Proposal for A New Organizational Framework:
Modeling Diversity, Inclusive Membership and A United Revelation Community
Marilynn Kulieke
February 5, 1999

CURRENT FELLOWSHIP PHILOSOPHY

The Urantia Book Fellowship is a fraternal association of individuals, families and groups inspired by the bookšs transformative teachings. Through worldwide support of study, dissemination of study and reader services, the Fellowship embraces individual diversity while striving for spiritual unity. The Fellowship is committed to the ideals of cosmic citizenship among The Urantia Book community and the peoples of the world.

THE ORIGINAL FRAMEWORK OF A UNITED URANTIA REVELATION COMMUNITY

The original model of a united Urantia revelation community was that of a single umbrella socio-fraternal organization named Urantia Brotherhood. When our organization was Urantia Brotherhood we were the socio-fraternal manifestation of the revelation. Our function was to be the formal organizational structure which would scaffold the socio-fraternal outworking of the revelation on this planet. Most individuals who joined Urantia Brotherhood were made to feel special. It must have been quite exciting to become a part of the organization. There was no other organization to join if you were passionate about the Urantia Book and were inspired to serve it - Urantia Brotherhood was all. When you became a part of the Brotherhood you were a part of the unfolding of the Urantia revelation on our planet. There was secrecy and information left from the revelators. The Brotherhood could afford to be selective in their membership policies and it was even beneficial to be selective because the instructions from the revelators were clear-- protect the revelation from harm in its infancy so that it would be ready for its worldwide mission in the future. Do not grow too fast because this is a revelation for a later time. Be wary of individuals until they prove themselves because they may attempt to twart the revelation. The leadership knew the instructions and diversity of opinion was not an asset. The core set of beliefs and values of the early Brotherhood was based on "protection" and not on "service" or "diversity".

The situation has now changed. We are no longer Urantia Brotherhood with its special place in the outworking of the revelation. We no longer have individuals who have special instructions left by the revelators. We no longer are alone but have IUA and Urantia Foundation taking on a role in what was originally our work. IUA is a competitor for membership, making our job even harder. Form must now follow function and our form is not what it was originally. Our challenge is to clearly define our value to the revelation community and to provide reasons that readers of the book should join with us in the work that we were established to do. We need to allow for diversity of viewpoints so that all individuals feel that they can join with us. Our reason for existence canšt be to stand up to Urantia Foundation. Reasons for joining us need to be such things as "I want to help spread this revelation on our planet" or "I want to join with others like me who want to share their passion for the Urantia Book" or "I want to access the resources that you can provide".

We are beginning this reformation. Thanks to the work of Lorrie Krasny and Alison Gardner, our public relation efforts are beginning to provide reasons for people to want to join us. Thanks to David Kantor's work on the website we have a pool of individuals that our organization has reached out and found. Now, an essential task that we must complete is to create a form for ourselves that will mirror the values that we claim to hold as important - diversity, community, unity and inclusiveness.

A NEW MODEL FOR THE URANTIA REVELATION COMMUNITY

The old model for the Urantia revelation community created a "community by design". There was only one organization. History saw the destruction of this naissance and fragile umbrella Urantia community that was envisionned by the founders. This has left us with a form that breeds disunity. From the original contact that a reader makes with a study group or organization, there is schism. The split - the reasons and the emotions that are still felt by many- often eclipse the teachings which drew the individual to seek contact with others. We must stop this. A community can not easily grow in the soil of division. A strong base is needed that will allow for diversity of expression without division or contention.

What does this mean for the Fellowship now?

First, we need to model our belief in diversity by creating an organization which has space for all persons interested in the teachings regardless of any other affiliations.

Second, we need to create a membership policy which is not focussed on sorting and separating individuals who meet our standards for membership but is focussed on the desire of the individual to join with others who are attempting to grow spiritually and serve the Fellowship of believers. This must be done both at the member-at-large and society chartering level.

Third, we canšt continue in this competitive environment to build an organization based on geographical clusters of readers. As long as IUA and the Fellowship are competing for readers on a geographical level where study groups reside, there can not be a united community. What follows are three proposals which attempt to place into action the values of diversity, inclusive membership and a united revelation community. These proposals were designed as not to require a constitutional change.

PROPOSAL #1 - MODELING DIVERSITY

Resolution

Whereas the Fellowship seeks to fulfill its purposes of worldwide support of study, dissemination of study and reader services through the medium of fraternal association and; Whereas the Fellowship encourages Urantia Book readers from diverse backgrounds and belief systems to join together with other likeminded individuals in sharing their passions and interests in the Urantia Book; Therefore be it resolved that the Fellowship establish a worldwide network of interest groups which are organized to support individuals who have common interests in order to enhance their own personal growth as well as in sharing their interests with the broader reader community.

PROPOSAL #2 - INCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP

Resolution

Whereas the Fellowship seeks to fulfill its purposes of worldwide support of study, dissemination of study and reader services through the medium of fraternal association and; Whereas the Fellowship strives to provide resources for Urantia Book readers who desire to serve the revelation on this planet; Therefore be it resolved that the membership policy of the Urantia Book Fellowship be inclusive of any individual who is interested in serving the revelation on this planet and be based on the premise of diversity of expression related to The Urantia Book and committment to spiritual unity of the worldwide revelation community. In addition, be it resolved that we encourage societies to have an inclusive membership policy and that we revise our chartering policies and procedures to be aligned with the values of inclusivity and diversity.

PROPOSAL #3 - UNITED REVELATION COMMUNITY

Resolution

Whereas the Fellowship desires the creation of a worldwide Urantia revelation community which is united in spirit and free from the schism created by the dislicensing of Urantia Brotherhood and; Whereas the study group is the basic geographical representation of the fraternal association of readers; Therefore be it resolved that study groups should be not affiliated with any organization, that a joint study group directory should be created by The Urantia Book Fellowship and Urantia Foundation and that reader referrals should be given freely to any study group or member of the Urantia revelation community in close proximity to other readers.

[Editor's note: These proposals were sent to Committee by the General Council. The basic provisions of Proposals 1 and 2 have been integrated into Fellowship internal procedures. Proposal 3 remains a desired ideal.]