On behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of Trustees, I'm writing this message to set some facts straight regarding recent announcements affecting Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) and Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network (C*UUYAN).
Over the past few weeks, there has been much discussion about letters sent out by the YRUU and C*UUYAN Steering Committees announcing the decisions by the UUA staff to discontinue their budgets, decisions which would effectively result in the dissolution of YRUU as a continental organization and severely affect C*UUYAN.
In this discussion, two facts need to be emphasized:
-- The fiscal year 2008-2009 budget will not be approved by the UUA Board of Trustees until its meeting in April, so there has been no decision to end financial support for YRUU or C*UUYAN.
-- YRUU and C*UUYAN have status as UUA sponsored organizations that can only be changed by a vote of the UUA Board and we have never voted to change those arrangements nor even received such a proposal from UUA staff.
In short, no decision has been made about the future of YRUU or C*UUYAN and no decision will be made until, at the earliest, the April 18-20 meeting of the UUA Board. And any decision we make will continue to be informed by consultation with all stakeholders in youth and young adult ministry, including both organizations' Steering Committees and the community of youth, young adults, and their adult allies.
In faith,
Paul Rickter, UUA Secretary
7 comments:
Whoa, now...It appears that someone IS listening, even if they aren't named Bill Sinkford. I'm pretty sure that the people at the top had no fucking clue what YRUU is/was (see the comments from "adult member" on the other post about not understanding at first that this is a spiritual community et al) and are now seeing from outcry (from here and a bunch of other places) that we really do care about all of this. And I like that they're backing up on this. In fact, I even feel a bit empowered.
I agree, we are having an effect.
But we are far from having accomplished anything.
YRUU has been in systematic decline for 4 years, and up to this point no event has caused this kind of outcry. It took the idea of "No more YRUU" for it to happen.
So it makes perfect sense for them to try to reblur that distinction. They are not changing course, they are simply trying to take that final step a little bit more slowly.
We need to maintain attention and keep that outrage harnessed and at the ready.
Thank you, Paul, for writing a very clear letter on behalf of the UUA Board. I hope that I will be able to write a letter in support of youth and young adults in our movement, prior to the Board's decision making this April.
What troubles me, as a long time adult ally, is that I have contributed time and energy towards the Now is the Time campaign to grow our faith, only to feel a lack of association support for our youth and young adults by certain unnamed staff at 25 Beacon St. Why do we bother buying advertisements and marketing to others, if our denomination seems unconcerned with valuing and supporting the active young people already within our doors? Why would some declare that we would drop support to organizations that are vitally important to some of our youth and young adults before giving members any idea of the structure that will take these organization's place?
I remain upset and confused.
I would like to note that Paul Rickter has in my experience been a rare adult on the UUA Board: one who truly makes himself vulnerable to ideas outside himself, including those of youth and their representatives. Vulnerable in the sense that he really hears you, instead of pretending to.
Now, if members of the Board would finally rid themselves of the time-tested, undemocratic mantra, "The Board Speaks With One Voice", maybe some of the individual voices on the BoT would start to have some sway on the process, rather than being confined to marginal status on a Board saddled by stagnance.
:Now, if members of the Board would finally rid themselves of the time-tested, undemocratic mantra, "The Board Speaks With One Voice",
That "mantra", which may be heard droned by the church Boards of individual U*U congregations as well, is not only undemocratic but in some cases outright anti-democratic. Sometimes I think that UU stands for Unilateralists Unanimous. . .
I have to start wondering when something like this is blamed on miscommunication among anonymous "staff". Is there any accountability, assuming that this really was an announcement made in error? Perhaps it might be beneficial if the UUA staff were also reviewed to see if it "is not serving our faith well".
While there have been problems with the continental YRUU not serving district and congregational YRUU as well as it might, I get a distinct feeling that the proposed demise of C*YRUU and C*UUYAN may be more related to the fear in Boston of autonomy, specifically fear of autonomy of affiliated organizations that are not under ministerial control. I don't think this is surprising - the UUA has pretty much succeeded in removing the voice of minister-free fellowships, which historically were a major component of the organization.
:Perhaps it might be beneficial if the UUA staff were also reviewed to see if it "is not serving our faith well".
Well said Van. Let's take it one small step further and suggest that perhaps it might be beneficial if "elected" UUA officials such as UUA President Bill Sinkford, Rev. Dr. Tracey Robinson-Harris, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee and the Board of Trustees etc. etc. were also reviewed to see if they are not serving your faith well. . .
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