Today’s agendas

Main theme today is an informational session re: Welcoming Congregation (presenter: Sue A.)

(Sue presents W.C. guidelines prepared by Michael Servetus UUF, Actions, and Resolution draft prepared by steering committee in spring 2003. Plus dialogue.)

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Sue explains the W.C. info packet

Page 1: Mchael Servetus prepared the guidelines in this packet. There is also W.C. Handbook (purple book, 1989- revised)

Guidelines are suggestions, not blueprints.

This program was developed in response to particular concerns such as gay people feeling unwelcome, invisible or nasty things said to them.

Need for a program was recognized in 1989 general assembly.

Page 2: Actions (again they are not blue prints but suggestions)

Majority often times don’t know what minorities are feeling.

Wy’east are already doing most of the things in the actions list. But doing work shop will make us more welcoming.

History of W.C. in Wy’east

10/1 2001 First meeting with Keith Crone(?)

Steering committee: Sue, Rodger, Andy, Kit, Frosti, Mabel

(Rodger was involved in preparation of the original curriculum in the Handbook. Sue experienced the process of becoming W.C. at East Rose.)

Discussion at Kit’s house about how to do it.

One session/month covering 2 book lessons.

Last session was Apr. 2003.

Sue: Don’t know if we need to vote. At East Rose, Board applied for W.C. with Boston (no congregational vote).

Willow: Michael Servetus voted.

Apr. 2003 after the last session “let’s do resolution”

Working group: Sue, Frosti, Jon B.

Most action guidelines are already met except 13. Committee proposed compromise ‘no wedding in this building at all’.

Willow: Wendy said she would be happy to accommodate. But she would be in trouble if she did.

Board president pressured not to bring it up (spring) because:

- it’s premature

- time is limited

and recommended a verbal report.

Some people thought forum discussions were necessary.

D: Does whole congregation NEED to vote?

Answer: UUA does not say that. Kit felt it was important.

Ben said there can be arguments.

Frosti and Sue didn’t want to be contested.

S: Was disappointed that people had reservations. In the working group, it didn’t occur to us to just have Board tell Boston.

S: The idea is about consciousness raising. No congregation can do all of this. We do what we can, such as the rainbow flag. Baffled that there is opposition.

Last page: Fears and Gains expressed at the first session (12-14 people present).

J: Something to add?

S: Mabel, who has been a staunch member, thought we should do a service about this. Worship committee agreed and 10/19 was picked because that was the only Sunday in October when I was available.

Why is this religious? [no response to this recorded.]

Worship committee thought forum and vote are Board’s business.

How about doing workshop on 10/19?

Frosti, Willow, Adrian, and Sue recently thought workshop might not be necessary.

Let’s do 10/19 service. Several people will speak. Frosti is questionable (mom dying). 　　Willow is involved, too (Lay leader, speaker, etc.)

Sue: Feel dubious about the workshop. But if we were to do it, it would be a review of the whole curriculum (oppression, social aspect, etc.) No one has to reveal more than comfortable. This is personal stuff.