06/22/19 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEME PROGRAM AND CONVERSATIONS ‑ 11:30 A.M. PT CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY HEAR INK HTTP://WWW.HEARINK.COM **********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********** KM >> WE CONTINUE OUR THEMED DISCUSSION THIS MORNING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FAITH COMMUNITY. WE ARE HERE TO GRAPPLE WITH THE DEPTHS. SPIRIT AND THE GREAT MYSTERY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSE, TENSION, AND LIBERATION EVERYDAY. AT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE ARE EXPLORING A NEW WAY OF BEING WITH EACH OTHER, AND THE THEME OF OUR INTERCONNECTION, THE POWER OF WE, HAS RUN THROUGH WORSHIP AND BUSINESS AND NEW OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS. WE ARE EXPLORING A WAY THAT DE‑CENTERS URGENCY AND BUSINESS AS USUAL AND THE EXPECTATION THAT EVERYTHING WILL RUN PERFECTLY, THOSE WAYS IN WHICH SO MUCH OF OUR LIVES ARE EXPECTED TO BE, IN THERE MORNING WE INVITED TO YOU CONVERSATION WITH YOURSELF AND WITH EACH OTHER IN THIS ROOM ABOUT WHAT IT IS AT THE HEART OF OUR FAITH. WE WANT A UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST THRIVING, NOT JUST SURVIVING, BUT THRIVING. WE MUST BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS AT THE HEART AND BOULDER ABOUT WHAT IT CAUSES US TO DO. ARE YOU READY? >> SIMILAR TO OUR THEME PROGRAM YESTERDAY LED BY THE COMMISSION ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, OUR ON INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, OUR DISCUSSION WILL BE ORGANIZED AROUND THREE CRITICAL QUESTIONS: WHEN IS A TIME THAT YOU FELT "THE POWER OF WE" IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM?? WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR IT? WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM TO FULLY EMBODY "THE POWER OF WE??" >> GOOD MORNING, ALL. I'M JERRY McDONALD, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION. [APPLAUSE] OUR FIRST QUESTION THIS MORNING IS WHEN IS A TIME YOU HAVE FELT THE POWER OF WE IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM? IT ARISES FROM OUR FIRST FAITHFUL SOURCE, DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF THAT TRANSCENDING MYSTERY AND WONDER AFFIRMED IN ALL CULTURES, WHICH MOVES US TO A RENEWAL OF THE SPIRIT AND OPENNESS TO THE FORCES THAT CREATE AND UPHOLD LIFE. AT THE UUA, WE'VE BEEN GATHERING STORIES OF TIMES WHEN OUR CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES EMBODIED THE POWER OF WE. AND I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW OF THOSE WITH YOU. THIS SPRING, THE FIVE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI HAVE BEEN RENEWING THEIR TIES. UUA SOUTHERN REGION STAFF VISITED EACH CONGREGATION'S WORK ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. A CLUSTER WEEKEND IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, THIS MARCH FEATURED A TOUR OF UU JACKSON'S NEW LOCATION, REMARKS FROM A MEMBER OF THE OXFORD CONGREGATION, AND THE FIRST FEMALE RHODES SCHOLAR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI. DISCUSSION GROUPS AND A VISIT TO THE MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM. IT WAS A BREAKTHROUGH IN ATTENDANCE BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YOUTH. IN FACT, PLANS ARE NOW UNDERWAY FOR A MISSISSIPPI UU YOUTH SUMMIT. [APPLAUSE] >> IN MAINE THE UU CHURCH OF SOCO AND BENEFORD AND SANFORD UU CHURCH HAVE A HISTORY OF WORK BEING TOGETHER OF THE THEY ENTERED A NEW PHASE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WHEN THEY JOINTLY