Dear Members,

The Board of Trustees has recently had several members address the board on several related issues, including racial justice, what is referred to as ‘white supremacy culture,’ and freedom of/from speech in our Fellowship. These members typically have very strong feelings on the issues that they are discussing. These same issues have also continued to percolate through various groups in our congregation, causing disagreements, hurt feelings, and members/friends threatening to leave the Fellowship or significantly reduce their participation. As such, we feel it our duty to express, to the best extent that we can, the board’s view of this situation and how we feel we can best move forward.

By way of background, several events precipitated this discussion and members’ feelings on these issues. First, some ALPs classes addressed topics and authors that were felt by some, by their nature or the particular author being discussed in the class, to be harmful to members of our community. Second, the UUA General Assembly (GA) this year, in addition to including great focus on ‘white supremacy culture’ in our congregations, included controversy over the initial distribution and then removal of ‘The Gadfly Papers’ by Rev. Todd Ekloff. Discussions of this event, ‘white supremacy culture’, the UUA approach to racial justice, and the GA continued in our fellowship, with reports from both the GA delegates and our minister, as well as classes and forums offered by members and staff.

As a board, we do not choose one opinion or another, or judge these opinions with respect to their legitimacy; like the congregation as a whole, there is not agreement on the board about the relative importance of or opinions on these topics. But as the discussion of these topics is affecting our relationships, we do want to address how we can best move forward together without damaging our relationships.

1. It is important for us to emphasize, as a first and main point, that we, as members and friends of QUUF, choose to be a part of this intentional community that is grounded in mutual caring, respect and love. Our right relations covenant calls us to be kind to each other, to speak from the heart, to always try to consider what is the most loving thing we can do or say right now, and, when we don’t live up to this covenant, to begin again in love.
2. As per our bylaws, the Fellowship is affiliated with the UUA and its Western Region. While we do not need to agree with the UUA’s approach on all topics, neither do we see the UUA’s approach to racial justice at this time as a reason to question our status as a member of the UUA. Our affiliation does not give the UUA any particular power over the Fellowship and does not necessarily mean that we are required to follow UUA policies or adopt their approach. We see the UUA as a resource that we can use as appropriate to support our ministries and governance. Individual members of the Fellowship are of course free to engage and communicate with the UUA to let their own views be known to the UUA and to try to influence UUA policy.
3. The concept of ‘white supremacy culture’ as an approach to racial justice, and as propounded by the UUA, is controversial, not least because of its name. Apparently, it has been, and continues to be, a topic of discussion throughout the member congregations of the UUA. As a board, whether or not we agree with this approach to racial justice individually, we do as a whole believe that there are some lessons from this approach that are relevant to us: recognizing that sometimes a dominant culture establishes practices and norms that tend to be exclusionary of members of non-dominant groups; listening to those who feel left out; and working to help them feel fully included by removing barriers to their inclusion. This is not easy work. At QUUF, how do we make those of less economic means in our Fellowship feel they are full members when there is the constant pressure of fund raising, whether through the auction or our pledge campaign? How do we help those with less formal education know that they are as fully valued as those with advanced degrees? How do we respect the variation in religious philosophy that is in fact present in our congregation? How do we make those with more conservative political or social views than others know that they are free to express their views without being ostracized?
4. We believe that, through our mutual covenant, and consistent with our fourth principle of ‘a free and responsible search for truth and meaning,’ we can fully explore any topic, whether through ALPs or otherwise, without harming members of our community. It should be understood however, that as Americans, our 1^st amendment freedom of speech is a freedom from government restriction on our speech, not a general freedom. In fact we voluntarily limit our freedom of speech in many ways in society; in our Fellowship, we limit this freedom through our covenant. That is, by our fourth principle, our ‘free’ search for truth and meaning is tempered by responsibility; by our covenant, we agree to use compassion, reverence and respect in seeking our truths. We believe that these are not idle words but reflect the spirit of our Fellowship: explore freely but be respectful and compassionate when dealing with sensitive subjects.
5. In many of our discussions in the Fellowship on these issues, there has been an element of individuals talking past each other; each party expresses its point of view without honestly addressing the concerns of the other. But our Right Relations Covenant calls on us to not only to be curious about the other person’s point of view, but also to assume that others have good intentions, to be willing to receive feedback, and to admit that we are not always right. Along with this, there is an element of trust, a trust that we can and will handle controversial issues in a sensitive and respectful manner, that we each need to be willing to extend to our fellow members and friends.

If we keep at the forefront the reasons why we are here, why we choose to be a part of this intentional community, grounded in mutual caring, respect and love, there should be no reason why we cannot explore all of these issues. Remember to be kind to each other, speak from the heart, consider what is the most loving thing you can do or say right now, and, if you don’t live up to our covenant, to begin again in love.

Thank you,
Board of Trustees