When, during General Assembly, I posted the six proposed Actions of Immediate Witness on multiple Facebook pages I hoped to bring people into closer relationship with the processes of the assembly. I wanted to encourage people to imagine what they would do if they were sitting with the 1,200 plus delegates and had to choose between six proposals that had the potential to affect thousands of lives...in Unitarian Universalism and beyond. A number of UUCT folks took up the question and offered their opinions.
A. Consider divestment from fossil fuels
C. Support the We the People amendment
F. Condemn the mass incarceration, killing and mistreatment of young men of color by police
During debate at a mini-assembly, an amendment was introduced to the “Support We the People amendment” which removed all language specifically referring to the Move to Amend and replacing it with more general wording to a support constitutional amendment to preserve the constitutional rights for human persons. The final version adopted was the more broadly defined one, so now that AIW is “Amend the Constitution: Corporations are not persons and money is not speech.”
- You can ask the endowment committee to share information on how our endowment is currently invested.
- You can learn what guidelines are used to manage investment choices.
- If necessary, the congregation can debate divesting fossil fuels.
- You can ask, how might the congregation as a whole affect the choices, if they chose to do so?
Corporations are not people, and money is not speech:
- You can join with the UU Legislative Ministry as they pursue paths to an amendment.
- You can choose to study We the People amendment, or to consider ways in which our voices might be heard in any amendment process that goes forward.
- One good way to better understand the history and present reality of mass incarceration of young men of color is to read or hear the theories espoused by Michelle Alexander - author of The New Jim Crow. Last year's discussion group gave us a head start. And, for those who don't have time to read the entire book -- Alexander is widely broadcast on YouTube.
- You could set a target date by which 40 per cent of the congregation (80-90 people) would have pledged themselves to complete some study of the material. Then together, we could learn about incarceration in Florida...rates, color bias in arrest and sentencing, and so prepare ourselves for actions we devise here in Tallahassee.
General Assembly sends attendees back to their home congregations with sparks and flames of new ideas. I was re-invigorated for the Standing on the Side of Love campaign, which helps to inspire UU’s toward social action. Jennifer Toth, the campaign director, let me revision the campaign as the “people of love”, the people who are at almost every witness for equality and justice wearing orange t-shirts, or carrying a ‘LOVE’ banner. Coming home my energy for inter-faith and inter-group witness met its match when we were approached by the newly formed North Florida Coalition for Immigration Reform. I hope we can gather a good sized group to join the rally at the Capital on July 24th. I’ve purchased 10 Standing on the Side of Love signs to share with you all. Come out and share the love.
Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council
The Kisii North UU Congregation, Kisii, Kenya is described by Lay Minister Magara, who writes, “Our congregation is involved in a number of social economic projects to benefit thecongregational members and the entire community and mitigate poverty. We also have a ceramic water filter project meant to benefit the entire community by providing access to pure drinking water.” Here is what they are looking for in a partner: “We are seeking to be in congregational partnership to create a healthy relationship with our partner church to share sermons, visits and help us attain a professional development in our congregation and the community at large. We are expecting to have meaningful contacts and leadership training from a partner in another country.”
What can General Assembly mean to you?
It’s up to you --
- convene a discussion online or in person, book a room, show a video
- join UUCT Sharing on Facebook, start a conversation that leads to action -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/UUTallahassee/
1. Invest yourself in an Action of Immediate Witness.....
Consider divesting from Fossil Fuels
Fossil Free
Why Investors Must Do More Than Divest From Fossil Fuels, Dan Apfel
Amend the Constitution: Corporations are not persons and money is not speech
Move to Amend
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (Docket No. 08-205)
Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Florida
Condemn the mass incarceration, killing and mistreatment of young men of color by police
read: The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in an age of color blindness,
by Michelle Alexander
2013 George E. Kent Lecture at the University of Chicago
2. Offer yourself in a witness campaign. Be one of the “LOVE” people. Commit to attend the rally for immigration reform on July 24, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Capital.
