Subject: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2000 06:36:08 EDT
From: [Pat and Robert Moore]
To: [UUCF Chat], [Birds of a Feather], [others]
Dear UUCF Members and Friends,
In the August 2 UUCF Newsletter, John Cunningham refers to the petitioning process that is currently underway. We have received various phone calls asking for additional information, and have requested that the note "To UUCF Members & Friends" (below) be placed in the next UUCF Newsletter.
Pat and Robert Moore
______________________
August 5, 2000
To UUCF Members & Friends:
On the back of the August 2 UUCF Newsletter, John Cunningham mentioned the July 11 board presentations requesting conflict resolution. He noted the board did not receive the 121 petitions asking for outside professional assistance. Further, he said that as of "July 25, …the petitions have not been submitted to us." On July 25, we told John that we would be following the process outlined below.
As John indicates, we were uncomfortable to turn the petitions over on July 11 unless certain requests were honored. We wanted to discuss the requests with the board, but the meeting ran long and an opportunity for discussion was not offered.
We had hoped our elected board members could receive petitions, make substantive information available to ministers and the congregation, but keep individual names confidential. For example, the "UUCF Feedback Form" specifically asks, "Would you like us to keep your name confidential?" Board members have widely publicized this form as a way for members to give feedback to our leaders. We are puzzled by the inconsistent policy on confidentiality.
In the spirit of the "UUCF Feedback Form," we indicated in our April 18 letter that we would keep petitioner names confidential except for sending them to the board. Various members called before signing the petition asking for assurance that their names would be given only to elected board members and not to the ministers or the congregation at large. Others told us they supported the call for conflict resolution but were not comfortable to sign a petition.
In the current UUCF environment, it is unfortunate that many do not feel safe to freely express their views. Some of these members are elderly, ill or have family members who are ill. Although they have concerns about UUCF, they do not want to lose the support of their spiritual community by speaking from their hearts.
Given the board's response to the confidentiality request, all petitioners are being contacted before their signed petitions are sent to the board. We have sent them the board's statement on confidentiality and offered them the opportunity to withdraw their petitions if they are uncomfortable.
In preparing a letter to petitioners, we requested a written statement from the board a couple days after the July 11 meeting. We received it the following week, then sent a letter to petitioners on July 19, 2000. Because this is vacation season, we asked petitioners to reply no later than August 15. We will then submit to the board all petitions that are not withdrawn.
Pat and Robert Moore (on behalf of the April 18 letter signers)
Subject: RE: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2000 18:01:48 -0400
From: "Edward Cacciapaglia"
To: [Pat Moore], [UUCF Chat], [Birds of a Feather], [others]
Dear UUCF friends and all,
The fact that some of our petitioners are afraid to have their names publicized speaks volumes about the fearful environment at UUCF, real or imagined. I am unafraid to say what I think regardless of what some may think. (Yes and sometimes I eat leather!) It disturbs me that some petitioners have too much fear to be public. But it disturbs me more that the UUCF Board will not honor the request of some petitioners to have their names kept in private. Is this what UUCF has come to? Sort reminiscent of the fear of the Inquisition.
Still trying to believe in fair play,
Ed Cacciapaglia
-----Original Message-----
[Pat and Robert Moore, 05 Aug 2000
without the attached note is quoted here.]
Subject: Re: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2000 01:15:03 -0400
From: Hal Fuller
To: [Ed Cacciapaglia], [UUCF Chat]
Hi Ed,
Strange that you should mention the Inquisition. I seem to recall a clause in the U.S. Constitution that gives an accused person the right to face their accuser. If we are going to follow democratic principles as we purport to do, I presume that a similar right extends to board members, lay ministers and ministers. Moreover, It seems to me that anyone who petitions for a redress of greviences, which I assume the petitioners are doing, and then wants to hide behind a cloak of anonymity, is coming dangerously close to attempting to inspire if not conduct their own Inquisition. This is, indeed, a bizarre turn of events!
Hal Fuller
[Edward Cacciapaglia, 05 Aug 2000 is quoted in full here.]
