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BURLINGTON UU CIRCLE, INC. (BUUC)
MEMBER HANDBOOK
7 Jan 2001 Edition
CONTENTS
Officers
Community Ministers
Tenets of Belief
Member Bill of
Rights
Membership Levels
Member Rights
& Responsibilities
Ethical Conduct
Consensus
Primer
Frequently Asked
Questions
Organizational Chart
Co-Facilitators:
Rev. Dian Mueller, 658-9689; Firebearer@aol.com.
Spike, 985-9795.
Warren.
UU Liaison:
Wally; Rhedwnge@aol.com.
Membership Chair:
Lilith.
Outreach Chair:
Spike
Finance Chair:
Dian
COMMUNITY MINISTERS
Lilith (Chair)
Wally
Rebecca; everist@earthlink.net
Dian (in case of emergency)
Community ministry is a service of the Membership Committee. Although it includes supervision of rituals, and provides limited services to the general public, its main role is supporting community members, especially if they are in crisis. In an emergency, please call the chair at anytime; if no answer, please call Dian.
MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of BUUC is to provide a safe place for Pagans to create community and to assure through our ritual and other outreach projects that no Green Mountain Pagan is solitary unless they choose to be. (29 Nov 1998) We also support the purposes of CUUPS, FUUSB, and the UUA. (11 Jun 2000) Our most important services are providing a place for spiritual community, regular Pagan practice, and finding learning resources. (29 Nov 1998)
TENETS OF BELIEF
2 Jul 2000
We believe that there is a Divinity which permeates the Universe, and of which the Universe is a part.
We value our identity as part of this greater whole, and believe that it is only fitting for us to share in the Blessings of the Divine.
We affirm the equality of the genders as expressions of Divinity, and consensual sexuality* as an expression of Divine Love.
We cherish the interconnectedness of everything, and, knowing that what we put out into the world comes back to us by the Laws of Karma, we strive always for the Highest Good and the Highest Will, let it harm none, do what we will.
We recognize that the more we affirm our connectedness to the All and to the Divine, the more in tune with its cycles and the Higher Will we will become; therefore, we value the power of ritual to remind us of our sacred birthrights and to help us better appreciate our inner wisdom.
We affirm that Love is the most powerful force in the Universe, and know that before we can love another, we must love ourselves. Out of this love, we do what we can as best we can, and seek to treat ourselves and each other with love, tenderness, and compassion.
* We define consensual sex as between people of consenting age, and where there is no extreme imbalance of power.
MEMBER BILL OF RIGHTS
11 Jun 2000
1. Freedom of Membership
Members may join or leave BUUC at their will. We will not use any form of pressure to recruit new members. No one who wishes to leave BUUC shall be pressured to retain their membership. Exit interviews shall be conducted only to ascertain what needs were not met and how BUUC may better improve to meet the needs of its members in the future.
2. Freedom of Tradition
We accept that no organization can hold a monopoly on spiritual wisdom and practice, and that we are only one of a network of fine groups providing for the spiritual needs of the greater community. Within our group, we recognize that we represent a wide variety of paths and traditions, and that no one belief system is better or worse than another.
3. Freedom of Interaction
We encourage our members to hold and retain their non-BUUC interests. BUUC members are particularly encouraged to attend services at the UU meeting house, but also to explore their own spirituality in many different organizations. It is expected that members will pursue their outside relationships, interests, and business with total independence from BUUC.
4. Freedom from Assimilation
No member of BUUC shall be forced to share living quarters, or enter into any social, sexual, or spiritual relationship with anyone against their will. The ties between a BUUC member and their family are to be regarded as sacred. BUUC shall in no way attempt to come between a BUUC member and their family or non-BUUC friends, unless asked to do so by the BUUC member.
5. Freedom of Privacy
The personal privacy of all BUUC members shall be respected at all times. No member shall be forced to share any personal information they wish kept secret. All personal information divulged in a ritual setting must be treated with the same level of confidentiality as a 12-step meeting, and all confidential information divulged to a Minister, Community Minister, or the Council will be safeguarded by ministerial confidentiality.
6. Freedom of Government
BUUC is a proudly democratic organization. All decisions are made by due process as described in the Bylaws. BUUC exists to serve the needs of its members, not the other way around.
7. Freedom from Appropriation
Although we are totally dependent upon donations for our continued existence, we will not solicit material or funds that members are unwilling or unable to give. If a member cannot afford the suggested donation to any event, we would rather have that member stay and grace us with their good fellowship than be turned away.
