Proposed Statement of Conscience: Escalating Inequality

A Proposed Statement of Conscience on Escalating Inequality is on the GA agenda. There will be a mini-assembly on this proposal tomorrow afternoon at which amendments or adjustments to the proposal may be made. The Proposed Statement of Conscience addresses the increase in wealth concentration and economic inequality, its causes, how our economic system is intertwined with other systems (such as technology, health care, education, judicial and criminal justice, community development, environment and transportation), and how economic inequality disproportionately affects members of historically marginalized and oppressed groups. It suggests these actions for individual UUs, congregations, state legislative ministries and the UU denomination to take:
 

Actions

Unitarian Universalism has a prophetic message about the human capacity to create change and make our world, societies, systems, and communities better. By speaking, acting, and spending in concert with one another, we can create better and more just economies. Together we can make a difference. Listed below are possible actions to select from.

As Individuals we can:

• Review our personal history with money, our class background, and how that shapes our

relationship with financial matters.

• Examine our role in the financial system and what we are willing to change.

• Assess how we personally spend money and use our money in support of our values.

• Invest in social impact hubs that fund entrepreneurs representing those parts of society that are economically oppressed or marginalized.

• Seek out and support black-owned businesses and other enterprises directly benefiting those who are marginalized or oppressed.

• Whenever possible, buy local and participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), farmers’ markets, and locally owned businesses.

• Spend money compassionately, considering whether items are ethically sourced and employers have ethical labor practices.

• Track, promote, and abide by boycotts and support firms that treat workers, suppliers, and the environment fairly.

• Mobilize ourselves and others to use the ballot box, campaign donations, letters to the editor, social media, and calls/emails/visits with elected officials to work for a moral economic system.

• Invest in micro-loan projects, crowd-source funding, time banks, and other finance options outside the corporate banking and investment system.

• Engage in socially responsible investing and use our power as stockholders to influence company policies.

• Divest from racist systems; invest in communities of color.

• Move accounts from corporate banks to local banks or credit unions.

• Report and avoid businesses that use enslaved labor.

As Congregations we can:

• Create a study group on the Commission on Appraisal’s 2017 book on Classism and take action on it.

• Assess the congregation’s biases and attitudes toward those from various class and economic backgrounds and then make adjustments as needed to be more welcoming and inclusive.

• Examine the congregation’s relationship with money, including how finances drive operations and programs and how money is discussed, disbursed, and secured.

• Create an equitable salary scale and benefit package for the congregation’s staff including the minister(s) using the UUA guidelines.

• Determine how transparent the congregation is about money matters.

• Organize advocacy initiatives such as postcard, Twitter storm, petition drives, or other large volume campaigns in support of a just economic system.

• Keep the congregation’s money in socially responsible investment vehicles.

• Divest from racist systems; invest in communities of color.

• Advocate for affordable housing and other community efforts that assist those who are oppressed,nmarginalized, or disadvantaged.

• Partner with other local faith communities on joint actions for livable wages, affordable housing, disruptions of intact low-income neighborhoods, gentrification projects, etc.

• Actively participate in interfaith community organizing efforts for local policy and systemic changes that affect economic inequality.

• Organize or participate in local alternative financial opportunities such as time banks and co-ops.

• Sponsor educational opportunities within the congregation and the community that reveal factors contributing to increased economic inequality.

• Advocate for getting money out of politics, ending corporate welfare, reforming corporate

governance, changing tax laws to be more equitable, revising bankruptcy laws, and increasing support for public education.

Our State Legislative Ministries can:

• Include wealth inequality as a factor in determining legislative advocacy priorities.

• Create and publish report cards on state legislators’ records on issues impacting the financial wellbeing of marginalized groups.

• Host bi-partisan forums that bring attention to issues identified as part of a moral economic system.

• Engage in advocacy consistent with a moral economic system: getting money out of politics, ending corporate welfare, reforming corporate governance, reforming bankruptcy laws, reforming the tax code, reforming laws pertaining to sentencing and incarceration, and increasing support for public education and job retraining.

As a Denomination we can:

• Offer to all interested Unitarian Universalists an affordable group health insurance plan.

• Continue socially responsible investment practices.

• Invest in state legislative ministries and in advocacy at the national level.

• Participate in interfaith coalitions that work toward achieving a moral economic system.

• Continue to work cooperatively with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on projects such as “Behind the Kitchen Door.”

• Invest in low income communities.

• Invest in communities and leaders of color, and support reparations.

• Advocate for the various elements of a moral economic system.

As Unitarian Universalists our faith calls us to counter fear with courage and manifest a collective vision of a more just, equitable, and compassionate society.

Posted by Leora Herrmann