12/4 Kathy B

An abbreviated version of the text below was read aloud to the First Unitarian Church of Portland’s Board of Trustees and Executive Team on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

I have been a member of this congregation since 2004 and have been greatly enriched by both worship and adult programs.

I come here tonight challenged by the recent letter from Nicole Bowmer who in a letter recently reminded all congregants of our role in supporting the sextons in their bid to unionize.I have followed the events that cascaded from the euphemistically designated “change in the music program” and the unfolding of the history that led to that event through announcements from the chancel, writings of the Congregant Action Team, FAQs from the Board and from, meetings in the Elliot and on zoom. I attended the meeting held with UUA employees and am struck by the contrast between that and the recent letter from Rev. Abigail Clauhs.

I will point out just 2 events that revealed a lot to me and influenced my decision to step back from First Unitarian Portland. I will maintain a smaller pledge, reduced by about 80%, because if any democratic petition prevails, I plan to vote.

In a well attended on zoom board meeting shortly after the big event, members of the board took turns saying what they had done personally about the 8th principle. Only Adam House had met with other people to address any racial issue. All other board members merely listed books they had read. The elephant in the room, as the phrase goes, was that the only Black person in our leadership had been singled out for criticism. And no one was talking about this. Iput in the chat that it was all "creepy."

In a recent board meeting, Ms. Eldridge of the Congregant Action Team spoke. She was not well and masked but had made the effort to attend. Rev Miller spoke to her condescendingly, noting that Ms. Eldridge’s mother was in attendance. I suddenly heard the judges who remanded suffragettes home to their husbands. Authority infantilizing dissent in an attempt to strip away agency. I got the creeps again.

Dissent has smeared this congregation. Several of the 8 principles have been compromised. As a congregation, we are challenged to understand these issues, but our Executive Team has been secretive and fomented division. Congregants have chosen sides and wear buttons. I had hoped the board would step up to the challenge or move aside and let other leaders emerge. Not up for it.

I believe the history of First Unitarian Portland in our city, in our downtown, is at risk. At this time when we are all rattled by what has happened here and what could happen in our nation, we want to just be tucked in and comforted.

But that could be part of the problem.