8. Freedom from Favoritism
The Facilitator(s) should be looked upon as the head of a council of equals, who are human beings and therefore fallible. No Facilitator or Officer of BUUC shall use their positions to solicit any extra benefits, personal favors, gifts, or bribes, or in any other way abuse the authority freely given to them by the members.
9. Freedom of Information
Except for confidential records, all BUUC records are open to review by all regular BUUC members at reasonable times and places.
10. Freedom from Abuse
All BUUC members shall strive to treat one another with respect and dignity in all situations, including and especially during disciplinary proceedings.
MEMBERSHIP: Bylaw Article 5
5.1 Qualification
Membership in BUUC shall be open, without regard to religion, race, color, age, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, disability, blood-borne pathogen, national origin, or socio-economic status, to individuals who support the CUUPS Statement of Purpose and [the BUUC] Bylaws. (11 Jun 2000)
5.2 Application
Anyone who signs in at a regular BUUC ritual Circle on its regular sign-in sheet shall be considered a member of BUUC. (11 Jun 2000)
5.3 Levels of Membership
There shall be four levels of membership in BUUC:
Member: Anyone who signed in at a ritual as per §5.2.
Probationary Member: A member who has been placed on probation by the Council as per §10.4.
Regular Member: Anyone who has properly signed in as per §5.2 three times in a six-moon period, and has signed the BUUC Code of Ethics.
Core Member: A regular member who has properly signed in as per §5.2 at (11 Jun 2000) 3 of the previous 4 regular rituals and 2 of the previous 4 Board, Council, or committee meetings. (29 Nov 1998)
5.4 Termination of Membership
If a member wishes to resign, they are encouraged to inform a Council member. (11 Jun 2000) Members will be dropped if they miss 3 consecutive regular rituals. (18 May 1998) Anyone attending a BUUC event can be removed/expelled if they are known to pose a threat to the group or its members. The Council may, by a two-thirds vote, discipline, suspend, or expel any member confessing to or found guilty of committing a felony crime with a victim or victims, as recognized by law and current criminological opinion; or for proven and documented conduct of a disruptive or abusive nature which works directly against the aims, activities, or welfare of BUUC or its members. (29 Nov 1998)
5.5 Leaves of Absence
A member who takes a leave of absence must refulfill membership requirements upon their return. (3 Sep 2000)
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS: Bylaw Article 6
6.1 Members have the right to:
i. expect that BUUC events will be conducted in a safe manner, and to inform a Council member of violations of the Bylaws; (11 Jun 2000)
ii. attend committee meetings; (14 Nov 1999)
iii. have their contact information remain confidential with the Council, or have any or all of it listed in the membership list published with the minutes or in other member-only formats, or use a pseudonym, as they so choose;
iv. network with other BUUC members via the published member list;
v. receive a copy of the newsletter and minutes, including the published member list;
vi. inspect the Bylaws. (11 Jun 2000)
6.2 Probationary Members enjoy all the privileges of a member except the right to:
i. attend committee or other business meetings;
ii. make presentations at BUUC events unless specifically invited to do so by the event leader and/or a BUUC Facilitator;
iii. attend any event at a member's home unless specifically invited by that member to do so. (25 Apr 1999)
6.3 Regular Members have all the rights of a member, plus the right to:
i. facilitate ritual grounding exercises;
ii. participate as an inner circle healer in Circle;
iii. be a ritual Ward or Monitor at the discretion of the Ritual Leader;
iv. undergo the Ritual Leadership apprenticeship program and be a Ritual Leader;
v. participate in committee meeting consensus or voting;
vi. vote for BUUC officers;
vii. obtain a summary statement of fund balance, revenues, or expenses previously reported to the members;
viii. propose and present BUUC workshops;
ix. be a newsletter columnist at the discretion of the editor;
x. form/join Adjunct Ritual Groups;
xi. an interview with the Council if expelled from a BUUC activity;
xii. a formal hearing before expulsion from BUUC;
xiii. participate in the expulsion hearings of another BUUC member at that member's request. (11 Jun 2000)
6.4 Core Members have all the rights of a regular member, plus the right to:
i. serve as chair, scribe, timekeeper, or vibes watcher at committee, Council, or other business meetings;
ii. run for and hold a BUUC office;
iii. nominate BUUC officers;
iv. review the most recent officer's election ballots in the event of a contested election, as per §11.6;
v. be considered for Council membership. (11 Jun 2000)
6.5 Ethical Conduct
All BUUC activities will be conducted with socially acceptable ethical and moral behavior, including, but not limited to, the following:
i. Sexuality: All representations of sexual magic rites will be symbolic only. BUUC will regard private consensual sexual activities between adult members of BUUC to be their own private business, but exploitive behavior, such as pressure on a reluctant or unwilling being to engage in sexual activity of any kind, is entirely unacceptable, and constitutes grounds for termination of BUUC membership and any positions of responsibility or authority which the offender may hold within BUUC.
