> AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A STUDY GUIDE THAT WILL COME TO CONGREGATIONS OF COULD HAVE HE WANTED COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE GOING TO BE BOTHERING YOU HERE BEFORE LONG. >> THANK YOU. >> SO WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON WITH OUR AGENDA? OUR FINAL RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TEAM REPORT IS UP NEXT. THANKS AND I SEE YOUR FANTASTIC CO-CHAIRS OF THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WORK WORKING THEIR WAY UP THE RAMP. JOIN ME FOR THANKING THEM FOR DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND TELL US WHAT WE SNEAD TO KNOW. >> HI. I'M QADENEE HAILU. >> AND I'M HANNAH ROBERTS VILLNAVE. THIS IS OUR FINAL REPORT FOR GA20196789 >> THAT'S EXCITING. >> FIRST, WE WANT TO IT THANK OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM. Y'ALL SEE US UP HERE, BUT OUR TEAM IS OUT THERE DOING THE WORK ALL DAY EVERY DAY. SHERRY, MARY, ELIZABETH, JIM, STEVIE, MIGUEL, RACHEL, AND JULIAN MAKE THIS TEAM POSSIBLE AND WE ARE PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL. [APPLAUSE] LET'S TAKE A BREATH. OVER THE COURSE OF THIS GA, WE HAVE BEEN JOYFUL CO-CHAIRS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL KNOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SIMPLY CELEBRATE. RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TEAM'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE PARTICIPATION, WHICH CELEBRATES LIFE AND LIBERATES THE OPPRESSED. RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TEAM'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE PARTICIPATION, WHICH CELEBRATES LIFE AND LIBERATES THE OPPRESSED. >> WE AREN'T SETTLED WITH OUR CURRENT STAGE ON THAT JOURNEY TOWARDS A MORE LOVING AND JUST ORIENTED COMMUNITY. WE HAVE CONTINUED WORK AHEAD. >> WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TENSION THAT HAS BEEN PRESENT THROUGHOUT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. WE ALL SEEK TO BE A COMMUNITY THAT CENTERS THE NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES OF OUR SIBLINGS OF COLOR AND OUR YOUTH AND WE ARE MANEUVERING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A CONVENTION CENTER WHOSE POLICIES AROUND SECURITY, WHICH WE SAY PURPOSEFULLY, AS HAVING TO DO WITH PROPERTY RATHER THAN BODILY SAFETY HAVE ACTIVELY HARMED OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. IF YOU DID NOT NOTICE THIS DURING OUR GATHERING, I WILL INVITE YOU TO CONSIDER WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN LULLED TO SLEEP BY YOUR OWN COMFORT AND DISTANCE FROM OUR YOUTH AND OUR SIBLINGS OF COLOR. LET THIS QUESTION OF WHETHER YOU HAVE?-- WHETHER WE, WHETHER I HAVE SLIPPED INTO THE ROLE OF THE MODERATE LINGER IN YOUR HEART LONG AFTER WE LIVE THIS HALL. AS OUR PRESIDENT, THE REVEREND SUSAN FREDERICK GRAY SAID IN WORSHIP THIS MORNING, WE ARE NOT OFF THE HOOK. SO BE AWARE. NOTICE WHAT'S GOING ON. AND TAKE THAT BACK HOME TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, YOUR CONGREGATIONS, YOUR LIVES. >> ANOTHER BREATH. WAY ALSO INVITE YOU WITH SOME FINAL HOSPITALITY WITH ONE ANOTHER. PROCEED TEND EARLY AND GRACEFULLY WITH ONE ANOTHER IN CONVERSATION AND IN DEBATE. ALLOW OUR FOLKS WITH SCOOTERS TO EXIT THE HALL FIRST FOR SAFETY AND THANK YOUR VOLUNTEERS, THE CONVENTION STAFF CENTER STAFF AND YOUR HOTEL STAFF BE KIND. >> AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL. THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR SERVING AS CO-CHAIR OF THIS TEAM, WHICH MEANS THAT IT WILL BE MY LAST YEAR SERVING AS CO-CHAIR OF THIS TEAM AND NEXT YEAR A NEW AND AMAZING HUMAN BEING WILL BE UP HERE IN A VEST REMARKABLY SIMILAR TO THIS ONE WITH YADENEE. SO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK ME BY DOING THIS WORK. YOUR GRATITUDE, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO US, THANK YOU. WE'RE SO GLAD. WE'RE SO GLAD. WE LOVE SEEING YOU UP THERE. IT'S SO FUN. WE LOVE IT. IF YOU REALLY LOVE T ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN LULLED INTO SLEEP, WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN LULLED INTO BEING A MODERATE. ASK YOURSELF THAT QUESTION AND KEEP ASKING IT OF YOURSELF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THAT WOULD BE THE TRUEST EXPRESSION OF YOUR GRATITUDE FOR OUR WORK. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR SAFETY TEAM CO-CHAIRS, INDIA HARRIS AND CHRIS CRASS AS THEY COME FORWARD TO GIVE US THEIR FINAL REPORT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. YOU ALL MUST REALLY WANTING TO HOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. I DO WANTING TO HOME. GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN ALL ARE CALLED. EVERYONE HERE UNDERTOOK THE CHALLENGE OF ENGAGING A BIT WITH TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY, PRINCIPLES WHICH ARE VERY DEAR TO ME AND MANY OTHER FOLKS THAT ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. THE IDEA THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND WE DO NOT NEED TO RELY ON SYSTEMS THAT ARE OFTEN MORE PUNITIVE AND PUNISHING THAN THEY ARE FORGIVING AND UNDERSTANDING. AND THE IDEA THAT WE DO NOT NEED THOSE SYSTEMS. >> SO JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE A SENSES OF THE SAFETY PEOPLE OVER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THERE'S BAN THE LOT OF INTERACTING WITH SECURITY AND POLICE TO DEESCALATE AND DEAL WITH THE REALITIES OF WHITE SUPREMACY. AS WE CREATE AN INTERNAL WORLD IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WORK TO DISMANTLED. AND TRANSFORM OUR CULTURE AWAY FROM WHITE SUPREMACY TOWARDS RACIAL JUSTICE, WE ALSO DEAL WITH THE EXTERNAL INSTITUTIONS AND CULTURES AND POLICIES AND POLICE AND SECURITY AND SO SAFETY TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO DEESCALATE AND TRANSFORM THE CULTURE HERE AS WE ALSO WORK AGAINST SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WHITE SUPREMACY COMES INTO THIS SPACE THROUGH POLICING AND SECURITY. BUT TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS THAT THE SAFETY TEAM HAS OPERATED, LAST NIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WARE LECTURE, I GOT A TEXT TO STEP OUT TO CHECK IN WITH A SAFETY TEAM MEMBER, CHELSEA SURFACE, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GA PLANNING COMMITTEE. CHELSEA WAS DOING NORMAL ROUNDS, CHECKING IN THE DOWNSTAIRS REGISTRATION LOBBY JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. SHE SAW A POLICE CAR RACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE STREET. SHE WALKED OUTSIDE. SHE SAW THAT THERE HAD BEEN TWO CARS THAT HAD JUST GOTTEN INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. ONE WAS A WOMAN OF COLOR, A MOTHER WITH HER CHILDREN AND THE OTHER WAS A WHITE COUPLE WHO HAD HIT THE FAMILY. CHELSEA SAW THE SITUATION. THE WHITE MAN WHO HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR THAT HIT THE FAMILY GOT OUT, WAS YELLING AT THE MOTHER AS SHE WAS ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT HER CHILDREN WERE INJURED. HER CHILDREN GOT TAKEN TO THE AMBULANCE, TO THE HOSPITAL. THE WHITE MAN WAS YELLING AT THE MOTHER. CHELSEA, AS SAFETY TEAM AND PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR GA, IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO DEESCALATION MODE WEARING HER SAFETY TEAM VEST, WENT OVER TO WHERE THE CONFRONTATION WAS HAPPENING, STOOD WITH HER BACK TO THE WHITE MAN WHO WAS YELLING AT THE WOMAN AND SLOWLY BACKED HIM UP AND TALKED TO THE MOTHER TO SAY THAT SHE WAS HERE FOR HER IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO HELP SUPPORT HER AND HER FAMILY. SHE DEESCALATED THE MAN WHO WAS YELLING. SHE DEESCALATED THE POLICE WHO WERE ALSO AGGRAVATED AND BRINGING THEIR OWN URGENCY INTO IT. SHE SUPPORTED THE MOM. SHE CALLED THE CHAPLAIN, WHO BROUGHT WATER TO HELP SUPPORT THE MOM AND HELP SUPPORT HER EMOTIONALLY. CHELSEA THEN HELPED GET THINGS OUT OF THE CAR TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY AS THIS CAR WAS GOING TO NEED TO BE DRIVEN AWAY ELSEWHERE. THE MOM, SHE HELPED MAKE SURE THE MOM GOT A RIDE TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE UNITED WITH HER KIDS. CHELSEA HELPED COLLECT THINGS OUT OF THE CAR, PAPERWORK, OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE MOM. CHELSEA THEN TOOK THE PHONE NUMBERS OF WITNESSES, THE POLICE REPORT NUMBERS, ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THIS FAMILY AS THEY DEALT WITH THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE SUPPORT THE FAMILY WHO THEN ARRIVED TO SUPPORT THE MOM AND THE KIDS WHO HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, AND SO CHELSEA DID ALL OF THAT AS PART OF THE SAFETY TEAM. AND SO I WOULD GIVE SOME LOVE?-- [APPLAUSE] >> AS PART OF BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP AS A FAMILY OF COLOR SHOWED UP, DEALING WITH THE EMERGENCY OF THIS ACCIDENT AND THE POLICE WHO WERE CLEARLY AGGRAVATED, THIS WHITE MAN WHO WAS YELLING, CHELSEA LOOKED AT THE FAMILY AND SHE SAID, I DO NOT TRUST THE POLICE AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT YOU ENTIRELY. THAT IS PART OF CREATING A CULTURE OF SAFETY THAT DOES NOT LOOK TO WHITE SUPREMACY AND THE POLICING OF WHITE SUPREMACY TO SUPPORT US. IT CREATES ALTERNATIVES. SO LET'S GIVE LOVE TO CHELSEA AND ALL OF THE SAFETY TEAM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ROCKING OUT. [APPLAUSE] >> WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WILL BE CONCERNS THAT ARE LEFT UNSPOKEN, BURDENS BORNE BY BACKS THAT ARE ALREADY BEARING TOO MUCH. MANIFESTATIONS OF MICRO-AGGRESSIONS AND OPPRESSION THAT HAVE YET TO BE ERADICATED. WE HOLD ALL OF THAT IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AS IT WILL INFORM OUR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU YOU TO OUR SAFETY TEAM VOLUNTEERS, THE GA PLANNING COMMITTEE, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, REVEREND ROSE AND ANNA. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO OFFER UP GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU FOR TAKING THIS ON AND LOOKING AFTER ONE ANOTHER. IN FITTING MEDITATION, WE ARE REMINDED TO NOT CLOSE OUR EYES, BUT KEEP THEM OPEN SO THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THE PRESENT MOMENT. IN THE BOOK ARE THE WORDS OF ADRIAN MARIE BROWN: WHAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO GROWS. MAY WE BE MORE ATTENTIVE TO ONE ANOTHER SO THAT OUR CONNECTIONS AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER DEEPEN INTERLOCK BEING US LIKE THE ROTS OF THE MANGROVE TREES. AS WE WERE REMINDED IN THE UU-CSF COMMUNION SERVE, WE ARE LOVED BEYOND BELIEF AND FEAR. LET US GO FORWARD LOVING ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THESE CHANGING, CHALLENGING TIMES AND DO SO COURAGEOUSLY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I WELCOME STEPHANIE SAMSON TO THE STAGE TO TELL US ABOUT NEXT * YEAR'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM A MEMBER OF THE UU CHURCH OF SPOKANE IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, WHERE THE NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS SCHEDULED IN 2019. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE THE ONLY BIG ACTIVITY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. OUR SMALL TOWN IS A WELCOMING PLACE. IN 2003, I MOVED FROM PHOENIX TO BE CLOSER TO FAMILY AND SOON FOUND THE UU CHURCH, WHICH HAS BECOME A SECOND HOME FOR ME AND HAS BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EVENT. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY MINISTER, REV. DR. TODD EKLOF, WHO WILL SHARE VIA VIDEO A BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH AND THE SPOKANE COMMUNITY. >> I'M TODD EKLOF, MINISTER OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SPOKANE, AND ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE CONGREGATION, I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH US HERE IN SPOKANE NEXT YEAR. