UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

Joan Lund, August 2010

As you know by this time, the Resolution to keep General Assembly (GA) 2012 in Phoenix, AZ, passed at this year's GA by a very large margin; it will be a "Justice GA."

Over the next four years leading up to this GA, our Association, and hopefully every congregation within, will be devoting study time and energy to making GA 2012 overwhelmingly successful. The delegates indicated their concern about our nation's immigration issues by passing Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI): Immigration as a Moral Issue, as our next four-year study. Also as an Act of Immediate Witness (AIW) the Assembly called for immigration reform at the state and federal levels.

We must be leaders in insuring human rights for immigrants and refugees and to acknowledge this as a moral issue. We need to continue to witness against Arizona SB 1070 and its implementation. The dignity of all the world's humans is central to UU principles and values, and I strongly encourage your congregation get involved in one or more of the many topics for immigration study and action. These include, but are not limited to: educating ourselves on the definitions and international agencies accountable in the issue; the economic impact of immigration on countries and individuals; the ways immigrants enrich the society in which they settle; myths vs. realities regarding immigrants; and who the immigrants are in our communities. Also we UUs need to participate and support events that support the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees, and efforts to change both national and international laws; and develop intentional awareness and programs of cultural sharing, inviting immigrants to be a part. I suggest looking at the GA Agenda from our meeting in Minneapolis for the full printing of our current CSAI.

Among other actions our AIW calls for us to join in tourism and product boycotts of Arizona in order to apply economic pressure on the state, to call on the U.S. President to reassert the federal government's exclusive control over the laws pertaining to immigration, to monitor legislation in other states and witness against similar anti-immigrant proposals, and to persist in our efforts until humane/just federal comprehensive immigration is achieved.

It is important that we UUs do more than just verbally support those in our faith who are "walking our social justice talk." Please know I am available to converse on issues that concern us all: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I also hope you are enjoying a relaxing summer as you continue to important work in your congregation.