JULY 26, 2013

RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD:

Principle-Based Social Justice Partnership Guidelines

WHEREAS, we covenant to affirm and promote the seven Unitarian Universalist Principles; and

WHEREAS, we, the members of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, pledge our firm belief in these Principles, our belief that our Church itself must effectively and responsibly represent these Principles in our community, and our intention to act whenever a denial of these Principles appears and whenever an opportunity for their strengthening is present (see the Principles; and

WHEREAS, our Social Justice Ministry leads us into social justice partnerships with increasing frequency, including covenanted partnerships, for which we have no policy guidelines to ensure that all such partnerships are consistent with our Principles and Charter of Principles; and

WHEREAS, the Council requests to work with the Board and Minister to help the Congregation establish such policy guidelines as critical for the unified and effective Social Justice Ministry of our Church; and

WHEREAS, the Congregation is currently exploring right relations and a Covenant of Right Relations with the help of our Mission Ministry Team (MMT); therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board charges the Council, Minister, MMT, and Congregation of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu to engage in an open process to establish guidelines for Social Justice Ministry partnerships, including all covenanted partnerships, to ensure that all such partnerships are fully consistent with our Principles and Charter of Principles; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this open process will involve two Charter of Principles Workshops, TBA, hosted by the Council, facilitated by Dr. Susan Lebo, with MMT participation.  Workshop One will produce a clear understanding of the Charter of Principles in Social Justice of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu and of our Church need for due process and for effective Principle-based policy for Social Justice Ministry partnerships.  Workshop Two will produce clear guidelines for Social Justice Ministry partnerships, including especially all covenanted partnerships, and these guidelines will be recorded in the Policy Book for Social Justice Ministry of the Social Justice Council; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council, Minister, and MMT will report to the Board between Workshops, to evaluate the first Workshop and to help ensure that the second Workshop produces these critical guidelines.