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM WAS ESTABLISHED IN SPOKANE IN 1887 AND HAS HAD A RICH TRANSFORMATIVE LIBERAL PRESENCE EVER SINCE. >> OUR FIRST MINISTER, EDWIN WELOCK CAME WITH A BOUND I ON HIS HEAD IN 1888, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE FOR PREACHING AGAINST SLAVERY WHILE HE WAS IN VIRGINIA. EXPO CAN IS WHERE JOHN DETRIECH DISCOVERED HUMANISM AND WANT TO SIGN THE HUMANIST MANIFESTO * TOE AND THE FATHER OF RELIGIOUS HUMANISM. OVER THE YEARS WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT, INCLUDING SHUTTING DOWN A NUCLEAR REACTOR WHERE THE PLUTONIUM FOR THE FIRST NUCLEAR BOMB WAS MANUFACTURED. MORE RECENTLY, WE WERE EXTREMELY INSTRUMENTAL IN WASHINGTON BECOMING THE FIRST OF ONLY TWO STATES EVER TO PASS MARRIAGE EQUALITY BY POPULAR VOTE. AND ONE OF THE FIRST TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, WHICH HAS SINCE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF POLICE STOP AND SEARCHES BY HALF IN OUR STATES. SPOKANE'S RAIL SYSTEM IS THE CHOKE POINT FOR ALL FOSSIL FUEL TRAINS COMING THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. DEADLY AND DYING INDUSTRY WE'RE STRUGGLING TO STOP. ALTHOUGH AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE AMONG THE VERY FIRST SETTLERS TO COME TO THE SPOKANE AREA, THERE ARE NUMBERS REMAIN LESS THAN 2% OF OUR POPULATION, WHICH MEANS WE MUST WORK TRIPOLI HARD TO END SYSTEMS?-- TRIPLY HARD TO END SYSTEMS OF WHITE SUPREMACY. FIRST PEOPLES, AMERICAN INDIANS FROM SEVERAL TRIBES, WHO WE PARTNER WITH IN THEIR STRUGGLE TO RETAIN THEIR OWN CULTURE AND ATTAIN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EQUALITY. SPOKANE IS HOME TO THE POOREST ZIP CODE IN WASHINGTON. STILL, EVEN WITH MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS FACED AROUND THE NATION, SPOKANE IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON EARTH, SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS AND A VAST PONDEROSA PINE FOREST. THE SPOKANE RIVER RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING RIVERFRONT PARK RIGHT NEXT TO OUR CONVENTION CENTER. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY BEING WITH US IN SPOKANE, WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SCENERY LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR FAITH'S UNIQUE HISTORY HERE IN THE INLAND NORTHWEST, OR BEING WITH US IN SOLIDARITY AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR WORLD. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU DURING NEXT YEAR'S GA. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING AS MANY OF YOU AS POSSIBLE NEXT YEAR AT GA. [APPLAUSE] >> SO WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL. TWO THINGS. ONE, CHARLOTTESVILLE, WE TALK ABOUT IT A LOT LIKE IT'S ITS OWN THING, BUT YESTERDAY AND IN PITTSBURGH, NOT YESTERDAY, THERE HAVE BEEN PROTESTS AND A CAR DROVE THROUGH THE CROWD OF PROTESTERS. SO I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN ONE PLACE HAPPENS OTHER PLACES, TOO. AND IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS IN OTHER PEOPLE'S. SO IT ISN'T JUST GOING IN SOMEWHERE TO DO THE WORK. IT'S ALSO DOING IT WHERE YOU LIVE. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE IN PITTSBURGH NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE. AND ALSO, THE LAST THEY THINK, BEFORE BARB GOES, IS THAT A LOT OF OUR WORK IS IN TRANSFORMING OUR OWN FAMILIES AND OUR OWN FRIENDS. