My church has been busy imploding lately, with lots of name-calling, he said/she said, disrespect, and other very non-UU values. It's been great. This all culminated today in a congregational meeting.
First step forward: the original resolutions were done away with into a single resolution seeking to dissolve the board and name an interim board. This was good, because of the original resolutions, 3 were illegal by our by-laws, and the last was using a technical point to invalidate the election, but was use to censure our leadership. Yuck.
Second step forward: the comments from people were largely very civilized. Most people looked beyond the he said/she said (although many criticized the tone of recent emails). Several had very, very good observations. At least a few said they wanted to be sure everyone understood that when today was over, this issue is CLOSED. I spoke, against the resolution, and for solutions:
a) create clear website policies
b) modify the by-laws to correct current problems and future behaviors
c) utilize the healthy congregations team to correct some of the respect issues.
d) give some time for this to work
Third step forward: a new motion introduced, to require the 2009/2010 board members to go to mediation, find a way forward, and present it to the congregation. A-men. Make the board clean up the board mess.
Motion passed, meeting adjourned.
In the end, the congregation behaved and represented itself very well. In the end, the face-to-face and more structured interaction gave us a chance to talk respectfully to one another. Would that we had done so all along! We could have saved a lot of time and heartache.
2 comments:
I'm so sorry that the church is in turmoil. (again) I've been hearing bits and pieces of the situation.
I arrived in 1998 at the tail end of the Rodger situation and subsequent disputes over new church buildings, minister drama, the Bruce Rowan and other issues.
It's sad.
There are so many wonderful people there that really do want what they feel is right, just and in the best interest of the congregation.
I do hope that everyone is able to move on and forward.
Come fall, give it another try - new minister, and hopefully some better patterns happening. I was mostly encouraged by yesterday... the vast majority -get it.-
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