Peacemaking
Peacemaking
Dear Congregations,
We are at an important juncture in the four-year study/action process for Peacemaking. There are two very important action steps that we need each congregation to take. Your congregation should have received a packet from the UUA with the materials discussed below. Feb.1st, 2009 is the deadline for completing both steps.
Action Step 1 - Completing the Congregational Poll. Every year, each congregation must certify its membership numbers, etc. to the UUA through the Congregational Poll. This is a password-protected process usually completed by the congregation's administrator. Instructions are provided at: http://dyn.uua.org/congregation/. Please understand that this congregational poll does not have to completed all at one time -- multiple entries are permitted (one day you can enter membership data and the next day enter CSAI information).
You begin this part by clicking on "Begin Certification of Membership 2009". At the bottom of the next page you will find "Congregational Poll on Draft Statement of Conscience" this is where each congregation is being asked to vote on whether to bring the draft Peacemaking Statement of Conscience to a final vote for adoption during the June 2009 General Assembly. We UUs have imposed a rule on ourselves that at least 25% on our congregations must participate in this process -- we do this by voting. We need a minimum of 25% of our congregations voting, with a majority of those being YES votes, to include the Peacemaking Statement of Conscience on the final agenda at the 2009 General Assembly. Please note that a YES vote does not mean that your congregation agrees with the proposed Peacemaking Statement of Conscience wording or that you are voting to endorse. You are voting only to let the draft Statement proceed to the General Assembly.
Action Step 2 - Commenting on the Peacemaking Statement of Conscience (SOC). This current draft of the SOC is available at: http://www.uua.org/socialjustice/issuesprocess/currentissues/peacemaking/121606.shtml.
Congregations are encouraged to provide comments and input on the draft. Some suggestions on how to collect congregational input can be found at:
http://www.uua.org/documents/washingtonoffice/peacemaking_collect_feedback.pdf. The text of the Comment Form can be viewed at http://www.uua.org/documents/csw/081101_csai_updates.pdf. Also, following this note is a list of the questions in the Comment Form. Action Step 2 can be completed in any of three different ways, 1) by mail (UUA - CSW, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108 or 2) FAX 617 367 3237 or 3) using the online form, by going back to Action Step 1 and the page with "Begin Certification of Membership 2009" you will find above this certification block this "CSAI Peacemaking Comment Form" -- clicking on this takes you to the online form. Please note this is also where the "Ethical Eating CSAI Comment Form" can be found -- this second online form must be completed by March 1st, 2009.
It is very important that all congregations understand that these are two separate action steps and without 25% of our congregations voting, with a majority of those being YES votes, the Peacemaking Study/Action process will terminate.
If the SOC does move forward to the June 2009 General Assembly, there will be an opportunity for additional input on the draft SOC at the Mini-Assemblies there. Thus, congregations can choose to instruct their delegates to propose amendments to the draft Statement at these Mini-Assemblies. The redrafted SOC with amendments will then be voted on during the plenary session of the whole assembly.
The process is not ideal but it is evolving, and the Commission on Social Witness would welcome suggestions for improving it in future cycles. Please bear with us, as this is our first time through the new four-year process.
Thank you for participating in this important process!
Mac Goekler and Judy Morgan
For the Peacemaking Congregational Study/Action Issue Core Team (a network of volunteers assisting in the implementation of the CSAI)
Comment Form Questions (these are the questions from the UUA form your congregation will address):
I. Source of Comments Below (mark best choice):
__ Denominational affairs committee
__ Social action/justice committee
__ Congregational meeting
__ Post-sermon discussion
__ Open meeting
__ Other________
Estimate number of individuals involved:________
II. Rate Overall Impressions (Circle number matching best judgment)
Agreement on issues among participants?
Clearly Divided 0----1----2----3----4 Strong Consensus
General impression of draft SOC?
Strongly Disliked 0----1----2----3----4 Strongly Liked
Could a SOC like this be a springboard to action?
Not at all 0----1----2----3----4 A Lot
Would a SOC like this help to define UUism?
Not at all 0----1----2----3----4 A Lot
III. Comment on the general SUBSTANCE of the draft SOC. Please be concise.
IV. Please report on any RELATED ACTIVITY during the past year of this CSAI. Does this SOC represent your group's work?
V. Comments on the specific WORDING of the draft SOC are invited. Please indicate line number! Using standard formats of 'Replace "xxx xxxx" with "yyyy yyy"' OR 'Delete/Add "yyyy yyy" after "xxx xxxx"' is helpful.
