UUA Programs & Services: Social Justice

Social Justice Empowerment Handbook

CHAPTER 15: STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING CONFLICT IN CONGREGATIONS ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES

It was the late 1960s. The American Vietnam War, the one fought on the streets of U.S. cities and in our legislative bodies, was raging. Many UUs, determined to add a united voice to those clamoring for an end to U.S. participation in Vietnam's war, pushed their congregations to take a stand. Many congregations were deeply divided and lost members who felt alienated and forced into positions which violated their personal integrity.

Today some of those same congregations are held in inactive limbo for fear they will create that same result. Their concerns keep them from implementing a viable social justice program.

It is important to begin by affirming the underlying love for our co-members, which is evident in this concern. Our congregations are, above all else, communities of seekers. Some seek through the intellect, others through their relationship with their community, others through their relationship with the Greater Good. A strong, vital Unitarian Universalist congregation makes room for that diversity by asking primarily that individuals live with integrity in their beliefs and keep an open heart and mind in the process. It is, therefore, imperative that we adhere first to that criterion in dealing with controversy.

Given that yardstick, should congregations take stands on controversial issues? Absolutely, yes! If we claim to be seekers and questioners, how can we do otherwise? If religion is that system of beliefs about people, life, and interrelationship around which we base the decisions of our lives, how can we help but have theological, hence ideological, differences? And if Unitarian Universalism is the community in which we question and shape our theology, how can it not be the place where we do the same with our ideology? How then can we confront our differences in ideology and maintain our community? Here are some guidelines.

There are two circumstances under which a congregation should take a vote.

Vote on those issues that call to question the ethical integrity of the congregation, and then only after an agreed upon and sufficient amount of discussion and study. Ethical investing is a good example. If, for example, a congregation is sponsoring community recycling and has invested in a company that produces plastics, its practice is incongruent with its stated objective. The decision to reinvest these funds must be made by the entire congregation, as the outcome has direct effect on the life of the congregation.

Vote on those issues that you have studied and to which you wish to add the institutional power of the congregation. Some congregations serve as the only voice of liberal religion in their community. It is incumbent upon them to speak out on local issues such as police brutality, gang violence, racial or ethnic intimidation, and other situations that violate the principle of dignity to which we, as a religious community, choose to ascribe. Additionally, there are congregations that have been discussing the impact of government policy on areas such as Latin America, the Middle East, or the indigenous people of the Americas. In the event of an emergency, they may wish to add to power of their institutional voice. For example, a congregation which has long studied the INS policy toward Central American child refugees may decide to take a vote which would empower their minister, Board, or other body to write letters to or meet with congressional representatives regarding pending legislation.

Regardless of which of the circumstances above is behind the desired to take a vote, there are many important steps before taking the vote. It is crucial that the congregation understands the importance of the issue. This can be done via a sermon, either by the minister, an outside speaker [remember the UUA staff are available as a resource], a series of post- or pre-service forums or panels, or pro and con sermons by members of the congregation. If either forums or panels are used, be sure to:

plan on several months to process the issue

allow proponents of all positions on the issue to be represented equally and with equal time

set guidelines which focus on facts and issues rather than personalities

make it very clear that the integrity of all participants will be respected at all times and any behavior which does not treat people with dignity will not be tolerated

find an outside facilitator

After the agreed upon time of education and dialogue has passed, use a voting method that affirms the spirit of the congregation and maintains the dignity and, if necessary, anonymity of the individuals voting. Affirm the importance of the continuity of the community. As many of our congregations learned during the Vietnam era, being right is not necessarily worth the cost of losing dedicated, participatory, loving members of the community. Be sure to:

Have preparatory meetings at which people can deal with clarifying the language of the resolution.

At the congregational meeting for the final vote, do not rush to the vote. Make sure there is ample time for discussion. Give everyone who wants to speak an opportunity to do so. Again, remember to set clear guidelines for appropriateness.

If, after education and dialogue, it looks as though a vote will destroy the community DO NOT VOTE. The congregation isn't ready. Sometimes, this means more information or dialogue is needed. Sometimes it means that everyone needs more time to absorb the information given.

If, like me, you want things to move rapidly forward, these are very difficult guidelines to follow. Experience, though, has shown that changes which become ingrained in the ethos of an institution are those that are arrived at deliberately and with regard for the thoughts of all affected.

There are other options for dealing with controversial issues. Some congregations create task groups that address specific issues and then take stands in the name of the task group rather than the congregation as a whole. One congregation has created an elected policy committee which studies issues presented to them to the congregation for a vote. What is important, however, is to have a process prepared for those times when your congregation will be called upon to speak and act.