The Plenary opened with a Chalice Lighting by the Rev. John W. Tolley (left) of Meadville/Lombard Theological School, who honored religious educators. A song followed: "We're gonna sit at the welcome table" -- sung a capella for lack of accompanist or director, but no less spirited. Greetings from the Mountain Desert District were offered, and after a preliminary credentials report and a report from the UU Service Committee, Moderator Denny Davidoff moved the gathered body on to the business of the plenary.
A major discussion centered around a proposed bylaw addition to section 11.8, concerning the appeal process for decisions of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee. The proposed addition would give candidates for fellowship, and ministers in final fellowship the right to appeal adverse decisions of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee to the Ministerial Fellowship Board of Review. The proposal had been submitted by at least fifteen certified member societies of the UUA, and the UUA Board had recorded its vote as against the proposal, 1-18-4.
In the often-impassioned discussion that followed on the floor, the Rev. Kenneth Hurto, Vice President of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, noted that that body's eight-member Executive Committee had opposed the proposal; Hurto also noted that an overwhelming percentage of the 1400-plus members of the UUMA had also opposed the proposal in a business meeting held on Thursday (June 24).
Debate centered around whether the appeal process would serve the Association well; whether the Ministerial Fellowshipping process, which included a 45-minute interview, was an adequate assessment for the fellowshipping of ministers in the Association. The Rev. Peter Lee Scott, speaking in favor of the proposal, said, "No committee should have absolute power as does the MFC...this bylaw change won't make things perfect, but it provides one more step that might make things more fair. ...If this proposal goes down to defeat, ask yourselves why the power structure of the Minister's Association and the UUA is so disturbed by it and going to such steps to defeat it."
Former UUA Financial Advisor Bob Lavender asked what the cost of implementing such a change would be. Current Financial Advisor Larry Ladd responded with an estimate of $25-28,000 expense in the first year, with a steady decrease in following years.
The Rev. Kendyl Gibbons, minister of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, Minn., said, speaking against the proposal, "I speak as one who had a less than positive experience with the MFC both times I met with them and who has gone on to serve the UU ministry with some success...I believe a central tenet of our belief is our polity... The congregation in which I grew up did nothing morally wrong or institutionally inappropriate, to ordain me to the ministry despite the MFC's reservations. Neither did the MFC do something inappropriate when they appropriately expressed their recommendations."
The Rev. Maureen Thitchener spoke in favor of the proposal, saying, "This amendment is not about any position...it is about justice. Our second principle is about justice, equity and compassion in human relations. The Board of Review (the current appeal avenue for decisions of the MFC) is also about justice. Their role is specifically restricted...they are instructed to uphold the decisions of the MFC if it can be sustained by a reasonable review of the record. They will set aside [such decisions]...only where necessary to prevent or correct manifest injustice. That is all this amendment is about. This is our General Assembly...we make the decisions."
There was a motion to table the amendment, which was not debatable, and which required a majority vote for passage. The vote failed, and debate time was up on the proposal. Moderator Davidoff called for the vote, and the proposed amendment failed by a significant majority.
Action on a proposed addition to bylaw section 10.2 would expand the current indemnification practices that cover trustees and officers to include UUA employees and volunteers. A 2/3 vote of the Assembly was required to approve the proposal; the change was overwhelmingly approved.
Action on proposed business was followed by an introduction of and report from the Commission on Social Witness: Barbara Child, Chair; reported for the committee on activities for the year, highlighting the first-ever UUA statement of conscience.
The plenary ended with short highlights of the UUA's website coverage of General Assembly, which will be a daily feature at the conclusion of each plenary session.