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY THE HARDEST WORK IS TRANSFORMING OURSELF, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR FRIENDS. AND SO THAT MEANS ALL OF US AT D A, ALL OF US THAT ARE UU HAVE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THAT ARE ALSO UU THAT ARE NOT AGREEING WITH US ALL THE TIME. AND SO THE WORK IS ACTUALLY IN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. AND NOT JUST HEARING SOMEONE SAY IT ON THE STAGE. [APPLAUSE] >> THIS YEAR, AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WE EXPERIMENTED AND LEARNED ON SHARED LEADERSHIP. IT'S EASY FOR YOU YOU TO THINK THAT ELANDRIA AND I HAVE JUST FIGURED IT ALL OUT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO DO SHARED LEADERSHIP AND WHAT IT MEANS TO DO SHARED LEADERSHIP FROM THE IDENTITIES THAT WE EACH HOLD, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, IT'S IMPORTANT TO US THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T DO THIS ALONE. THAT WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF THOSE ABOVE COME BEFORE US AND WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US AND WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US AND INSPIRE US. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO US THAT YOU KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE DONE A LOT OF HARD WORK TO UNDERSTAND OUR IDENTITIES IN THE PLACES WHERE WE SHARE AND DON'T SHARE EXPERIENCES. THERE HAVE BEEN HARD CONVERSATIONS BEHIND THE SCENES AND BEFORE THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THROUGHOUT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND FOR ME, THAT IS THE RICH PLACE THAT OUR FAITH LIVES. WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE, NOT JUST US AS CO-LEADERS, BUT US AS A FAITH COMMUNITY, UNLESS WE EACH DO OUR WORK. AND SO WE WANTED TO NAME THAT TO YOU AS PART OF OUR PROCESS LOOS, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING HOME, AND I THINK WE EVENTUALLY GO HOME. BUT WE'RE GOING HOME TO LIVE OUT OUR FAITH. EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED HERE, EVERYTHING THAT WE LEARNED YESTERDAY AND EVERYTHING WE'LL LEARN TOMORROW, ET?CETERA, ET?CETERA, WE NEVER STOP LEARNING. LREDA HAS TAUGHT US TIME AND AGAIN. THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE TIME AND AGAIN. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN OUTPACE THEM. BEFORE WE GIVE A LOT OF THANK YOUS TO A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE MORE THAN DESERVING OF ALL THE THANK YOUS WE COULD EVER HAVE IN THE WORLD, CHRISTINA, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US? >> I'VE GOT ALL MANNER OF INFORMATION. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT I REALLY SHOULD USE THE STEP STOOL. I'M GOING TO TRY IT OUT AGAIN. THERE YOU ALL ARE. THE EASIEST ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE IS THAT IF YOU ENTERED THE POWER DRAWING, THEY HAVE WINNERS. PLEASE STOP BY AND SEE THEM. THE SECOND PART OF THE THIS WAS I HAVE FOR YOU IS OUR CREDENTIALING INFORMATION. AT THE END OF EACH GA, WE TELL YOU WHO HAS BEEN HERE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THIS IS A SMALLER GA. I THINK IT'S BEEN KNOWN AS WE PASS IN THE HALLS, AS WE'VE BEEN IN WORKSHOPS, AS WE'RE HERE TOGETHER AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN WHERE THE FOLKS NEEDED IN THE ROOM HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM, AND SO I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO ENGAGE IN THE WORK OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM AND IN THE FAITH OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. SO GIVE YOURSELVES?-- YOU'RE STILL HERE. HOLY COW. RIGHT? 3:22. ALL RIGHT. ONTO THE GOOD NEWS. THE COMMUNITY CREATING OPPORTUNITY COLLECTION AT THIS MORNING'S SERVICE RAISED OVER $33,000. THE AMOUNT RAISED BOTH FOR THE KATIE TYSON FUND, THE STAND WITH LOVE FUND, AND THE LIVING TRADITION FUND COLLECTIONS THROUGHOUT GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARE $95,000. [APPLAUSE] AND I WILL ADD THAT YOU ARE WELCOME TO MAKE THOSE DONATIONS ANY TIME OF THE YEAR. UUA.ORG. THE CURRENTS REGISTRATION, CURRENT AND FINAL REGISTRATION STANDS AT 2,814 SOULS, INCLUDING 134 YOUTH. [APPLAUSE] WE HAD 1,570 DELEGATES, INCLUDING 199 OFF-SITE DELEGATES. WE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM OVER 522 CONGREGATIONS, INCLUDING ALL THE STATES, THE D.A., COLUMBIA, CANADA, MEXICO, AND PUERTO RICO. [APPLAUSE] SO FINAL THING I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH AS YOUR SECRETARY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT IN THE NEXT WEEK FROM SIDE WITH LOVE ABOUT THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH MI-JUNTA IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, JULY?2ND AND IN DC JUNE?30TH. PLEASE TAKE VOTE WHEN THAT?