ii. Code of Ethics: To be considered a regular or core member of BUUC a person must meet attendance requirements and read, sign, and abide by the following Code of Ethics. The willful violation of this code shall be grounds for termination in BUUC by its Council.
a) I will, whether Wiccan or not, follow the Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do what you will."
b) I will respect others' rights to freedom in all areas, including safety, privacy, and philosophy.
c) I will seek to repair that which I have damaged, and to make amends to those whom I have harmed, to the best of my abilities.
d) Honesty is valuable. I will remember this is thought, word, and deed.
e) I will not knowingly bring harm to the Burlington Unitarian Universalist Circle (BUUC), the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS), or any of its members.
f) I will abide by the Bylaws of BUUC in all matters relating to them.
g) I will consider my pledged word sacred.
iii. Disruptive or abusive behavior includes:
a) the spreading of slander or libel against BUUC or its leadership or members;
b) bigoted communication or behavior of a virulently racist, sexist, homophobic, heterophobic, anti-Semitic, or otherwise bigoted manner;
c) active efforts to persuade members to quit or to dissuade nonmembers from joining;
d) or other behavior prohibited by this article. (29 Nov 1998)
A PRIMER ON CONSENSUS
A group reaches consensus when all members come to agree upon a common solution, and each member can honestly say: "I believe that you understand my point of view and that I understand yours. Whether or not I prefer this solution, I support it because it was reached fairly and openly, and it is the best solution for this group at this time." Thus consensus is as much an attitude as a process.
The central core of consensus is the group's mission, beliefs, and ethical code. All actions are tested against this core. All members must subscribe to the core, or consensus will not work.
What Consensus Is:
A synthesis of ideas taking into account every member's concerns and perspectives.
What Consensus is Not:
Compromising, competing, voting, selecting, choosing.
Consensus vs. Voting:
Voting is a means by which we choose one alternative from several. Consensus is a process of synthesizing many diverse ideas into one solution.
Voting is a win-lose model in which people are often more concerned with the numbers it takes to "win" than the issue itself. Voting does not take into account individual concerns and perspectives. In contrast, there are no losers in consensus.
In majority rule, the minority has to surrender to the will of the majority. It is only in the last 80 years after much litigation that minorities in the United States have had any legal protection from the majority at all. In consensus, there is no such divisiveness.
In unanimity, theoretically everyone agrees without reservation. However, with unanimous decision making, there is often pressure on dissenters to state agreement even when the choice goes against their beliefs. Thus, although true unanimity is also consensus, consensus is not necessarily truly unanimous.
USE OF CONSENSUS IN BUUC
BUUC uses a minimally-formal process of consensus for decision making.
Facilitation:
The process guide will be called facilitator to be consistent with literature on consensus, but with lower case to avoid confusion with the BUUC office of Facilitator.
It is important that the facilitator remain neutral as to the outcome of any proposal being considered. If, because of emotional, financial, political, or other investment in an issue, a facilitator is unable to remain neutral, she or he must stand aside and participate as a member while someone who can remain neutral facilitates that particular proposal. If no one within the group can meet this requirement, someone outside the group should facilitate if possible.
Handling Objections:
Objections to a proposal do not necessarily block consensus. First and preferably, the group will attempt to resolve all objections. Ideally, the objector should propose an alternative or amendment that surmounts the objection.
Objections failing resolution are next reviewed for validity. An objection which cannot be related to BUUC's mission, beliefs, or ethical code will be ruled out of order. The objector is responsible for establishing this relationship. If the group finds the objection valid, consensus is blocked.
Call for Consensus:
If the resultant proposal is complicated, or there have been distractions in the meeting, etc., the facilitator should restate the current version of the proposal. Then she or he may ask, "Are there any unexpressed concerns?" followed by a pause. This approach invites input from those who may have been reticent to speak previously.
