tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987633698271670286.post6656220434872640163..comments2023-09-04T09:00:06.938-07:00Comments on UUA View from Berkeley: What does it mean to be a delegate?Linda Laskowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00430830718856244947noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987633698271670286.post-10483316944061072502008-07-27T20:32:00.000-07:002008-07-27T20:32:00.000-07:00There's often a disconnect between what sounds goo...There's often a disconnect between what sounds good financially to GA delegates, and what congregational leaders want to budget.<BR/>There can also be a social or moral disconnect. The Youth Empowerment resolution strikes me as more the latter. Sounds like an overwhelming vote to bell the cat - but how many actually plan to take the emotional risk of saying hello to a teenager at social hour? Possibly a teenager less social and mature than the ones who rise to leadership roles at GA?<BR/> - Riley McLaughlinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987633698271670286.post-78141981705115435072008-07-19T11:03:00.000-07:002008-07-19T11:03:00.000-07:00In San Francisco, GA delegates are generally not i...In San Francisco, GA delegates are generally not in other leadership positions and are often not aware of parish budgeting, staffing, or program issues which affect compliance with GA resolutions. We even reinforce the relative specialization of our delegates by mandating that they organize our Denominational Affairs committee. Going to assemblies and intra-denomination communicators becomes the focus of our delegates’ church effort.<BR/><BR/>This means that our delegates are rarely on our Board of Trustees or active in other key areas of our community.<BR/><BR/>I don’t think we’re alone in selecting (or self-selecting) delegates who are not part of their home governance structure. <BR/><BR/>This type of delegate mix leads to the national GA to regularly upping “Fair Share” targets and signing up for noble-sounding programs and efforts which are not embraced by leaders in the parishes and may not be practical.<BR/><BR/>As for empowering delegates to vote for the congregation on specific issues, that sounds fine. However, the method of collecting congregational input has to be better than the parish poll on social justice issues. From what I remember of the parish poll I participated in, the “poll” neglects the option of saying you’re opposed to the resolution. We were only allowed to prioritize our issues and not say that any were loony ideas.<BR/><BR/>Oh, ah,… great blog, Linda!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com