Letter to our Liaison Groups

Dear Colleague,

The Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee is excited about our recent decision to refine our mission. Over the past several years we have realized that our broad focus, in which we tried to be all things to all people, including assuming liaison responsibilities to a long list of UUA committees and affiliate groups, has diverted us from our original 1997 charge to “strategically plan, coordinate, monitor, assess, and guide the transformation of the UUA into an authentic anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multi-cultural faith community”. We believe we have not been able to provide the type of effective assessment the Association needs. By narrowing our focus and providing quality in-depth analysis, we are confident we can better provide a more useful and meaningful report on the status of our journey toward wholeness.

Using a model employed by the Commission on Appraisal, our intention each year will now be to choose a particular area of Association life to explore in depth, concluding with a report to be published and available to the General Assembly and to congregations. Our first area of exploration will be the anti-racist, anti-oppressive multi-cultural transitioning within the districts. We will survey district leadership, select a sample of representative districts to examine in depth, and will publish a report for the 2007 General Assembly. Our work is just beginning, and our hope is that this effort will highlight best practices as well as program gaps that will be meaningful for Association and administrative staff as they support all districts, committees, and UUA affiliates in moving towards our vision of wholeness.

Our “course correction” means that we will no longer emphasize our liaison relationships. It is our hope and intention that our new direction will generate increased focus, energy, and collaboration towards our mutual goals. As part of communicating our re-definition and encouraging work at the district level, we invite members of UUA committees and affiliate groups to join us at two workshops the JTWTC is holding at GA on Friday afternoon, June 23. Please check them out when the GA catalogue arrives later this spring.

We look forward to seeing you at General Assembly and continuing the journey together.

The Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee:

Rev. Monica Cummings
Carolyn Cartland
Rev. Sean Dennison
Bob Gross
Dr. Julio Noboa
Rev. Charles Ortman, BOT Liaison
Taquiena Boston, President’s Liaison