As a Polytheist in a denomination that is mostly monotheist or atheist, I can’t help feeling a bit shut out by CUUPS losing it’s status. I often am one of the few people to identify with a tradition beyond UUism, and it seems that by losing a way of organizing ourselves, Pagans as well as Buddhists, Christians etc. may start to feel kind of lost in the breadth of UUism.

It’s a shoe that fits in some places and not in others. Most importantly, I got hillaried (rhymes w pillaried, but means “intentionally misinterpreted to others”) by centralizers who wanted to avoid examining the mid-level institutions of the Cambridge Platform. Yes indeed, the CP called for direct, sustained and multifaceted relationships of congregational leaders within the lives of each others’ congregations, fostered by shared theologies and regular events.

The crown of these events was “the council,” a gathering of delegates of all the neighboring congregations (ministers and leading laypeople, including the long-lost folk called “deacons”) for a day or more of careful examination of something upsetting the inviting congregation. It usually involved their minister or ministerial transition. It ended with a vote for or against said minister’s stay with the congregation (usually), logically justified by the clear understanding — let me underscore this — that part of every minister’s call was to visit with, preach to, and keep knowledge of the congregations in local association with his own.

This, of course, competes with Sam Eliot’s model of the District Executive with orders from Boston on key items, and the UUMA’s model of its own Good Offices leaders.

Wisdom would have called not for looking away from these ancient words, but from asking how this new century could cobble together a model that would include the best of the old and the best of the new.

My own proposed next step is simply that all UUA trustees must pay a formal, warranted visit to all the congregations (or clusters) in their purview, for purposes of accountable conversation about their work.

This could be a good year for that idea…

I like the idea of decreasing the hold the IA’s have had on GA —- it seemed odd that tiny groups with only a few members in many cases have more access to workshop spaces than congregations do. I am not sure that there wouldn’t be a more middle of the road solution, but it had gotten to the point that there were too high a percentage of spaces devoted to small constituencies whose purpose was only marginal to the concerns of the general GA population and our congregations.

Although it’s slightly off-topic, I’d like to weigh in as a minister who *did* designate the UUA as the recipient of our regular “half basket” giveaway (in October), but who bitterly resented the UUA’s process & tone during its campaign, for the following reasons:

1. It’s not an exaggeration to say that I felt downright harassed by the UUA, and in particular by Stephan Papa’s team (whom I’ve dubbed the “Papa Posse”). They literally chased me down the corridors of Portland’s convention center, left many high-pressure voicemails for me at the office, and otherwise insinuated the primacy of their project into the fabric of my congregation. I don’t think my experience was unique; many of us were virtually strong-armed into either holding an Association Sunday, or defending our (unpopular) decision not to.

2. UUA material crowed about the need for money for “growth” and “advertising.” Like PeaceBang, I’m not thrilled with the content of our TIME magazine ads, but I’m satisfied enough with the sheer publicity. When I received detailed information about the funds raised, however, only in the small print was it mentioned that 25% of those monies would be given to congregations with ministers of color. Ministers of color? FINE. Admirable, even, for an Association with a commitment to anti-racism & multiculturalism. But it’s the *process*, people! Don’t tell me that 25% of a stated goal of one million dollars (!) falls under the category of “publicity.” I still feel misled by the UUA’s lack of transparency around the use of those funds.

3. Call me a fool, but I honestly thought that Association Sunday was a one-time deal. Perhaps I just wasn’t paying attention. Now that I understand that the UUA expects this to be an annual event, I just feel weary. The only silver lining in this gray cloud of disappointment is that my District has chosen to distribute its “Now Is the Time” payout back to us, the congregations, in the form of grants.

Thanks to all in the PeaceBang community for your thought-provoking comments, and all that I learn from you.

My partner and I have been CLF delegates for the past two GAs, but are skipping Ft. Lauderdale. Not for any political or idealogical reasons, but simply because Florida in June is a very unappealing place to drive our RV home for a visit.

In a way, CLF delegates are the ultimate “at large” voters at GA. They are quite geographically, economically, and spiritually diverse. Most of us have never met each other, hear only a handful of sermons per year, and gather most of our UU information via reading.

I don’t know much about the CLF and the UUA board.

Interestingly, I’ve been a big institutionalist and I get really angry when people bash “25″ for no reason. But frankly, they’ve given us reason to be angry and to call out for change.

Rev. Sean

My local UU is non-affiliated (as a emerging congregation), maybe we should make it easier to affiliate? Although I have been a CLF member for 30 years or so….