-- TAKE NOTE WHEN THAT INFORMATION COMES TO YOU. WE ARE ALL GOING TO NEED YOUR SUPPORT IN ENDING THE FAMILY SEPARATION AND ABOLISHING ICE. [APPLAUSE] >> THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK THIS YEAR. SOME OF THEM YOU NOTICE REGULARLY. SOME OF THEM YOU WOULDN'T NOTICE UNLESS WE CALL THEM FORTH AND SO AS I CALL YOUR NAMES, WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE IN BODY OR SPIRIT, GIVE US A GOOD ARM WAVE, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT HIDE IN THE SHADOWS. WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET YOU. >> OUR TELLERS AND USHERS. [APPLAUSE] >> OUR SAFETY TEAM. [APPLAUSE] >> OUR RIGHT RELATIONSHIP TEAM. [APPLAUSE] >> OUR CHAPLAINS. [APPLAUSE] >> OUR YOUNG ADULTS. [APPLAUSE] >> OUR YOUTH. [APPLAUSE] >> OUR ACCESSIBILITY TEAM. [APPLAUSE] >> BLACK LIVES OF UU. [APPLAUSE] >> DRUUMM. [APPLAUSE] >> EQUAL ACCESS. [APPLAUSE] >> LREDA. [APPLAUSE] >> THE UUMA. [APPLAUSE] >> THE UUMA AND ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL MUSICIANS AND SINGERS. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS. [APPLAUSE] >> AND OTHER STAFF. [APPLAUSE] >> THE COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE. [APPLAUSE] >> THE COMMISSION ON SOCIAL WITNESS. [APPLAUSE] THE GA PLANNING COMMITTEE. [APPLAUSE] >> YOUR UUA BOARD OF TRUSTEES. [APPLAUSE] >> OUR AMAZING U YOU FEEL A STAFF. (-- UUA STAFF. [APPLAUSE] EVERYONE WHO FACILITATED AND/OR TOOK NOTES AT YESTERDAY'S BREAKOUT GROUPS. [APPLAUSE] OUR REMARKABLE PRESIDENT. [APPLAUSE] > YOUR AMAZING VICE PRESIDENT. [APPLAUSE] >> EXECUTIVE. >> THE EXECUTIVE. >> OUR AMAZING TECH DECK. [APPLAUSE] >> ALL OF THE WONDERFUL STAGE HANDS WHO HAVE MADE ALL OF THE TRANSITIONS GO SMOOTHLY. [APPLAUSE] >> EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDED. [APPLAUSE] >> BOTH OFF-SITE AND ON. LET'S GIVE OURSELVES A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] >> THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO DISCERN, LEARN, CONTINUE TO GROW, AND JUST DO ALL KINDS OF AMAZING STUFF. ON THE SAFE JOURNEY THAT WE CALL UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. [APPLAUSE] >> WE END KNOWING THAT THE WORK WE'VE DONE SHEAR A CONTINUATION OF THE HARD WORK OF OUR PREDECESSORS AND THE BEDROCK FOR THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW. MY THE FLAME WE WILL EXTINGUISH LATER BURN BRIGHTLY IN OUR HEARTS AND GUIDE US AS WE CONTINUE TO LIVE OUR FAITH IN EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY AND IN EVERY WAY. >> I NOW CALL FOR THE OFFICIAL ADJOURNMENT FOR THE ASSEMBLY S THERE A MOTION FROM THE BOARD? SO MOVED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR VOTING CARDS, YOUR ARMS, OR YOU'RE MOVING YOUR HANDS. ANY OPPOSED? WE CAN HANG OUT LATER. ONLINE DELEGATES? THEY'RE NOT THERE? WE LOVE YOU, ONLINE DELEGATES. >> JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WERE COUNTING THE VOTES, NOT THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. >> THE PEOPLE FROM R. THERE. >> THE MOTION IT ADJOURN IS CARRIED. I DECLARE THAT THE 2018 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION NOW STANDS FINALLY ADJOURNED. HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER. WE'RE EXCITED TO GATHER WITH YOU YOU IN SPOKANE NEXT JUNE SETTLEMENT AND THE CLOSING CEREMONIES WILL HAPPEN NOT RIGHT THIS SECOND, THOUGH, BUT LATER. >> READY? >> YES. >> LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER. ONE, TWO, THREE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THEY START AT 4:30. **********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. 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