Accountability
Loving ourselves and each other means holding ourselves and each other accountable for the things we think, say and do.
You have heard me speak often
about the Commandments.
I don't think or speak so much
about the Ten Commandments
nor even the 613 Commandments
(the total number of Commandments
in the Law of Moses).
I think and speak more
about the Two Great Commandments
as highlighted by Jesus
and other similar rabbis.
We are to love God
and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Accountability is an important expression
of the love we have for ourselves and each other
if we are to love effectively.
Accountability means taking responsibility
or being held responsible if we try to evade it
for the things we think, say and do
and their consequences.
In our time accountability has become
something of a watchword,
and I have the feeling that it is trying
to become part of contemporary jargon.
There are good reasons for that.
Too many public officials,
who are meant to be public servants,
from the top down,
are obviously trying to evade responsibility
for their actions and stewardship.
As a result we are all called to hold accountable
ourselves, each other
and the public officials
who are supposed to serve us.
The danger of the term of accountability
is its becoming a kind of jargon.
You may already know all too well
that jargon is one of my many hobby horses.
Jargon can be a kind of shorthand
to cover a complex subject in a few words
for those in the know.
As such it can be a useful tool.
At the same time, it can become a coverup,
hiding its meaning
from those who may also need to understand.
If the word, accountability, is to become jargon
it could enable some of us
to evade responsibility
for our actions and their consequences.
When that happens, it's a shame,
because it's the opposite of the intention
of our use of the word, accountability.
This brings to mind some of the unfortunate events
around the recent General Assembly of our
Unitarian Universalist Association.
Our neighbor, Todd Eklof, minister at the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane,
distributed a collection of three essays
in which he presented himself as a "gadfly."
By his own admission and according to an article
in the Spokane Spokesman Review,
he intended to speak against excessive
political correctness
in some current practices
of Unitarian Universalism.
As the use of language is being policed
to a high degree among us,
I perceive an example of accountability
running amok.
We all need to be accountable
for our use of language
that is deliberately hurtful toward other people.
At the same time,
we could easily become so careful of our words
that no one can say anything meaningful
to any other person.
Accountability, in the sense of taking responsibility,
does not always mean silence.
Speaking truth in love
does not normally mean saying things
that are hurtful.
We can achieve balance.
My feeling is that Rev. Eklof is calling us UU's
to a more balanced approach
regarding accountability for our words.
Ultimately he was asked
to depart the general assembly.
He had chosen not to attend a meeting
called to discuss his essays and their distribution,
so I'm not able to say or even guess
whether his exclusion from GA
was justified or not.
And yet...
I do see those events as an unfortunate example
of accountability, as I said, running amok.
My own pastor from the UUCP
of Moscow, Idaho, Elizabeth Stevens,
even in the middle of her sabbatical time,
wrote some of the wisest words I have read
on the subject of accountability:
"We are none of us perfect. Accountability isn’t scary. It is a gift...a gift that opens up possibilities for learning, growth and transformation. It’s the only way to create authentic Beloved Community."
Accountability means simply being called to account,
being asked to take responsibility,
for our actions and their consequences.
As such it is a contemporary expression
of the ancient and venerable tradition
of confession and absolution.
As Rev. Elizabeth said, "We are none of us perfect."
Therefore I would say that we all need
the opportunity to change course
and find a new and less hurtful way
to think, speak and act.
The necessary opportunity to change course
is important at all stages of our lives,
over and over again.
The work of accountability has been clearly seen
in public work
in the form of commissions
of Truth and Reconciliation.
During the transition away from Apartheid,
the Republic of South Africa pioneered the use of
a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation.
If ever there was a time and place in human history
in which a humane form
of accountability was needed,
it was that era in the life of
the Republic of South Africa.
Amnesty, an official and legal form of forgiveness,
was available to those who had wronged others
if they were willing to tell the truth
about what they had done.
I realize this is an oversimplification,
but it is an important tool
of accountability as a gift,
as a tool of bringing together
former enemies
in a truly Beloved Community.
As we work together toward accountability,
taking responsibility for our own lives,
Commissions for Truth and Reconciliation
can be useful tools toward building
a future together instead of division.
In the United States, one of our most serious issues
is the problems created and continued
by institutional racism.
A proposed 8th principle for our UU congregations
would address the issue
by means of accountability.
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
It would be the longest statement of principle.
Maybe it could be shortened
to fit with the other principles
by saying simply,
"Accountably dismantling racism
and other oppressions
in ourselves and our institutions.”
Without advocating for or against its inclusion,
I'm sharing it today not only
because accountability is central to it
but also because I believe it's important
and worthy of our consideration.
If we are to learn to love one another
effectively in our time,
we will need to face the truth together.
We can do so with open hearts and minds,
with good will and hope.
I want to present to you the question of our time,
no matter which side we are on
in the middle of our current divisions.
It is a question of accountability
and taking responsibility:
"Will we face the truth together in love?"
Our answer to that question will determine
whether our divisions become deeper
or we enter into a time of reconciliation.
Our problems are not to be compared with
those of the Republic of South Africa
as that nation moved away from Apartheid.
Yet we will need a lot of truth
and a lot of reconciliation
if we are to unite as a people,
as our constitution calls us to do,
seeking to form "a more perfect union."
Amen.
So mote it be.
Blessed be.