HIRED AN INTERIM MINISTER WHO HELPED THEM DEEPEN THEIR COLLABORATION. LAST YEAR THEY FORMED A JOINT MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE AND HAVE NOW CALLED THEIR FIRST SHARED MINISTER THE REVEREND SHAY McKAY. [APPLAUSE] >> IN THE EARLY 1950S, THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, SPLIT INTO TWO CONGREGATIONS AFTER A VERY CLOSE VOTE COMMITTED THE CONGREGATION TO MOVER FROM THE CITY TO THE NEW SUBURB OF SHAKER HEIGHTS. THOSE WHO REMAIN FORMED ANOTHER CONGREGATION, COMMITTED TO STAYING THE UU SOCIETY OF CLEVELAND, BUT NOW SIX DECADES LATER, AFTER TWO YEARS OF DEEP DISCERNMENT, THE CONGREGATION REUNITED THIS JANUARY TO CREATE A NEW CONGREGATION YOU WERE THE NAME THE UU CONGREGATION OF CLEVELAND. THE UU CHURCH OF BOULDER, COLORADO, JOINED THE GROWING NUMBER OF CONGREGATIONS WILLING TO OFFER PHYSICAL SANCTUARY TO IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE UNDER THREAT OF DEPORTATION. AFTER THE CONGREGATIONAL VOTE, THEIR LARGEST TENET LEFT IN OPPOSITION, TAKING A CHUNK OF THE CHURCH'S BUDGET WITH THEM. THE CONGREGATION RALLIED, INCREASED ITS OWN GIVING, RAISED MONEY FROM NEARBY CHURCHES, AND COMPLETED A FAITHIFIED CLOUD SOURCE CAMPAIGN TO CLOSES THE GAP. WHEN THE CALL CAME LAST YEAR TO HOST A ZONK TWO WARY GUEST, THEY WERE ABLE TO SAY YES. [APPLAUSE] THEY ARE CURRENTLY HOSTING INGRID IN SANCTUARY AND WE PRAY FOR HER CASE'S SWIFT RESOLUTION. MY PERSONAL ANSWERING TO THIS QUESTION TAKES ME BACK TO THE YOUTH LED CIRCLE WORSHIP I EXPERIENCED IN HIGH SCHOOL AS A UU. MY PEERS FROM OTHER UU CONGREGATIONS ENCOUNTERING THE HOLY WEATHER TOGETHER IN THE SAME SANCTUARY OR SOMETIMES UNDER THE STARS. SINGING OURSELVES IN THE SPACE AS WE HEARD THIS MORNING, WE ARE A CIRCLE WITHIN A CIRCLE. THE LOVE OF THE DIVINE WAS AN ACTUAL HUG. NATURE'S INTERWOVEN TAPESTRY WAS THE SOUND OF THUNDER IN OUR HANDS. THE AFFIRMATION THAT YOU, YES YOU, YOU, TOO, ARE WORTHY AS SOMEONE LOOKS DEEP INTO YOUR EYES WHILE YOU LOOK DEEPLY INTO THEIRS. INVENTED AND INHERITED RITUALS I WILL REMEMBER FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. DO WE CHOOSE OUR PATH IN LIFE OR DOES THE PATH CHOOSE US? THE TRUTH OF COLLECTIVE SALVATION IS THAT OUR DESTINIES ARE INSEPARABLE. SO MUCH OF OUR PATHS ARE CHOSEN BY THE PEOPLE AROUND US AND OUR COMMUNITIES. I CANNED NOT IMAGINE THAT I WOULD FINDS MYSELF HERE ON THIS STAGE ON THIS CAMERA BEFORE YOU TODAY, BUT OTHERS KNEW. OTHERS SAW POTENTIAL IN ME AND LOVED ME TO WHERE I AM IN WAYS I CAN ONLY APPRECIATE IN RETROSPECT. WHOSE PATH ARE YOU SHAPING TODAY? WHO IS SHAPING YOURS? DO WE HAVE THE COURAGE, THE HUMILITY TO LIVE OPEN HEARTED IN A WORLD WHERE WE HOLD ONE ANOTHER IN THE PALM OF OUR HANDS, WHILE KNOWING WE ARE BEING HELD AT THE SAME TIME? WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE FELT THE POWER OF WE, THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU FIRST KNEW THE INTERDEPENDENCE TO BE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TRUTH. YOUR STORIES MATTER. [APPLAUSE] >> THE SECOND QUESTION, WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR IT? FOR ME, THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IS SIMPLY THAT I AM WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR THE SAVING, LOVING MESSAGE OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. I WOULD NOT BE ALIVE TODAY IF IT WERE NOT FOR THIS MESSAGE. I'VE KNOWN MY GENDER IDENTITY SINCE I WAS VERY SMALL, PROBABLY ABOUT AGE FOUR OR FIVE. BECAUSE OF BEING RAISED UU AND OUR INSISTENCE ON LIVED EXPERIENCE AS PART OF THE HOLY DEFINING OF LIFE, I WAS ABLE TO TRUST MY OWN