Session 2: Governance

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Goals

Participants will:

  • Explore Unitarian Universalist governance practices through the lens of the COIC report and findings.
  • Apply the findings to the context of your community.

Materials

  • Chalice and something with which to light it
  • A copy of Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change (2020)
  • The text of the covenant guidelines to which the group agreed, on newsprint if in person or accessible as electronic text to share if online
  • Newsprint and markers (if in-person) or a computer to record discussion contributions

Preparation

  • Read the Governance chapter.
  • Identify a recorder for this session.
  • Prepare a chalice and something with which to light it.
  • Post the covenant the group agreed upon in the previous session. (If in person, post newsprint; if online, plan to “share screen” and/or post the covenant guidelines or a link to them in the chat.)
  • Optional: Prepare more deeply by exploring these readings which are referenced in the COIC report:

Chalice Lighting

Share these words by Rev. Marta Valentin, and light the chalice.

Spirit of Compassion

Isn’t it amazing

how we crave to know an outcome

before its time

even as we accept

that we cannot know

how anything will go?

We do not know if the mounds of obstacles

will become dirt cleared away

or earth made into mountain…

We do not know if fresh air will degenerate

into a stagnant suffocation

or be sucked out of lives

longing to breathe freely and easily…

if the deserts will spring a true oasis

or continue to offer a false vision of survival…

if the shores will be flowing invitations

into unfathomable freedoms

or a fearfully ebbed withdrawal

of even the tiniest hospitality…

We who walk on ground taken for granted

we who speak of an Earth that has no borders

ask for guidance as we aid those in need

as well as those who would obstruct our care.

Spirit of Compassion

strengthen our resolve to carry forth

this ministry

regardless of the reality of the decisions

made to seemingly thwart our efforts.

Let us, in one grounded body

strong in our Unitarian Universalist faith

in solidarity with those whose lives

are most at stake,

resolve never to give up this fight for them

nor for our country.

Let ours be the voices that demand

a true accounting of these legal human beings.

Let ours be the hearts that resolve

whether through light or dark times

to stay the course

no matter what

no matter how long.

Let our love be the kind they have been waiting for.

Discussion

Take a moment to review the group’s covenant. Ask the group if anything should be added or amended. If there is consensus, add or amend the covenant and save the changes.

Make sure a recorder from the group is ready to document discussion.

Note that on p. 28, the chapter discusses how an organization's informal structures privilege the status quo. Invite discussion:

  • What informal structures do we have in our community that might be functioning in this way?

On p. 34, the chapter observes that overly complex structures can be a deterrent for change, especially when a community has a shrinking pool of volunteers. Invite discussion:

  • Are any of our community’s structures duplicative or unnecessarily complex?
  • How do we encourage practices towards diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work of our groups and governance?

Say that the chapter discusses the importance of congregational support for wider-UUA change work through regional involvement. Discuss the following set of related questions:

  • How is our community participating in regional work? How are we influencing the direction of our region of the UUA and holding it accountable to these goals?
  • One of the recommendations is for more support across congregations for youth and young adult leaders. How are we tapping into the resources available, regionally and beyond, especially for youth and young adults of color?
  • How do we reach out to leaders from other congregations around building our skills to provide greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community? How might we partner with other congregations or communities and if we did, what would be a good first task?

On p. 36, misconceptions about congregational polity are discussed.

  • How do we educate our community members on congregational polity instead of assuming that they are informed?
  • When does our community make opportunity to discuss this?
  • How do we discuss it with those new to our community?

Which of the actions suggested by this chapter seem relevant to our community? What would be the first task? What are the barriers to implementation?

Closing and Next Actions

Invite the group into a closing ritual: Ask volunteers to read aloud the Take-Aways at the end of the Governance chapter. You may extinguish the chalice while participants read.

Remind the group that both study and action are the purposes of this group. Offer a quick check-out. Ask the following questions and invite each participant to take a moment to reflect and then to respond in one sentence to any of these:

  • What is one idea you want to continue to think about before our next discussion?
  • What are the short-term actions that we should consider or take to translate this discussion into action?
  • What are the longer scope actions?
  • What is an element that makes the hard work meaningful and worthwhile for this group?