Children “Vote” on GA Study/Action Issues
By Pat Kahn
Director of Religious Education
Unitarian Universalist Church of Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Editor's note: How can we involve children more deeply in faith beyond our congregations? Here religious educator Pat Kahn outlines how she involved children in her congregation's religious education program in the denominational process of determining study or action initiatives for the Association of Congregations. The Study/Action Issues information for GA 2006 will be available online at http://www.uua.org/csw/participate%28speakout%29.html in the spring.
In preparation for going to General Assembly in 2005, I created a ballot for the children in our congregation that paraphrased the five potential Study/Action Issues that would be voted on at GA:
- Women's Rights Worldwide
- Safety of All Children and Youth
- Peacemaking
- Need for Affordable Housing
- Moral Values in a Pluralistic Society
During children's worship, we discussed General Assembly. I told the children I would be going and would need to vote for one of the Study/Action Issues. I handed out the ballot, and we talked about each issue. The children's comments on what they thought was important about each issue were truly amazing and inspiring.
The children voted by ranking each Study/Action Issue from one to five, with one being the most important. I told them I would add up the votes, and I would be their voice at General Assembly.
The children's votes were very close, with “Women's Rights Worldwide” and “Peacemaking” almost tying. Truthfully, it was very difficult to explain “Moral Values in a Pluralistic Society” in language the children could understand, and that may have affected their support for that issue.
At GA, when comments from the floor were being taken on the issues, there weren't any folks lining up at the microphone in support of “Safety of All Children and Youth.” Even though my personal choice was “Moral Values in a Pluralistic Society,” I thought I had better get up and say something to advocate for children and youth. I wanted to honor the commitment I made to the children in my congregation to represent their voices.
In the end, I feel I got the best of both worlds. I spoke on behalf of children and youth, and the issue that I felt was most important was the chosen as the Study/Action Issue by the General Assembly.
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