Subject: RE: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2000 14:49:38 -0400
From: "Edward Cacciapaglia"
To: "'Hal Fuller'"
CC: [UUCF Chat], [Birds Of A Feather]
Hal,
You are correct in what you say. What concerns me, though, is the atmosphere of fear that has been created in which some (a small minority) petitioners are afraid of the abuse they fear they will suffer if their names become public. It still seems to me that the leadership would rather attack the petitioners than look inward and realize that all is not well. When dissension is stifled, unfortunately, explosions can occur. It seems better to let the lid off the jar and allow the diverse voices to be heard.
Ed
[Hal Fuller, 06 Aug 2000 is quoted in full here.]
Subject: Re: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2000 14:58:59 -0700
From: "Michael D. Berger & Rosalie A. Clavez"
To: Hal Fuller, Ed Cacciapaglia, Birds Of A Feather
Hal and Ed,
The analogy to the legal system is indeed interesting but its applicability to a church situation is not exact. The simple facts of the situation should not be forgotten:
Rosalie suggests that grand jury proceedings might provide a closer analogy, since secrecy is involved. Even so, there will be important differences between the church and the legal system.
In case you wonder why I am responding to Birds of a Feather rather than UUCF Chat, you can look at:
http://www.rosemike.net/religion/uucf/list_iss.html
A quote you may have seen: "... it is not new and it is not order."
Private responses to this note will generally be made public.
Mike.
[Hal Fuller, 06 Aug 2000 is quoted in full here.]
--
Subject: Re: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2000 21:05:19 EDT
From: [Mary Binderman]
To: [Edward Cacciapaglia], [Hal Fuller]
CC: [UUCF Chat], [Birds of a Feather]
Ed:
I have to say that I believe the diverse voices are speaking and being heard. The people to whom you refer to by the anonymous word "leadership" have changed over the last three years and have always been listening. They have tried to give every opportunity for unhappy members to state their views and grievances. I remember attending numerous forums and special meetings.
I have never threatened anyone. Can you give me the name of one person in "leadership" or in this congregation who has threatened another person? I may disagree passionately with another person, and I state it just as passionately. I do not believe I have ever threatened another person. Please tell me if I am unaware of my own actions I, personally, have spent a lot of my time listening to other members of UUCF over the years. I intend to keep on listening, and I intend to keep on deciding for myself where I agree and where I do not, lay leader or not. Through all this time, I believe that I have continued to work cooperatively with many people with whom I disagree on some issues. These people know who they are. Again, I ask that individuals with whom I have worked over these past five years or so have found me threatening or controlling, please tell me.
I have spent many hours discussing the issues presented by the petitioners. I agree with some and disagree with others. I do not agree with the call for a conflict mediator nor that the name of the petitioners be kept secret. John Cunningham and Hal Fuller have stated why very eloquently.
Mary Binderman
Subject: Re: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Sun, 6 Aug 2000 21:16:29 EDT
From: [[anonymous-1]]
To: [Edward Cacciapaglia], [UUCF Chat]
Sorry to disagree, Ed, but I do. The fact that people want to remain anonymous when they have perceived grievances speaks volumes about those individuals, not about UUCF. I find the notion of anonymous petitioners totally distasteful in a congregation professing to be liberal. Those who have convictions should step forward and be counted.
regards,
[anonymous-1]
Subject: RE: Clarifying Information On the
Petitioning Process - Fear at uucf
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 14:09:23 -0400
From: "Edward Cacciapaglia"
To: [[anonymous-1]]
CC: [UUCF Chat], [Birds Of A Feather]
[anonymous-1],
Are you implying that those few who chose to remain anonymous don't belong in a "congregation professing to liberal"? Too many words of judgement seem to be a feature of a formerly liberal religious community. Instead of hiding behind the by-laws and creating an authoritarian community, the current leadership should be listening with caring concern and really examining why some people are fearful of standing up and why others of us refused to be silenced. And the petitioners do respect the rights of individuals to remain anonymous if they so choose. (I am sad that some are afraid, but I respect and understand their feelings.)