UNDERSTANDING OF MY IDENTITY. I WAS NEVER TAUGHT THAT MY INTERNAL TRUTH WAS WRONG OR UNHOLY AS SO MANY QUEER AND TRANS FOLK ARE TAUGHT TODAY. THAT TEACHING, THAT TRUSTING OF MY INNER VOICE AND EXPERIENCE AND GOD'S LOVE, HOWEVER YOU DESIGN GOD. THE TRUSTING OF LOVE OF COMMUNITY, THAT MESSAGE WAS TRULY LIFESAVING FOR ME. AS AN ADOPTEE, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY AWARE OF OUR FAITH'S IMPACT ON MY LIFE. HAD I NOT BEEN RAISED ON THE FAMILY THAT EMBRACED THE PLURALISM OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE CREATIVE AT THIS AND CAPACITY TO LIVE MY LIFE IN THE WAYS THAT I HAVE. I HAD TO BE CREATIVE, BECAUSE THERE WERE FEW OR NO ROLE MODELS FOR NONBINARY PEOPLE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. SO I NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THE FACT THAT I WAS RAISED BY A FAMILY THAT GAVE ME THE GIFT OF A FAITH WITH SUCH A LOVING MESSAGE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SACRIFICE IS ALSO ABOUT LETTING GO OF SOMETHING THAT WE HOLD DEAR INDIVIDUALLY, THAT THING THAT IS HOLDING BACK THE COLLECTIVE WE. SACRIFICE IS ABOUT WHAT, FOR THE LOVE OF THE FAITH, EACH OF US IS WILLING TO OFFER UP AND LET GO OF. WHEN PEOPLE COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER IN FAITH, WE BECOME MORE THAN OUR HUMAN LIMITATIONS AND WHEN WE ENTER INTO A FAITH COMMUNITY, WE ARE ENTERING INTO A SPACE THAT EXISTS BEYOND US AS INDIVIDUALS, SO THE SACRIFICE THAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO IS A LOVING LETTING GO OF WHAT KEEPS US SEPARATE FROM ONE ANOTHER. THAT LETTING GO IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF US, DEPENDING ON SOCIAL LOCATION AND POWER. ALREADY MOST UUS WITH MULTIPLE MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES HAVE MADE GREAT SACRIFICES AND REGULARLY CONTINUE TO SACRIFICE IN ORDER FOR THIS FAITH TO LIVE INTO ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL. IF PRACTICING THIS FAITH HAS NOT ALREADY ASKED A LOT OF YOU IN IT TERMS OF YOUR OWN COMFORT, IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER WHAT YOU NEED TO LAY DOWN ON THE ALTAR THAT IS DEAR TO YOU, BUT KEEPS YOU OUT OF CONNECTION TO OTHERS IN OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES. ALLOWING OURSELVES TO BE CHANGED IS WHAT ALLOWS OUR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE. IN MANY WAYS, I HAVE SACRIFICED OR I PREFER TO SAY DEDICATED MY LIFE TO OUR FAITH FROM BECOMING A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER AT AGE 11 TO REVITALIZING MY CONGREGATION'S YOUTH GROUP AS A TEEN TO SERVING ON THE UUA STAFF AS A YOUNG ADULT TO GOING TO SEMINARY, TO SERVING IN CONGREGATIONS, TO SAYING YES TO BEING YOUR CO‑MODERATOR. THE REASON I KEEP SHOWING UP FOR RELIGION THAT HAS LET ME DOWN TIME AND TIME AND AGAIN AND BROKEN MY HEART TIME AND AGAIN IS BAYS I WANT THAT SAME LOVING, SAVING MESSAGE THAT I HAVE INTERNAL USED TO BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. AT OUR BEST, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM EMBODIES A LOVE THAT IS ALL‑ENCOMPASSING AND A PLURALISM THAT IS TRULY EMBODYING THE BULK AND OF COMMUNITIES. WE CAN BUILD THE WORLD THAT CAN COEXIST, FIND MEANING TOGETHER, AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER'S SPIRITUAL GROWTH. THAT IS THE SAVING MESSAGE. BUT THE WORD SACRIFICE COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD SACRAINFRASAFARI, MEANING TO PERFORM SACRED RIGHTS. AS YOU THINK OF WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR IT, I ALSO INVITE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS PROCESS