An ad hoc group of CUCCers and friends met Sunday, June 2, to discuss how we might continue our work for justice with the North Carolina General Assembly.
Ideas/plans on the table:
Moral Mondays
- continue to follow the leadership of the coalition working through the NC NAACP by participating in Moral Mondays
- hold information sessions for those planning to attend or do non-violent civil disobedience at Moral Monday on every Sunday immediately before the next Moral Monday. For instance, if there will be a Moral Monday on June 17, we will hold an info session on Sunday, June 16, at 9:15 in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall. At these questions you can receive answers to your questions about logistics. We'll also continue to encourage one another as we speak about our experiences and commitments to an ever-wider circle of friends.
- carpool from the CUCC Dixie Trail lot to Moral Mondays
- those who aren't doing non-violent civil disobedience can provide support to those who are. If you are being held back from making this commitment, contact Jane or Gary Smith to let them know what is blocking you. They will try to connect you to offers of: money to cover fines, pet care while you are in jail, transportation to and from the event....
Beyond Moral Mondays
- Judy and Leo will talk with other arrestees about the possibility of having quarterly gatherings at CUCC to ground our actions in faith. They will also try to talk to NC NAACP representatives to see if such gatherings are in their plans so that we can join that effort rather than create something new. These spirit-restoring gatherings would be open to the public. The gatherings would also include time for networking about action. After some information gathering, we need to clear this idea with Property Ministry and the Council before proceeding.
- If CUCC sends a representative to the Southern Conference of the UCC, Jane will ask that person to explore informally with other NC congregations how they are responding to their legislators and if they are participating in Moral Mondays. CUCC might offer home hospitality (lodging, meals) to UCC members who must travel a long distance to speak to their legislators or to attend Moral Mondays.
- The ad hoc group requested that the Forum schedule one or more sessions this fall with representatives of organizations who are planning for long-term change in the NC General Assembly. One possible group: NC Conservation Network. Edith will bring this to the Forum planning group.
While the participants in Sunday's ad hoc discussion had a variety of issues which brought them to the table, a common bond seemed to be the commitment to start now by saying "no" to the current direction of the NC General Assembly and the commitment to stay engaged in working for a more just General Assembly in the future. We identified the need to stay in touch for mutual support, to nurture our spirits for the long haul, and to push ourselves to go outside our comfort zones in making a public stand.
Anyone with questions or who would like to be on the email list for updates can contact Jane Smith.
- rough notes from the meeting submitted by Jane Smith (corrections/additions welcome!)
Ideas/plans on the table:
Moral Mondays
- continue to follow the leadership of the coalition working through the NC NAACP by participating in Moral Mondays
- hold information sessions for those planning to attend or do non-violent civil disobedience at Moral Monday on every Sunday immediately before the next Moral Monday. For instance, if there will be a Moral Monday on June 17, we will hold an info session on Sunday, June 16, at 9:15 in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall. At these questions you can receive answers to your questions about logistics. We'll also continue to encourage one another as we speak about our experiences and commitments to an ever-wider circle of friends.
- carpool from the CUCC Dixie Trail lot to Moral Mondays
- those who aren't doing non-violent civil disobedience can provide support to those who are. If you are being held back from making this commitment, contact Jane or Gary Smith to let them know what is blocking you. They will try to connect you to offers of: money to cover fines, pet care while you are in jail, transportation to and from the event....
Beyond Moral Mondays
- Judy and Leo will talk with other arrestees about the possibility of having quarterly gatherings at CUCC to ground our actions in faith. They will also try to talk to NC NAACP representatives to see if such gatherings are in their plans so that we can join that effort rather than create something new. These spirit-restoring gatherings would be open to the public. The gatherings would also include time for networking about action. After some information gathering, we need to clear this idea with Property Ministry and the Council before proceeding.
- If CUCC sends a representative to the Southern Conference of the UCC, Jane will ask that person to explore informally with other NC congregations how they are responding to their legislators and if they are participating in Moral Mondays. CUCC might offer home hospitality (lodging, meals) to UCC members who must travel a long distance to speak to their legislators or to attend Moral Mondays.
- The ad hoc group requested that the Forum schedule one or more sessions this fall with representatives of organizations who are planning for long-term change in the NC General Assembly. One possible group: NC Conservation Network. Edith will bring this to the Forum planning group.
While the participants in Sunday's ad hoc discussion had a variety of issues which brought them to the table, a common bond seemed to be the commitment to start now by saying "no" to the current direction of the NC General Assembly and the commitment to stay engaged in working for a more just General Assembly in the future. We identified the need to stay in touch for mutual support, to nurture our spirits for the long haul, and to push ourselves to go outside our comfort zones in making a public stand.
Anyone with questions or who would like to be on the email list for updates can contact Jane Smith.
- rough notes from the meeting submitted by Jane Smith (corrections/additions welcome!)