The indisputable fact is that after 9 people withdraw there names fearing ridicule, 112 of us, including several people who served on the Board of UUCF during the 1990s, remain on the petition calling for a mediator. And yes, there are others who wouldn't sign because they fear the scorn of others. But 112, almost 20% of the Congregation ARE NOT AFRAID TO "STEP FORWARD AND BE COUNTED"! It is no longer just a "small group of trouble makers" as Jim Nelson referred to us several years ago.
Respectfully,
Edward Cacciapaglia
[[anonymous-1], 06 Aug 2000 is quoted in full here.]
Subject: FW: Clarifying Information On the Petitioning Process
Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 22:09:45 -0400
From: "Alex Machina"
To: "UUCF Chat"
Forwarding this so that everyone has a chance to read and think about what is being discussed, instead of only those on "Birds of a Feather" (ruminations@listbot.com).
[Michael D. Berger, 06 Aug 2000 is quoted in full here.]
Subject: Re: Clarifying Information On
the Petitioning Process - Fear at uucf
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 07:56:41 -0400
From: [Mary Foster]
To: [UUCF Chat]
From: Edward Cacciapaglia
>The current
>leadership should be listening with
caring concern and really examining why
>some people are fearful of standing up
and why others of us refused to be
>silenced.
Hi Ed!
I AM listening. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know. Believe me after spending time with the leadership now that I am a Board member there is a lot of caring concern in the leadership that I have seen. I am feeling very confident that we can work these things out.
I feel that being in a long term relationship in a spiritual community is very much like being in a family. There will be problems that need to be worked out as we go along. I feel that is part of what the relationship is about. Working through difficulties together actually seems to me to be one of the ways that we build our relationship with one another over time. It is part of the process that we need to go through to create and nurture our community.
I have spoken privately with three people who have expressed their concerns about some things at UUCF. Each of these conversations was very satisfying to me. I felt connection and understanding. I also felt good because in these private conversations there was the opportunity to toss around ideas and I could really see the potential SOLUTIONS for a change. I feel frustrated sometimes because I am an action oriented person--I like to figure out what the problem is and once I find the solution, I get right to work. It has been hard for me to be patient with the petition process. I don't like to see people in pain, I want to get right to work and that's not the way it works. I need to be patient so that the petitioners can move forward as they choose. So each of these conversations was like an chance to imagine myself busy with the work of the solutions and I could actually feel what it will be like when we start to resolve these things with the people in our community. I believe each conversation was a part of the resolution for me and I hope for the people I was speaking with.
I would encourage anyone who would be comfortable to contact me or other people in leadership in the community that you feel comfortable with and try taking some time to 'dream' a little bit together. I think of UUCF as the place where I can not only pursue my spirituality but a place where I can define the joy in my life. It has been helpful to me to focus on what brings me joy and satisfaction and to think of ways for me to bring what makes my heart soar to the community. Making connections in times of trouble, finding a way from frustration to solution is one thing that brings my life great joy. I have found some joy in taking the vines out of the azalea hedge. I enjoy participating as the leader of the Our Daily Bread Food Outreach Program. I am excited to be part of the team of people exploring Karen's vision of Bridges to Justice. I feel satisfied with myself when I am 'useful' to others. Each of these activities brings happiness into my life.
I think that there are some things we need to add into our community to make it a 'better' community. I think that is a natural part of being a community. Much like being in a family. Kind of an ongoing metamorphosis. We need to keep reinventing our world to meet the changing needs in our group. I am confident that we have the leadership we need to continue this process. I am here to respond to the best of my ability to the needs of this community to which I am deeply committed. Let me know what I can do to help.
Mary Foster
Subject: Re: Clarifying Information On the
Petitioning Process - Fear at uucf
Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2000 17:28:15 EDT
From: [Chris Mason]
To: [Mary Foster], [UUCF Chat]
Mary,
thanks for your thoughtful words. Nice to know you are a part of leadership. Maybe your insights can help make a differences.
Sincerely,
Chris Mason