The length of the pause should be proportional to the intensity of the preceding discussion. During the pause, the facilitator should establish eye contact with each member of the group to be sure that everyone is attentive, and ask individuals directly as necessary.
If there are no further concerns raised, consensus may be declared. It is important never to just assume that consensus has been reached.
"Fallback" Vote:
If consensus eludes the group and there is insufficient time for another meeting before a decision must be made, voting may be used as described in §7.1 of the Bylaws.
Telecommunication:
When proposals are discussed over the Internet, responses must be received from at least a quorum of members before a decision is made. If the Board or Council is making a decision about Bylaws or an emergency, members not having Internet access of their own must be contacted by other means. Objections are subject to validation as stated above. Respondents who support the proposal should include any reservations they have about it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Paganism?
The word Pagan originates from the Latin paganus, meaning a country dweller. When cities were Christianized, the people in the country continued to practice the old religions. The word Pagan took on the meaning of "those folks out there in the sticks who still do all that old-fashioned stuff." Later, it came to mean any member of an indigenous folk or tribal religion or anyone who was not "of the Book" (i.e., the Torah, Bible, or Koran). [CUUPS' "What is Paganism?"]
A modern Pagan (sometimes called a neo-Pagan if not practicing an extant folk or tribal religion), is someone whose practices or beliefs:
Honor, revere, or worship a Divinity of pre-Christian, classical, aboriginal, or tribal mythology; and/or
Are based on shamanism, shamanic, or magical practices; and/or
Create new religion based on past Pagan religions and/or futuristic views of society, community, and/or ecology; and/or
Focuses religious or spiritual attention primarily on the Divine Feminine. [Internat'l Pagan Pride Project]
What is CUUPS?
The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans is an organization dedicated to networking Pagan-identified UUs, educating people about Paganism, promoting interfaith dialogue, developing Pagan liturgies and theologies, supporting Pagan-identified UU religious professionals, and outreaching UUism to the broader Pagan community.
What do CUUPS chapters do?
Each chapter decides what activities to offer, which may include worship services, discussion groups, book studies, workshops, film series, field trips, and other activities with a Pagan focus. Some, like BUUC, publish a newsletter to keep members informed; Green Mountain Circle Works is also a networking tool for the state's Pagan community.
Why should I consider joining CUUPS?
Each chapter must have at least three registered CUUPS members in order to keep its chapter charter. If a chapter has nine registered CUUPS members, its chapter registration fee is waived. BUUC also requires that certain officers hold CUUPS membership.
Paid CUUPS membership supports the activities of CUUPS Continental, which includes chapter support and liaison work with the UU Association. Paid members also have voting rights and receive a copy of the CUUPS quarterly magazine, Connections.
How can I join CUUPS?
Get a registration form from our information table, fill it out, and send it with the registration fee to CUUPS.
Should I also consider joining the UU society?
Most of BUUC's core membership are also members of the First UU Society of Burlington. We find that UUism is completely compatible with our Pagan belief and practice, and gain satisfying spiritual and community experience by our association with the society.
How can I join the UU society?
It's a good idea to first attend a few regular Sunday services and check out some of the other society offerings. Get a copy of the UU Principles (published on p. 2 of the newsletter) and think about whether these are in accord with your own beliefs. Then talk with one of the society ministers, and sign the membership book. You will also be asked to make an annual pledge to help support the society, but like BUUC's Moneta Basket, all that's asked is what you can afford and think is right.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
BOARD: facilitates BUUC's overall
functioning
Facilitator(s) (up to 3)
UU Liaison
Membership Chair
Outreach Chair
Treasurer
COUNCIL: deals with confidential issues; can act as the Board
(up to nine core members)
COMMITTEES: serve the Board; sub-committees serve their respective committees
MEMBERSHIP
SEXTON
COMMUNICATIONS
COMMUNITY MINISTRY
DEDICATION
RITUAL LEADERSHIP
Ministry Ordination ad hoc
Grounding Coordinator
Doorkeeper Coordinator
NEWSLETTER
DISTRIBUTION
OUTREACH
VT Pagans
UU LIAISON
UU RELIGIOUS ED
UU WORSHIP
COVENANT OF UU PAGANS
PUBLIC
RELATIONS
WEBSITE
EDUCATION
LIBRARY
SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS
SPECIAL EVENTS
Green Up Day
Gay Pride Day
SulisCircle
Day Festival
Samhain Ball
Food Drive
FINANCE
FUNDRAISING