2003 Plenary III

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GA 2003 Friday morning plenary features Sinkford’s report

As delegates entered the Hynes Auditorium for the second plenary session of the 2003 UUA General Assembly, they joined together in singing the round Come, Come Whoever You Are. Moderator Diane Olson then called the plenary to order.

The Rev. Wayne Arnason, secretary of the UUA Board of Trustees, gave the preliminary credentials report, stating that there are 2,145 delegates registered, with an additional 4,960 registrants for the preliminary total of 7,105 in attendance at this 42nd General Assembly.

Olson invited Dr. Helen Bishop, chair of the UUA Accessibilities Committee to address the delegates. Bishop urged the attendees to pay attention to the needs of those with disabilities, providing clear space for those in scooters and wheelchairs, cautioning against the use of products with fragrances or volatile chemicals because of their impact on individuals with chemical sensitivities, and in other ways helping to ensure that those with disabilities have a good GA.

The Rev. Olivia Holmes, Director of the UUA Office of International Relations introduced international visitors to the assembly, pointing out that as religious liberals we do not walk this journey alone. Representatives from the following organizations were welcomed:

- The Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Association, represented by Vice President Derek McCullough and the Rev. Roger Pym of the Unitarian Church in Auckland;
- The Ministerial Fellowship of the British General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, represented by the Rev. Ernest Baker;
- The Canadian Unitarian Council, represented by president Elizabeth Bowen and Linda Thomson;
- The European Unitarians and Universalists, represented by president Wendy Schwartz;
- The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Paris, France, represented by president Rachael Epstein;
- The Unitarian Union of Northeast India, represented by church visitor Bah Nangroi Suting and Mrs. Hashen Sohtun;
- Project Harvest Hope, of Homorod, Transylvania, represented by president Rev. Levente and Mrs. Eva Keleman;
- The UU Holdeen India Program, represented by Vivek Pandit, winner of the Antislavery International Award in 1999;
- The Secretariat of the International Association for Religious Freedom, represented by Miss Ramola Sundram;
- The Rissho Kosei-kai, represented by chairman Katsunori Yamanoi and the Rev. Koichi Saito from the RKK New York branch; and
- The Tsubaki Grand Shrine and the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, represented by Rev. Koichi Barrish, Mrs. Donni Barrish and Naomichi Sato.

UUA President William G. Sinkford

UUA President William G. Sinkford was introduced and began his and reported on his work over the past year. Sinkford highlighted the Association’s public witness efforts, his international travels, as well as new initiatives taken by the Association.

Sinkford invited the chairman of the Rissho Kosei-kai (RKK), Katsunori Yamanoi, to address the delegates, and Chairman Yamanoi expressed his heartfelt appreciation both for the invitation to be at General Assembly, and to Sinkford and Olson for their visit to the Rissho Kosei-kai in Japan earlier this year. Yamanoi told the delegates that the friendship between the RKK and the UUA began forty years ago with the outreach of the Rev. Dana McLean Greeley, the first president of the UUA. It became evident even then, he said, that the RKK and UUA shared a common value, contributing to peace in the world through interfaith work. Over the years, the RKK and the UUA have worked together for peace through interfaith dialog and cooperation, alongside others in the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF).

Both the RKK and the UUA share respect for the interdependent web of all existence, and a common belief that all things should be in harmony to achieve world peace. Yamanoi stated that hatred is not overcome by hatred, but only by compassion that includes a special emphasis on harmony. One of his hopes, he said, is that in the future the UUA and the RKK can oggrt exchange programs at the local level for ordinary members. He also stated that he hoped that this General Assembly would be fruitful and productive.

Sharon Blevins, a member of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas City spoke about the impact of a test advertising campaign to market Unitarian Universalism in the Kansas City area. It has been, she said, “a gift, a challenge and a responsibility.” Blevins said those in Kansas City have loved hearing visitors say they found out about Unitarian Universalism from billboards or radio ads, and the larger congregations participating in the pilot program have had twice as many visitors since the campaign began as they saw before the campaign.

Blevins the participating congregations learned several things through this project:

• First, that advertising works, “even for smart analytical Unitarian Universalists, even billboards. We knew intuitively,” Blevins stated, “that billboards were counterintuitive to everything we are, and we learned we were wrong.” Those who hated billboards and thought them ugly and stupid saw their first UU billboard and said, “I love them.”
• Second, the congregations learned that welcoming requires attention. Before the campaign they said that they were ready for and did everything for visitors. The congregations learned that welcoming takes intentionality and practice, and they are working at practicing and being friendly.
• Third, said Blevins, was the lesson that we have to act now to spread the word of Unitarian Universalism. People shouldn’t wait to be lucky enough to receive such advertising, she said, but “the next step for all UU congregations is to be a congregation that exemplifies UU practices, principles and traditions.”