OF LETTING GO. THIS PRACTICE OF GIVING UP ME IN SERVICE TO WE AS A SACRED RIGHT. WHAT MAKES THIS AN ACT OF FAITH IS TRUSTING THAT MAKING A SACRIFICES AND MOVING THROUGH THE FILINGS OF LOSS OR FEAR WILL BRING YOU MORE JOY, MORE FULFILLMENT, MORE LOVE. THIS QUESTION OF WHAT IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM IS WORTH SACRIFICING FOR GETS AT THE HEART OF WHY THIS RELIGION MATTERS‑NOT AS JUST A PLACE TO GO ON SUNDAY BUT WHY IT MATTERS IN YOUR LIFE AND IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR OPENING YOUR HEART TO THIS QUESTION AND TO THE ANSWERS THAT ARISE. QUESTION 3: WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM TO FULLY EMBODY "THE POWER OF WE?" ONE MORE TIME. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM TO FULLY EMBODY "THE POWER OF WE?"PEOPLE CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A MINUTE. PUT YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND, AND I CAN SEE YOU PUT YOUR FEET IN YOUR SCOOTER, PUT YOUR FEET DOWN, BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO DO EMBODIMENT. CLOSE YOUR EYES. BREATHE IN AND BREATHES OUT. BREATHE IN AND BRIGHT OUT. WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD LIBERATION, LIBERATORY SPIRIT, LIFE, AND POSSIBILITIES, WHAT DOES THAT CONJURE IN YOUR SOUL? WHETHER YOU HEAR WE ARE THE LIBERATING FORCE, SPIRIT, LIGHT, AND LOVE, WHAT DOES THAT CONJURE IN YOUR SPIRIT? WHEN YOU HEAR THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD AROUND US, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN YOUR BONES? WHEN YOU HEAR WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AND YOU REMEMBER THERE IS A REASON WHY WE ARE HERE. IT'S NOT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT I RUN INTO EVERY DAY, BUT IT IS THOSE 11, 12, AND 13 YEAR OLDS THAT SEPARATELY NEED OUR FAITH, TO TELL US WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO, DESPERATELY. IF YOU WERE NOT AT SYNERGY YESTERDAY, WATCH IT IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED US TO GET READY AND MOVE. SO THAT WE CAN BE THE SAFE THAT HOLDS THEM IN AND PEOPLE WHO SAY YOU ARE WORTHY NOW. SO FOR ME, WHAT IT'S ABOUT, TO FULLY EMBODY WE IN MY 41 SECONDS LEFT, I WAS RAISED UP IN A CHURCH THAT HAS LOVED ME THE WHOLE TIME. TO NOW FEEL, LOVER ME THEN AND LOVE ME NOW. THAT'S EMBODIMENT OF WE. NOT NOW WE'RE TAKING YOU OUT. BUT WE WANT ALL OF YOU AND YOUR ANNOYING, UNNECESSARY SELF AT TIMES AND TO HAVE THE MINISTER ASK ME WHAT I NEEDED TO STAY IN MY CHURCH. WHAT I NEEDED TO SAY THAT MY CHURCH WAS STILL MINE. SO WHAT I'M ASKING OF YOU IS TO ASK EACH OTHER, WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR THIS CHURCH TO BE YOURS THIS AND TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND SAY WHAT THEY NEED, AND IF IT'S NOT NICE TO OTHER PEOPLE, MAYBE NOT DO IT, BUT DO IT IN LOVE AND CARE. AND GO OUT AND ORGANIZE. IT IS NOT ABOUT GOING TO THE BORDER. THE BORDER IS IN EVERYBODY'S COMMUNITIES. SO TO FULLY EMBODY, WE NEED TO WORK IN YOUR HOMES, NOT JUST GOING IN SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ICE AGENTS COMING WHERE I LIVE AND WHERE YOU LIVE, AND SO WHEN WE GET OUT OF THIS PLACE, PLEASE DO THE WORK IN YOUR SPOT, NOT JUST HOW IT'S EASY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> WE WERE JULIA LANDIS AND CAMRY HORN, BUSINESS MANAGERS FOR THE GA YOUTH STOP TO SHARE WITH YOU PERSPECTIVE ON THE POWER OF WE AND WHY WE BELIEVE THAT CENTERING YOUTH VOICES IS SO CRUCIAL TO THESE MULTIGENERATIONAL DISCUSSIONS. AS A YOU FEEL U YOUTH, I HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR HOW OUR