May 2002
Members: Lee Redfield, Barbara Molfese, Neal McBurnett, Holly Lewis,
Dan Anderson, and Rev. Jackie Ziegler. Dan has stepped down recently.
The Right Relations Committee's charge, as per the 1/13/01 document
"Framework for Response to the MDD Report", was:
To help members learn tools and develop skills to carry through
our commitment to "right relations," especially around how we
handle differences. The preliminary framework anticipates
offering workshops, developing a covenant around how we interact
together, and creating means to ensure that our commitment to
right relations stays visible and becomes an integral part of our
community life.
Educational Workshops presented:
Ethical Communication, with Lisa Olcese. Approximately 40 people
attended.
Conflict Management, with John Rymers and Pat Washburn.
Approximately 28 attendees.
Rev. Ziegler did a service on covenanting in a religious community.
"Truth be known, it's not always easy!" on April 28.
Marshall Rosenberg, founder of the Center for Nonviolent
Communication gave a sermon and presented a workshop on May 26,
2002. It was organized by Bob Gailer. Thanks Bob!.
Educational materials from these workshops have been placed in the UUCB
resource notebook which can be found in the office in the bookcase by
the door. They are also available at the UUCB website:
http://bcn.boulder.co.us/uuc/sm/
Two additional informal gatherings were held before the service on April
7th and 28th. These sessions provided an opportunity for further
discussion of concerns, with topics selected by the participants. Two
or three individuals from the congregation attended these meetings in
addition to board members and RR committee members. The primary concern
of those present was provision of ongoing opportunities for dialogue.
In terms of further work, at least some members of the congregation
have expressed interest in further opportunities for discussion. The
framework also raised the possibility of developing a right relations
covenant. Through the educational workshops, we have received an
excellent set of communication guidelines. They've been used at Name
Change Task Force forums and other meetings, but have not been put
together or presented to the congregation for adoption. Finally, the
framework document anticipates a gradual change in the focus of the
right relations group away from communication skill-building toward a
discussion of shared ministry, and the transition from a pastoral to a
program church. This would include both educational components and
open discussion. This work has not yet commenced and could really
benefit from more people interested in being involved.
Right Relations proposes a meeting with the Board, the Committee on
Ministry, and Long Range Planning, to update our vision/framework for
the future. It would include:
A committment to more open and direct discussion, based on a sense
that reluctance on the parts of many different players to speak more
directly and openly fed many of the problems we've been having.
Publicizing minutes of board meetings more widely could help here.
Plans for periodic all-UUCB discussion forums.
A revised "framework" and plan.
Re-engaging in the focus on Shared Ministry, and recruiting of
volunteers to lead that effort.
Submitted by Holly Lewis and Neal McBurnett
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