Open Space process at GA
I think this will be my last post about this year's GA, though I may post about our service (planned for July 22) when it's posted on the web.
I didn't post before about the Open Space process, because I didn't participate in it, but I have had some who participated share with me and I viewed the video of the testamony about the statements (30 Statements of Convergence here in PDF) that came out of the process. The testimony starts about 1 hour into the video from Plenary VI on Sat. afternoon (though you could watch it all if you didn't see our presentation and video which is in the beginning - about 11 mins. into the video). Though we don't know exactly what will be done with these statements and these statements are a small thing that came out of the process, I think people were able to connect with others of similar concerns, people who wouldn't ordinarily be involved in the plenary process (since they weren't delegates) were able to participate actively, and people who might otherwise be marginalized were able to be heard during their testamony to these statements, so please do listen to them. In this sense (and possibly other ways), the Open Space process was a success and had a purpose.
I see that there's an active conversation about it in this blog ("official" blog with currently nothing on it here) and there's a review on the UUA's site here. I would like to see what the results of the vote was. I know the member of my church who was involved doesn't feels that it went well (not a futile exercise as some felt) & it might not be a coincidence that she identifies as part of two groups who tend to be marginalized within UU (& US) - African American & young adult. If we believe in what we're supposed to stand for, we need to listen to them and take action to support the future of our movement (and our country & the world).
I didn't post before about the Open Space process, because I didn't participate in it, but I have had some who participated share with me and I viewed the video of the testamony about the statements (30 Statements of Convergence here in PDF) that came out of the process. The testimony starts about 1 hour into the video from Plenary VI on Sat. afternoon (though you could watch it all if you didn't see our presentation and video which is in the beginning - about 11 mins. into the video). Though we don't know exactly what will be done with these statements and these statements are a small thing that came out of the process, I think people were able to connect with others of similar concerns, people who wouldn't ordinarily be involved in the plenary process (since they weren't delegates) were able to participate actively, and people who might otherwise be marginalized were able to be heard during their testamony to these statements, so please do listen to them. In this sense (and possibly other ways), the Open Space process was a success and had a purpose.
I see that there's an active conversation about it in this blog ("official" blog with currently nothing on it here) and there's a review on the UUA's site here. I would like to see what the results of the vote was. I know the member of my church who was involved doesn't feels that it went well (not a futile exercise as some felt) & it might not be a coincidence that she identifies as part of two groups who tend to be marginalized within UU (& US) - African American & young adult. If we believe in what we're supposed to stand for, we need to listen to them and take action to support the future of our movement (and our country & the world).