DENOMINATION CAN SHAPE THE WORLD. >> WE ARE THE NEXT GENERATION TO CARRY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM FORWARD. SO WHEN WE EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS TODAY, WE DO IT TO SHAPE OUR FUTURE SELVES. OUR GENERATION DEALS WITH SO MANY UNIQUE CHALLENGES. TECHNOLOGY, THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, GUN VIOLENCE, A WARMING PLANET, AND IRREVERSIBLE CLIMATE CHANGE. >> HISTORICALLY, YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN HELPED LEAD CHANGE. IN OUR DENOMINATION, THE YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WERE AMONG THE FIRST GROUPS TO BEGIN TO MERGE UNITARIANISM AND UNIVERSALISM. IN OTHER SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, YOUTH SAT IN LUNCH COUNTERS AND DESEGREGATED SCHOOLS ACROSS THE JIM CROW SOUTH PROTESTED AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR AND CALLED FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORM AS THE TIENANMEN SQUARE PROTESTS IN CHINA. YOUTH HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THE POWER THAT CAN BE HARNESSED FROM MANY OF US WORKING TOGETHER. >> WHEN I THINK OF THE POWER OF WE, I THINK OF MUSIC. FOR MY SCHOOL'S BAND TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE ALL HAVE TO APPRECIATE WHAT EACH PERSON DOES TO COME TOGETHER INTO ONE SOUND. WOODWINDS CARRY THE MELODY, BRASS MAKE THE SOUND FULLER, AND PERCUSSION KEEP TIME. THIS CAN BE CHALLENGING, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY REWARDING. AT MY SCHOOL‑A TITLE I SCHOOL WHERE MOST STUDENTS HAVE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH‑WE DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES MANY WEALTHY SUBURBAN SCHOOLS ENJOY. OUR BAND MAKES UP FOR THIS BY DRAWING ON OUR UNIQUE TALENTS AND THE HARD WORK AND SPIRIT WE BRING. THIS POWER OF WE EXTENDS TO OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE HELP OF PARENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND STAFF MEMBERS. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE CONSISTENTLY SCORE IN THE TOP TIER OF CONCERT AND MARCHING COMPETITIONS. [APPLAUSE] >> EVERY SUMMER, MY YOUTH GROUP SERVES A COMMUNITY FOR A WEEK REBUILDING HOUSES WITH THE APPALACHIA SERVICE PROJECT. THERE, I'VE SEEN OUR GROUP COME TOGETHER AND FEEL THE POWER OF THE CROWD. ONE YEAR, AFTER MY GROUP HAD FINISHED CREATING A SAFE ENTRANCE FROM OUR HOMEOWNER'S HOME, SHE TOLD ME AND MY GROUP THAT OUR WORK AND DEVOTION "MADE HER BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD AGAIN." THE POWER THAT NOT ONLY MY YOUTH GROUP HAD, NOT ONLY THE OTHER YOUTH GROUPS AT MY CENTER HAD, BUT ALL THE YOUTH GROUPS AT ALL THE CENTERS ACROSS ALL OF APPALACHIA HAD (AND CONTINUE TO HAVE EVERY SUMMER THROUGH ASP) SHOWS THE POWER OF THE COLLECTIVE. SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY ALTERED THROUGH ASP MOTIVATING HUGE GROUPS OF YOUTH TO CREATE CHANGE. >> IT CAN GET OVERWHELMING TO THINK OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT MY GENERATION WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE. BUT THE POWER OF WE REMINDS ME THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY FORWARD. YOUTH HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS AND A SENSE OF URGENCY, SO WHEN YOU HEAR FROM US, WE HOPE THAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR A POSITIVE CHANGE. THE MOVEMENTS IN A PIECE OF MUSIC CAN CHANGE QUICKLY, AS CAN SITUATIONS IN THE WORLD. WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY FACE NEW AND DIFFICULT CHALLENGES AS TIME GOES ON. TO COUNTERACT THIS, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM MUST RESPOND WITH ALL OF OUR VOICES, EXPERIENCES, AND PERSPECTIVES TO AMPLIFY OUR SOUND, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MESSAGE OF LOVE, JUSTICE, AND RESPECT IS HEARD. >> IN ASSEMBLIES OF PEOPLE, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF POWERS. THERE IS A MOTIVATING POWER THAT ENABLES PEOPLE TO CREATE LARGE AND POWERFUL CHANGE AND THERE IS A POWER THAT BINDS US. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS HAVE FELT THIS MOTIVATING POWER FOR A LONG TIME, BEING ON THE FRONT OF LARGE SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AFFECTING OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE NOW AT A TIME WHERE WE NEED TO WORK ON US, NEED THIS BINDING POWER AS MUCH AS THE MOTIVATING POWER. IN ORDER TO FACE THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE, AND DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE NEED TO ALSO HAVE IDEAS AND THEOLOGY THAT CAN UNITE US AND KEEP US BOUND TOGETHER DURING THE TRYING TIMES AHEAD. [APPLAUSE] >> AND I'M THE REVEREND SOPHIA BETTENCOURT FROM THE STARR KING SCHOOL FOR THE MINISTRY. >> AND I'M DR. ELIAS ORTEGA‑APONTE. I'M PRESIDENT‑ELECT OF THE MEADVILLE LOMBARD THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL. >> JOIN OUR INHERITED THEOLOGICAL TRADITION TO FULLY ENGAGE THE POWER OF WE ALLOWS US TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE WAYS WE MOVE THROUGH THE WORLD AS A FAITH COMMUNITY. IF WE ARE TO AFFIRM WE TO OUR FAKE, WE EVER TO BE COMMITTED TO THE WORK OF COLLECTIVE SALVATION. THAT LANGUAGE ENCOURAGE US TO MOVER OUT OF COMFORT ZONES, A COMFORT THAT SOME FEEL ENTITLED TO BUT HAS CAUSED FAR TOO MUCH HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE IDEA INSTEAD THAT WE ARE SAVED TOGETHER MEANS WE INVEST IN COMMUNAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND SHARED JUSTICE, GIVE US VALUE IN THE FACE OF ALL THAT SEEKS TO DRIVE US APART. WE CHOOSE INSTEAD BY OUR LIVING TO BEAR WITNESSES TO ANOTHER WAY. A WAY THAT MOVES US OUT OF TOXIC INDIVIDUALISM TO THE COMMUNITY OF COMMUNITIES AS PAULA COLE JONES ASKED OF US IN THIS YEAR'S LECTURE. IF WE BELIEVE IN COLLECTIVE SALVATION, WE MUST ALSO BELIEVE IN COLLECTIVE SACRIFICE. IT IS POWERFUL THAT OUR FAITH COMMUNITY IS WORKING TO RECLAIM THE SACRED PRACTICE THAT BARB SPOKE OF JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO. WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SACRED WITHOUT THE POWER OF WE IS THE VERY THING THAT CREATES THE PRACTICE. THE BELIEF IN COLLECTIVE SALVATION MEANS THAT THERE CAN NOT BE SMALL GROUPS OF UUS WHOSE PERSONAL SACRIFICE WE DEPEND ON EVERY TIME TO MOVE US FORWARD AS A COLLECTIVE WHOLE. THE KIND OF HIERARCHICAL MEMBERSHIPS, THE VERY INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY THAT WE LIFT UP AS OUR FIRST PRINCIPLE. LIVING INTO THE POWER OF WE HOLDS US ACCOUNTABLE TO PREPARING THE LEGACY OF THEOLOGICAL HARM WE HAVE PERPETRATED AGAINST SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> BELIEVING THAT WE ARE ALL SAVED TOGETHER, THAT ONE LIFE CANNOT REACH ITS GREATER MEANING UNLESS WE CENTER THE LIBERATION OF ALL, MEANS NOT ONLY A WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN ONE ANOTHER AND IN THE GREATER GOOD, BUT ALSO RESPONDING FAITHFULLY TO THE CALL TO LIVE INTO THE WORK TOGETHER. >> JULIA AND CAMI REMINDED US THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION, SUFFERING, AND THE LEGACY OF WHITE SUPREMACY CULTURE IN THE WORLD, WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A WAY FORWARD. WE ASPIRE TO TRANSFORM AND BE TRANSFORMED