Dear colleagues:
The members of your LREDA Board have met via teleconference several
times in the past month regarding the circumstances that will confront
attendees of the 2008 General Assembly in
Our challenge, as a Board, was to consider the disparity between our commitment to being “an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural welcoming organization that supports and advocates for religious educators of every age, race/ethnicity, class, gender, gender identity, physical ability and sexual orientation” (from the Preamble to our By-laws), and the opportunities that participation in General Assembly creates for “providing continuous education, networking and sharing resources, advocating for professional recognition, and providing assistance and encouragement for religious educators.” (from the LREDA mission statement)
Ultimately, the Board voted on whether or not to support our Association with a LREDA presence at General Assembly, with six “yes,” one “no,” and one “abstention.” It was felt by those members voting “yes” that this was an opportunity to stand by the Association’s efforts to uphold learning opportunities around issues of civil liberties and immigration, so as to better understand and correct the “privilege we enjoy that is denied to others” (Sinkford, 2007). We will be discussing that mandate further in our Board meetings between now and June.
The members of the LREDA Board understand and respect the concerns that might compel you to choose differently, just as we appreciate the varieties of opinion shared among the Board itself. We are united by our firm commitment to working through the democratic process towards our ideals as we move forward in this work.
Your LREDA Board,
Lori Allen, Susan Archer, Anne Bancroft, Cindy Leitner, Ginger Luke, Cathy Seggel, Kathy Silver, Patti Withers