In a past life, I was a delegate to my Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church. At that time, we were grappling with a controversy that threatened to split the denomination. Emotions ran hot on both sides. I got to be a voting delegate simply because I expressed a willingness to go to the meeting. The Annual Conference was for about half of my state, so no one had to travel very far to get there, and yet I was the only volunteer from my fairly large congregation. My friend in a church across town also became a delegate in the same way, and her church was even larger than mine. For a national gathering, people have to travel a lot farther, so I can imagine that there would be fewer volunteers.
If all delegates were elected by their congregations, then the same people would still go to General Assembly: the people who volunteered. In most cases, electing delegates would be pointless because there would be only one candidate, if there were even that many. I've been a UU for years. I don't have time to go to GA, so I thank those who are willing to serve.
Delegates can accurately represent the will of their congregations only if they know the majority view within their congregation on every issue. To get that information, one would first have to educate the congregations about all of the issues. This requires a level of cooperation I doubt we could get. I am willing to trust our delegates, who are generally very active, involved members of their congregations. They are doing the best they can.
I viewed the recording of the 15-minute “final discussion” of this year’s one Business Resolution (see @2:45:35 — https://www.youtube.com/live/JeCitpeBGic?si=3Bnn0LCtpU0bYCiZ ) and heard substantive concerns raised that were not addressed. I was already dismayed by what seemed to be a wholly inadequate process, and am further dismayed by the stats in your post.
Thanks for the report from the GA! Interesting data. It may be that, as the old saying goes, the people get the government they deserve.
In a past life, I was a delegate to my Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church. At that time, we were grappling with a controversy that threatened to split the denomination. Emotions ran hot on both sides. I got to be a voting delegate simply because I expressed a willingness to go to the meeting. The Annual Conference was for about half of my state, so no one had to travel very far to get there, and yet I was the only volunteer from my fairly large congregation. My friend in a church across town also became a delegate in the same way, and her church was even larger than mine. For a national gathering, people have to travel a lot farther, so I can imagine that there would be fewer volunteers.
If all delegates were elected by their congregations, then the same people would still go to General Assembly: the people who volunteered. In most cases, electing delegates would be pointless because there would be only one candidate, if there were even that many. I've been a UU for years. I don't have time to go to GA, so I thank those who are willing to serve.
Delegates can accurately represent the will of their congregations only if they know the majority view within their congregation on every issue. To get that information, one would first have to educate the congregations about all of the issues. This requires a level of cooperation I doubt we could get. I am willing to trust our delegates, who are generally very active, involved members of their congregations. They are doing the best they can.
Thanks for this, David.
I viewed the recording of the 15-minute “final discussion” of this year’s one Business Resolution (see @2:45:35 — https://www.youtube.com/live/JeCitpeBGic?si=3Bnn0LCtpU0bYCiZ ) and heard substantive concerns raised that were not addressed. I was already dismayed by what seemed to be a wholly inadequate process, and am further dismayed by the stats in your post.