Following the conclusion of Sinkford’s report, Financial Advisor Larry Ladd presented his report, noting that this year is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Liberal Religious Youth (LRY), the youth group formed from the then-existing Unitarian and Universalist youth groups. Many of our current leaders were nurtured in part by their involvement in LRY.

The text of Ladd’s written report, as well as other materials he has prepared, are available on the web at www.uua.org/TRUS/financial, and other financial documents can be found at www.uua.org/finance.

Ladd stated that for measures of growth and generosity, he looks not at money, but at the customers instead. We have a steady, though low, increase in membership, yet our “share of the market,” the percentage of population, has stayed steady at .08% for the last six or seven years. Contributions to the Annual Program Fund (APF) by congregations is increasing, even after taking inflation into account. The only bad news, Ladd said, was that giving by individuals to the Friends of the UUA program has decreased in recent years. Budgets of congregations are growing, and the UUA staff and Board have taken steps to be financially prudent. Endowment income has been down, and the Investment Committee has taken action to improve the endowment’s performance. Beacon Press exists in a highly volatile publishing industry, yet Beacon Press is ahead of the plan set for them last year. In 1999 when contracts were signed with the hotels where GA is occurring this year, the rates negotiated were a good deal. Yet after the events of September 11th, 2001, and with the increase use of the Internet in making travel arrangements, what was then a good deal is not in this market. The UUA stands to lose money on unfilled hotel rooms, something that could not have been predicted when the hotel contracts were made.

Ladd reported that good financial news includes the availability of district compensation consultants, work on church staff finances, socially responsible investing, and an increasing commitment to growth visible in our movement.

Judy Picket, Ned Wight, Gini Courter

UUA Trustee from the Heartland District, Gini Courter, chair of the UUA’s Finance Committee, presented the report of the Finance Committee.

The Rev. Ned Wight, Trustee from the Pacific Southwest District, reported on the current state of Beacon Press’ finances. As set out last year at General Assembly in Quebec, the Press has suffered in these volatile times for publishing. Last year the UUA Board announced a three-year financial plan to assist in promoting the health of Beacon Press. Wight reported that Beacon Press is ahead of plan, losing only $150,000 this past year, rather than the $200,000 that was initially predicted. During fiscal year 2002, the staff cut overhead, reduced sales costs, and although there were no runaway best sellers, the Press’ line sold well. Beacon was also able to sell every book they brought to last year’s General Assembly, thanks to the delegates.

This year, Beacon Press celebrates its 150th birthday, and Wight suggested that every congregation should celebrate this by buying at least 150 books from the Press. The continued financial health of Beacon Press depends not only on UUs buying books, he pointed out, but also on others buying books, and the status of the national economy. There are still significant decisions to make, said Wight, including tough decisions about priorities in the common years. Wight concluded with this prayer: “Spirit of Life, grant me the serenity to find ample time for reading this year, the courage to look for intriguing mind-expanding titles, and the wisdom to buy from Beacon. Amen.”

Courter continued her financial report by remembering those Unitarian Universalists who had died in the past year and who had made a bequest to the UUA. Delegates were able to see the names and faces of those who, through their forethought and generosity, contributed 3% of the UUA’s income.

Courter summarized other sources of general income to the UUA: 8% comes from Friends of the UUA donations; 6% from administrative fees charged for services to congregations; 21% from charges for other services; 16% from investment income (down from 20% recently); and 46%, nearly half, from Annual Program Fund donations from congregations. Courter called on Judy Pickett, chair of the Annual Program Fund (APF), to report on the results of this year’s APF campaign.

Pickett noted that over $5,600,000 has been contributed to the APF to date, leaving this year’s contributions only $172,000 short of the goal.

Courter continued her report by outlining the sources of income for specifically designated purposes: 6% for the Handing On The Future campaign; 10% is for the Campaign for Unitarian Universalism; 30% (over $2 million) was received from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock for social justice work; 12% comes for scholarships; 7% is received for ministerial aid funds; 20% is received for the Holdeen India Trust fund; and 15% is received for a variety of other purposes.