Loving ourselves and each other means holding ourselves and each other accountable for the things we think, say and do.
You have heard me speak often
about the Commandments.
I don't think or speak so much
about the Ten Commandments
nor even the 613 Commandments
(the total number of Commandments
in the Law of Moses).
I think and speak more
about the Two Great Commandments
as highlighted by Jesus
and other similar rabbis.
We are to love God
and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Accountability is an important expression
of the love we have for ourselves and each other
if we are to love effectively.
Accountability means taking responsibility
or being held responsible if we try to evade it
for the things we think, say and do
and their consequences.
In our time accountability has become
something of a watchword,
and I have the feeling that it is trying
to become part of contemporary jargon.
There are good reasons for that.
Too many public officials,
who are meant to be public servants,
from the top down,
are obviously trying to evade responsibility
for their actions and stewardship.
As a result we are all called to hold accountable
ourselves, each other
and the public officials
who are supposed to serve us.
The danger of the term of accountability
is its becoming a kind of jargon.
You may already know all too well
that jargon is one of my many hobby horses.
Jargon can be a kind of shorthand
to cover a complex subject in a few words
for those in the know.
As such it can be a useful tool.
At the same time, it can become a coverup,
hiding its meaning
from those who may also need to understand.
If the word, accountability, is to become jargon
it could enable some of us
to evade responsibility
for our actions and their consequences.
When that happens, it's a shame,
because it's the opposite of the intention
of our use of the word, accountability.
This brings to mind some of the unfortunate events
around the recent General Assembly of our
Unitarian Universalist Association.
Our neighbor, Todd Eklof, minister at the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane,
distributed a collection of three essays
in which he presented himself as a "gadfly."
By his own admission and according to an article
in the Spokane Spokesman Review,
he intended to speak against excessive
political correctness
in some current practices
of Unitarian Universalism.
As the use of language is being policed
to a high degree among us,
I perceive an example of accountability
running amok.
We all need to be accountable
for our use of language
that is deliberately hurtful toward other people.
At the same time,
we could easily become so careful of our words
that no one can say anything meaningful
to any other person.
Accountability, in the sense of taking responsibility,
does not always mean silence.
Speaking truth in love
does not normally mean saying things
that are hurtful.
We can achieve balance.
My feeling is that Rev. Eklof is calling us UU's
to a more balanced approach
regarding accountability for our words.
Ultimately he was asked
to depart the general assembly.
He had chosen not to attend a meeting
called to discuss his essays and their distribution,
so I'm not able to say or even guess
whether his exclusion from GA
was justified or not.
And yet...
I do see those events as an unfortunate example
of accountability, as I said, running amok.
My own pastor from the UUCP
of Moscow, Idaho, Elizabeth Stevens,
even in the middle of her sabbatical time,
wrote some of the wisest words I have read
on the subject of accountability:
"We are none of us perfect. Accountability isn’t scary. It is a gift...a gift that opens up possibilities for learning, growth and transformation. It’s the only way to create authentic Beloved Community."
Accountability means simply being called to account,
being asked to take responsibility,
for our actions and their consequences.
As such it is a contemporary expression
of the ancient and venerable tradition
of confession and absolution.
As Rev. Elizabeth said, "We are none of us perfect."
Therefore I would say that we all need
the opportunity to change course
and find a new and less hurtful way
to think, speak and act.
The necessary opportunity to change course
is important at all stages of our lives,
over and over again.
The work of accountability has been clearly seen
in public work
in the form of commissions
of Truth and Reconciliation.
During the transition away from Apartheid,
the Republic of South Africa pioneered the use of
a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation.
If ever there was a time and place in human history
in which a humane form
of accountability was needed,
it was that era in the life of
the Republic of South Africa.
Amnesty, an official and legal form of forgiveness,
was available to those who had wronged others
if they were willing to tell the truth
about what they had done.
I realize this is an oversimplification,
but it is an important tool
of accountability as a gift,
as a tool of bringing together
former enemies
in a truly Beloved Community.
As we work together toward accountability,
taking responsibility for our own lives,
Commissions for Truth and Reconciliation
can be useful tools toward building
a future together instead of division.
In the United States, one of our most serious issues
is the problems created and continued
by institutional racism.
A proposed 8th principle for our UU congregations
would address the issue
by means of accountability.
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
It would be the longest statement of principle.
Maybe it could be shortened
to fit with the other principles
by saying simply,
"Accountably dismantling racism
and other oppressions
in ourselves and our institutions.”
Without advocating for or against its inclusion,
I'm sharing it today not only
because accountability is central to it
but also because I believe it's important
and worthy of our consideration.
If we are to learn to love one another
effectively in our time,
we will need to face the truth together.
We can do so with open hearts and minds,
with good will and hope.
I want to present to you the question of our time,
no matter which side we are on
in the middle of our current divisions.
It is a question of accountability
and taking responsibility:
"Will we face the truth together in love?"
Our answer to that question will determine
whether our divisions become deeper
or we enter into a time of reconciliation.
Our problems are not to be compared with
those of the Republic of South Africa
as that nation moved away from Apartheid.
Yet we will need a lot of truth
and a lot of reconciliation
if we are to unite as a people,
as our constitution calls us to do,
seeking to form "a more perfect union."
Amen.
So mote it be.
Blessed be.
posted by pastorfred at 3:21 PM
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