I voted!

After the worship service this morning, I attended the Plenary session as your delegate and I voted on something!
But that wasn't until after 11am and we started at 8:30.

During that time, we had reports! from the Board of Trustees (they are working on "ends" statements, reviewing the election process and trying to stay out of the details; that made me feel better!) Rpts from the Executive staff of the UUA, the Treasurer (he has a good sense of humor, also seems very reliable and a committed UU.) The annual program fund raised $7 million this year! There is a "committee on committees" Ha! And reports by the lovely Beacon Press (they have a blog) and the Journey Toward Wholeness transformational committee. Rpts from the associated organizations: the UU Service Committee (they altered their logo) and the UU Women's Federation (I can't believe I'm not a member; they are having a convocation Feb 26-March 1 2009 in Houston TX see www.iccuw.com) And then we left off reporting and started recognizing folks: two breakthrough Congregations (both great!) and 12 newly completed Green Sanctuaries ( this work is being transferred to the UUA Stewardship Office to administer from the UU Ministry for the Earth, which developed the program.) Forrest Church. And we recognized UUA staff and a really worthy local service project, and then we were ready to vote!

Our vote was to select a Congregational Study Action Issue from two proposed:
1, "Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice" or 2 "Nuclear Disarmament" Both proposals come from the Congregations and this process is facilitated by the UUA Commission on Social Witness.

The issue we vote on will be recommend as the focus of study for social witness for our Congregations. After two years of study, a statement of conscience on the issue may be drafted for approval by GA and then that will be implemented for two years. So, that is 4 years of focus on this issue. There is some overlap. The current study/action issue is Peacemaking.

Anyway, although there is ample opportunities for workshops outside the Plenary, debate during is quite controlled. Four statements of 2 minutes each can be made for each proposal (and, of course, were made) and then we voted.

I voted for the Ethical Eating proposal, which received the majority of votes.

More later!