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Table of Contents
UUA General
Assembly 2003
District
President’s Column/Fall Leadership Conference
Qiyamah’s
Corner
Ministerial
Matters
Annual Meeting
Focuses on Membership, Annual Meeting Awards and Elections
Lifespan
REflections
TJD District
Staff Calendars
Your Wild(e)
Trustees Column
Does Your
Congregation Want to Be More Family Friendly?
New Fair
Compensation Guidelines Will be Available at GA; CLF Pen Pals
Accepting
Allies News/Study Action Issues at GA/New Asian Pacific Islander
Caucus
TJ District
Fair Share
Consulting
Ministry
Chalice
Lighter Grant Made/Western Carolinas Cluster Forms
Congregations
Focus Deeply on War / TJD Welcomes New Congregation / District Office Has
New Sign
Welcome to
Our New DREs / UUs Supporting National Public Radio / UUA President
Spotted in TJ District
On the
Journey Toward Wholeness / DRUUMM Events at GA
District
Calendar
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What’s In A Name?
by Dr. Leon Spencer, TJ District President
At our district annual meeting I had the opportunity to facilitate a discussion focusing on the significance of symbols. The discussion was a way of starting a conversation about our district name, and the by-law /name change process implemented in the district eight years ago to change the name of the Thomas Jefferson District. The discussion at the annual meeting workshop also was a way of naming an elephant in our living room. The issue of Thomas Jefferson as a district name is still with us.
Many of us remember the Thomas Jefferson issue being raised at the 1993 General Assembly held in Charlotte when the GA Planning Committee planed a Thomas Jefferson Ball to celebrate the birthday of Jefferson. It was suggested that those attending come in “period custom." This lead to a discussion about how those of us who were not white should come dressed at the celebration. It also led to a discussion about the name Thomas Jefferson and how dis-inviting it might be to non-whites.
The district implemented a name change process in 1994. The process involved all congregations, had an excellent education component and provided an opportunity for all positions to be heard. Although the majority of the votes at the 1996 annual meeting voted to change our district name, the vote was seven votes short of a two-thirds majority, required because a name change would require a bylaw change.
The meeting was a tense, painful experience which resulted in the formation of the District Anti-Racism Transformation Team (DARTT). It became apparent that our district name only touched the surface of the deeper issues we face around justice, race, and institutional oppression.
Our discussion at the annual meeting was challenging. I want to thank those who participated in the discussion. There was an honest exchange of ideas, thoughts, frustrations and feelings. There was a sharing of information. It was educational as we shared our ideas stories and experience. The work shop pointed to the fact that the issue is alive, that there are issues of pastoral care, education, and a need to identify resources for dealing with identity based conflicts. At times the discussion was tense. I think it was a good tension where we called upon our principles of respecting the dignity and worth of all and a respect for the democratic process.
My invitation at the Annual Meeting workshop was a next step in getting the conversation started again. I plan to recommend to our Board that we revisit the issue of our name, examine the process for a bylaw change , and invite our Board, the District Anti-Racism Transformation Team (DARTT), ministers, religious professions and lay-leaders to take a lead in helping us to develop a process for educating, dialoguing, and making recommendations to the Board for addressing this issue. I invite you to help us take the next steps in developing a process for revisiting our district name. This issue is not about me or other People of Color it is about all of us as Unitarian Universalist. Please let me hear from you.
In faith,
Leon
Hold this Date - Fall Leadership Conference
Fall Leadership Conference (FLC) October 11-13, 2003 - This year’s FLC will be held in beautiful Norfolk, VA. Fellowship with us at this annual event featuring the theme: “A Different Kind of Patriotism.” The FLC just gets better and better with its wide array of interesting workshops and speakers. All that is missing are your charming faces. You don't want to miss the acclaimed Norfolk choir.
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