Budget expenditures for the next year are in four major categories:

• Board and volunteer leadership comprises 8% of the budget, reduced significantly over previous years due to the cost-cutting efforts of volunteers and staff
• Infrastructure, including finances, facilities and information technology, comprise 24% of the budget.
• Administrative expenses are six percent of the budget.
• Program is the largest portion of the expenses, $12,000,000, and 62% of expenditures. Identity Based Ministries is 4%; Advocacy and Witness, 17%; Lifespan Faith Development, 6%; Publications, 18%; Ministry and Professional Leadership, 20%; Congregational Services, 19%; and District Services, 16%.

Courter called the budget ‘prudent,’ noting thatit “ reflects the needs of our congregations and Association. What is important to note,” she continued, “is that this budget includes no raises for UUA Staff, but the Finance Committee feels that this budget is properly focused and develops the resources to sustain and grow Unitarian Universalism in the next year.”

Trustees Ed Wilde (Thomas Jefferson District), Matt Moore (Youth Observer) and Kath McIntyre (St. Lawrence District) report for the Board of Trustees on their experiences as members of the Board, and were joined by Norma Poinsett, who also offered reflections.

Additional board members were joined by Paula Cole Jones, President of DRUUM (Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries), and the Rev. Laurie Auffant, a member of the same organization, who shared an exercise that the Board experienced last fall to identify experiences of mattering and marginalization which we all encounter in our lives.

Delegates were asked to recall a specific time when they had experienced themselves as mattering, asking them to share what that had felt like, what their behavior had been. Then, they were asked to reflect on a time when they had experienced themselves as marginal, or when they felt not appreciated or valued. They shared feelings around how they had responded, and known that they weren’t valued. The presenters pointed out, ”Oppression comes in many forms, and as we all realize this, we can create empathy at home and improve our ways of working together that can lead to a more anti-racist, anti-oppressive organization and world.”

Trustee at Large Tamara Payne-Alex, chairs the Board’s anti-racism assessment and monitoring team. She said, “One must be careful not to take any refuge in any delusion,” she said. “The impossible is the least one can demand.” She quoted Samuel Adams, who, when faced with ongoing criticism by those who had not stepped forward to help in the struggle to shape America, asked “why you did you not step forward if you knew that you could have done it better.”

Gini Courter spoke of her introduction to the Board eight years ago, which began with anti-racism training. Over the years, she said, the Board worked hard to clear the air and get clear with each other. Today, Courter said, the road to anti-racism is not just a two-lane road, but instead includes a variety of other paths. What is important is to challenge and affirm the others on this journey, she said, “even if they are using a lane we would never use. We are,” said Courter, “stewards of the same road.”

Trustees Burton Carley from the Southwest District and Linda Olson Peebles, Trustee from the Joseph Priestley District, shared their reflections on the Association’s anti-racism work. The journey toward wholeness has different names and eras, and will have new names, said Olson Peebles. “We must be not afraid, and let our voices be heard, because all matter in this flow toward the ocean of the beloved community,” she said.

Payne-Alex shared the Board’s seven questions for judging anti-racism, anti-oppression work, and invited the delegates to reflect on questions and ask them in their local congregations, as the presentation concluded.

Tamara Payne-Alex's Presentation

Helene Atwan, Director of Beacon Pres

Helene Atwan, director of Beacon Press, highlightrf Beacon’s newest offerings (www.uua.org/beacon). Beacon strives to publish books on important topics such as economics, class, media monopoly, sustainable planet, mental health for women, discrimination and the legacy of racism, public schools, and spiritual growth, said Atwan. Beacon set records in the past year—the largest sales to Unitarian Universalists ($100,000), and the most sales at a General Assembly (Quebec, $40,000). Delegates were encouraged to “Buy Beacon” and take other steps to support the UUA’s denominational press.

The Rev. Richard Nugent, chair of the Commission on Social Witness, outlined the process of justice making in our Association. He pointed to several issues that had been supported by UUs in years past that have finally come to fruition: the Supreme Court’s vote to overturn their decision in Bowers v. Hardwick which supports a 1970 GA resolution; and the Association’s support for affirmative action in 1979 which was also affirmed by the Supreme Court this year. This year delegates will get the chance to vote the statement on Economic Globalization (Unofficial final copy - Economic Globalization 2003 UUA Statement of Conscience) , select among five Study/Action possibilities for this next year, and vote on up to five Actions of Immediate Witness. Nugent explained the deadlines for the various steps in the process.

Olson recessed the plenary until 1:00 p.m. Friday as the delegates rushed from the hall to move to a lunch break.

Reported by Lisa Presley; edited by Deborah Weiner; Web Design by Julie Albanese.