9/5 Amy F

The text below was read aloud to the First Unitarian Church of Portland’s Board of Trustees and Executive Team on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Rev. Alison: I was dismayed by your decision to trash your own congregants, extensively and dishonestly, from the pulpit on August 25.

It is my understanding that you made this choice…

• even though the UUA preached about non-reactivity and de-escalation

• even though the congregants in question met with you and asked you to embrace their concerns as valid rather than discrediting them as dangerous

• even though they respected your preference to keep the meeting confidential

• even though all protesters stayed away for a month, giving you the time and space to make things right

Yet, on August 25, you twisted the words and actions of congregants as if villainizing them was the only way to save yourself. If you regretted it afterward, you did not attempt to make amends. Only one Board member expressed care, privately, for the congregants you targeted.

This church community needs you to stop defending yourself, and start leading us with humility. Stop acting like a helpless victim, and start leading with an awareness of the responsibility and power you hold as the senior minister.

It’s true that everyone plays a role in conflict, but you set the tone.

I attended a Listening Circle right after you used your platform to degrade your own congregants. I spoke of the aggression we’ve been subject to by some congregants - some yelling, some physical intimidation, pushing, or grabbing. I found myself wondering: How can we expect to have respectful disagreement among ourselves if our minister is escalating our conflict with inflammatory, defamatory language?