Religious Education Update: October 19, 2008
Democracy in Action
Today in Religious Education, the children will be talking about the upcoming election and the democratic process. They’ll hear about some of the issues on the ballot, and discuss their opinions on various measures. They will make posters expressing their individual ideas about the measures that matter to them.
Democracy is a type of governance that is dear to the Unitarian Universalist heart. We believe in the right of each individual to make his or her own decisions according to personal beliefs. While we may take a stand as a congregation or as a denomination, which we did this year on Proposition Eight, no individual is prohibited by the group from expressing their own views.
Our embrace of democracy extends to our individual congregations. While the UU’s of Petaluma are part of the national association, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and also part of the PCD, the Pacific Central District, UUP retains the right to make our own decisions. We elect our Board and adopt our own policies. At some future time, when we call a minister, that will be our choice alone. When we ordained the Rev. Leland Bond Upson this past summer, we acted as a congregation. Our power is in the covenant between our members.
Democracy is not a perfect form of government, of course, At this week’s debate, the Presidential candidates made accusations and strayed from discussing the huge financial and social challenges facing our nation. The mud slinging and personal stories can seem more compelling than positions at times. But, democracy still seems better than the alternatives, particularly to us fiercely individualistic UU’s .I hope that you will talk to our children about why you vote, and why the democratic process is so deeply valued by our faith.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
Today in Religious Education, the children will be talking about the upcoming election and the democratic process. They’ll hear about some of the issues on the ballot, and discuss their opinions on various measures. They will make posters expressing their individual ideas about the measures that matter to them.
Democracy is a type of governance that is dear to the Unitarian Universalist heart. We believe in the right of each individual to make his or her own decisions according to personal beliefs. While we may take a stand as a congregation or as a denomination, which we did this year on Proposition Eight, no individual is prohibited by the group from expressing their own views.
Our embrace of democracy extends to our individual congregations. While the UU’s of Petaluma are part of the national association, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and also part of the PCD, the Pacific Central District, UUP retains the right to make our own decisions. We elect our Board and adopt our own policies. At some future time, when we call a minister, that will be our choice alone. When we ordained the Rev. Leland Bond Upson this past summer, we acted as a congregation. Our power is in the covenant between our members.
Democracy is not a perfect form of government, of course, At this week’s debate, the Presidential candidates made accusations and strayed from discussing the huge financial and social challenges facing our nation. The mud slinging and personal stories can seem more compelling than positions at times. But, democracy still seems better than the alternatives, particularly to us fiercely individualistic UU’s .I hope that you will talk to our children about why you vote, and why the democratic process is so deeply valued by our faith.
Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education
posted by Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma @ 6:40 AM
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