January 20, 2023
Dear UU Casper Members;
The Unitarian Universalist 5th principle states that we covenant to affirm and promote, “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.” This has been denied to our trustees and members. The January 2023 UU Casper Board Report to the Congregation from Rev. Leslie Kee that was sent out was inaccurate. Decisions were not made with legally required protocols per UU Casper Bylaws and Wyoming State Law. Her contract and UU Casper Bylaws only permit her to be ex-officio, non-voting advisor to the UU Casper Board, outreach to attract new members, and minister to the congregation. Rev. Leslie Kee is a part-time independent contracted minister that is not credentialed by the UUMA.
Karon Windle, then board president, canceled the scheduled public board meeting for Tuesday, January 17, 2023. Then Karon, Brenda Evans, and Leslie held a secret meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, without inviting all board members, and in this meeting, they designated two new board members illegitimately and hired a new employee, without following the UU Casper Bylaws. The two trustees that were chosen are valued members of our UU Casper community, and our objection is not to their ability to serve on the board, but to the process that was used.
There have been multiple, inappropriate secret meetings as well as two board member resignations prior to the designation of the new board members. After seeking legal advice, we were advised to contact all trustees to hold an Emergency Powers Board Meeting. After notifying all trustees of the meeting time and date by email and text, we met at 6:30 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2023. The main purpose of this meeting was that the board was not legally able to function with fewer than the designated five trustees. At this meeting, we added three new board members to bring the trustees up to seven. In accordance with tradition with a new slate of board members, we reassigned executive positions. Subsequent to the Emergency Powers Board Meeting, on January 20, 2023 Karon Windle also resigned as a Trustee and member of UU Casper.
From our contacts with our community, a high proportion of members and friends are disillusioned by the way our minister has committed bullying, emotional abuse, and lack of good faith. There has been a long-standing pattern of bullying and emotional abuse as defined by UUMA guidelines. Egregious violation of UUMA Guidelines on multiple occasions is justification for Rev. Leslie Kee’s dismissal.
Leslie Kee pressured the trustees into approving access to the Treasurer’s confidential “shared drive” in the UU Casper cloud computer storage, which is normally only shared with a bookkeeper. Leslie Kee accessed donor information protected by the UU Casper Privacy Policy that has not been accessible to her in her entire 11 years as contracted minister for UU Casper.
For these reasons, we are calling for a Congregational Meeting for a vote of no confidence in Leslie Kee. Also, we will take a vote of support for the newly constituted Board.
Grievances against Rev. Leslie Kee include behaviors that fall under these categories:
Speech and/or behavior that is controlling, punishing, or manipulative.
Withholding communication, support, or resources.
Passive-aggressive behavior (covert hostility).
Inappropriately leaving numerous people out of decision-making.
Lying, blaming.
Opposing: a pattern of arguing against anything someone says, challenging their perceptions, opinions, and thoughts. Treating another as an adversary. Conversation is impossible.
Blocking: may include switching topics, accusations, or use of words or other means to stop conversation.
Discounting and belittling: minimizing or trivializing someone’s feelings, thoughts, experiences, or credentials.
Denying: denying that agreements or promises were made, or that a conversation or other events took place, including prior bullying behavior. In the extreme, a persistent pattern of denying is called gaslighting.
Stonewalling
Mishandling donor information and violations of the UU Casper Privacy Policy
Lack of transparency about her proposed changes to church governance and structure.
We humbly request your presence at the Congregational meeting to be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at 11:45 AM.
Sincerely,
Stuart Mackenzie, Melody Mackenzie, Elizabeth Jo Otto, Cindy Wright, Megan Jessup, and Damion Jessup