BY LOVE AND JUSTICE AND TO TAKE A CUE FROM THE JUSTICE ACTIVIST WHO DETAILS HOW OFTEN WE DRAW RESOURCES AND ASSISTANCE FROM SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION TO AFFIRM THE POWER OF WE AS A FAITH COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN WAYS FOR OUR PEOPLE TO DRAW NOURISHMENT AND STRENGTH FROM THIS SPACE. WE MUST FASHION OURSELVES INTO A FAITHFUL PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT WITH THEM FROM OUR INHERITED TRADITION. THIS IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL TASK, BUT A COLLECTIVE PRACTICE. >> ELANDRIA REMINDED US THAT EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE ASKED, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS YOUR CHURCH? THAT WE MIGHT DRAW ON THAT MESSAGE OF INTERCONNECTEDNESS, OF THE CIRCLES WITHIN CIRCLES THAT WE SANG OF THIS MORNING. ANOTHER WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS IS HOW DO WE LIVE WITH A DEEP AND ABIDING COMMITMENT TO THE CALL OF THE POWER OF WE? [APPLAUSE] >> I INVITE YOU TO RISE IN BODY OR SPIRIT, FRIENDS. WE'RE GOING TO SING THE FIRE OF COMMITMENT. FILL IT UP. FILL UP YOUR BODY AND COME ON OUT WITH THE FIRE OF COMMITMENT. GO AHEAD AND GIVE US A TEMPO THERE. [SINGING "FIRE OF COMMITMENT"] >> YOU SOUND BEAUTIFUL. [APPLAUSE] >> IT IS SUCH A JOY TO SING. WE HAVE NAMED THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF OUR DISCUSSION TODAY, TO DIG INTO THE HEART OF OUR FAITH AND OUR COLLECTIVE POWER IT CAN CATALYZE. WE HEARD STORIES FROM UU CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ENGAGED IN CLUSTERS AND ON HOW WE WOULD REFLECT ON THESE THREE ORIGINAL QUESTIONS. WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO HAVE TIME TO BREAK OUT INTO DISCUSSION GROUPS AS WE DID YESTERDAY, BUT BECAUSE WE REORIENTED THE BUSINESS AGENDA SO WE COULD HAVE TIME FOR DISCUSSION THERE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE BREAKOUT SESSIONS WE PLANNED TODAY. HOWEVER, THE QUESTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE GA APP AND WE ARE GOING TO BE POSTING WAYS FOR YOU TO SUBMIT YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT YOUR RESPONSES TO THESE QUESTIONS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THEM HOME TO YOUR CONGREGATIONS, TO TALK ABOUT THEM OVER LUNCH, TO ENGAGE THEM IN OTHER SPACES YOU MIGHT HAVE OVER THE REST OF THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND WE'LL BE POSTING THE APPS AND ON THE WEBSITES, PLACES WHERE YOU CAN SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK TO THESE THREE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR JOURNEYING WITH US TO TRY A NEW WAY OF ENGAGING FAITHFULLY WITH ONE ANOTHER AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR. MAKING TIME FOR THESE DEEP AND OPEN ENDED CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT LIES AT THE HEART OF OUR FAITH. MAY YOUR DISCUSSIONS BE REWARDING, RENEWING, AND POWERFUL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEY BE YOUR LUNCHTIME CONVERSATIONS. THAT SAID, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE US, AND IN AN CORD'S WITH THE SCHEDULE SET FORTH IN YOUR PROGRAM BOOK, I DECLARE THAT THIS GENERAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL STAND IN IN RECESS UNTIL 4:30 P.M. TODAY, SATURDAY, JUNE 22. **********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********** KM 06/22/19 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST GENERAL ASSEMBLY THEME PROGRAM AND CONVERSATIONS ‑ 11:30 A.M. PT CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY HEAR INK HTTP://WWW.HEARINK.COM