Article II
Slides by: Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Landrum, �First Parish Church of Stow and Acton
Without reading them, what about the UU Principles is most meaningful or important to you?
Without reading them, what about the UU Principles is most meaningful or important to you?
Responses from
First Parish Church of Stow and Acton
Your Valued Principles
SEVENTH
FIRST
FIFTH
FOURTH
SECOND
THIRD
SIXTH
Concepts Valued in the Principles
Fears About Changing the Principles
(“ok as they are” and
“do not mess with them”)
Article II
Original 1961 Article II Principles
In accordance with these corporate purposes, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Association, dedicated to the principles of a free faith, unite in seeking:
The Current UU Principles (1985-1986)
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bVJYh3nCjjd2QySqknjmh3Su2rtsk_lu/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102609825933854387758&rtpof=true&sd=true
Other 1985-1986 Changes
“Sources” are added following the “Principles” in that section.
Portions of the previous 1961 Principles are moved to new sections that are created on Freedom of Belief, Non-Discrimination, and Purposes.
Comparison of 1961 and 1985-6 Principles
1961 Principles
In accordance with these corporate purposes, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Association, dedicated to the principles of a free faith, unite in seeking:
1985-86 Principles (Current)
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
The ideas in the second and fifth principles from 1961 are moved to other parts of Article II –
#2 to the Sources (below the Principles)
#5 to the Purposes
Changes to the 1985-1986 Article II �Through the Years
1995: Sixth Source added to the “Sources” in the C-2.1 Principles Section
Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Changes to the 1985-1986 Article II �Through the Years
2009: Changes Rejected
The vote was �573 to 586 !!
Changes to the 1985-1986 Article II �Through the Years
2013: Some of the previously rejected changes in 2009 are made to the “Non-Discrimination” section, now titled “Inclusion”
“Non-discrimination” changed to “Inclusion.”
Change “persons and groups with particular identities, ages, abilities, and histories,” to “replace such barriers with ever-widening circles of solidarity and mutual respect.”
Changes to the 1985-1986 Article II �Through the Years
2017 Amendments both Pass and Fail
Failed: Change the first principle from “We covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people” to of “…all beings.”
Passed: Change one of the sources from “prophetic words and deeds of men and women” to “…people.”�
Changes to the 1985-1986 Article II �Through the Years
2017 Amendments both Pass and Fail
Failed: Change the first principle from “We covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all people” to of “…all beings.”
Passed: Change one of the sources from “prophetic words and deeds of men and women” to “…people.”�
Recent Years: An 8th Principle has been suggested, and passed by individual congregations.
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.
Changes to the 1985-1986 Article II �Through the Years
2023 Proposed Article II: Purposes and Covenant
The “Sources” Compared with “Inspirations”
Current “Sources”
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, �we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. �As free congregations we enter into this covenant, �promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
Proposed “Inspirations”
As Unitarian Universalists, we use, and are inspired by, sacred and secular understandings that help us to live into our values. We respect the histories, contexts and cultures in which they were created and are currently practiced. These sources ground us and sustain us in ordinary, difficult, and joyous times. Grateful for the religious ancestries we inherit and the diversity which enriches our faith, we are called to ever deepen and expand our wisdom.
As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our association, to support and assist one another in our ministries.
We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.
Inseparable from one another, these shared values are:
Proposed Values and Covenant (2023)
Other Sources in the Values & Covenant
The “Unitarian Trinity” of
“Freedom, Reason & Tolerance”
Earl Morse Wilbur, from
A History of Unitarianism�Socinianism and its Antecedents
… a movement fundamentally characterized instead by its steadfast and increasing devotion to these three leading principles: first, complete mental freedom in religion rather than bondage to creeds or confessions; second, the unrestricted use of reason in religion, rather than reliance upon external authority or past tradition; third, generous tolerance of differing religious views and usages rather than insistence upon uniformity in doctrine, worship or polity.
Values
As Unitarian Universalists in religious community, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.
Other Sources in the Values & Covenant
James Luther Adams’�Five Smooth Stones
FREEDOM: "All relations between persons ought ideally to rest on mutual, free consent and not on coercion."
AGENCY (COVENANT): “[W]e deny the immaculate conception of virtue and affirm the necessity of social incarnation."
HOPE: “[L]iberalism holds that the resources (divine and human) that are available for the achievement of meaningful change justify an attitude of ultimate optimism."
Values
As Unitarian Universalists in religious community, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.
Equity.
We declare that every person has the right
to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention,
and money to build and sustain
fully accessible and inclusive communities.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
Values
Equity. We declare that every person has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness. We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.
Generosity.
We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
We covenant to freely and compassionately
share our faith, presence, and resources.
Our generosity connects us to one another
in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Other Sources in the Values & Covenant
Martin Luther King, Jr.
In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be...�This is the inter-related structure of reality.
Values
Interdependence. We honor the sacred interdependent web of all existence. We covenant to cherish Earth and all beings by creating and nurturing relationships of care and respect. With humility and reverence, we acknowledge our place in the great web of life, and we work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Generosity. We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Interdependence.
We honor the interdependent web of all existence.
We covenant to cherish Earth and all beings by creating and nurturing relationships of care and respect.
With humility and reverence, we acknowledge our place in the great web of life, and we work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Values
Interdependence. We honor the sacred interdependent web of all existence. We covenant to cherish Earth and all beings by creating and nurturing relationships of care and respect. With humility and reverence, we acknowledge our place in the great web of life, and we work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Justice.
We work to be diverse multicultural �Beloved Communities where all thrive.
We covenant to dismantle racism �and all forms of systemic oppression. �We support the use of inclusive �democratic processes to make decisions.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
Proposed 8th Principle: 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.
Values
Justice. We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
Values
Justice. We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions.
Other Sources in the Values & Covenant
James Luther Adams’�Five Smooth Stones
JUSTICE: "Religious liberalism affirms the moral obligation to direct one's effort toward the establishment of a just and loving community. It is this which makes the role of the prophet central and indispensable in liberalism."
Values
Justice. We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
Values
Justice. We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions.
Right of Conscience appears in the later section “C-2.5 Freedom of Belief”
Transformation.
We adapt to the changing world.
We covenant to collectively transform
and grow spiritually and ethically.
Openness to change is fundamental
to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages,
never complete and never perfect.
Other Sources in the Values & Covenant
James Luther Adams’�Five Smooth Stones
"Religious liberalism depends on the principle that 'revelation' is continuous."
Values
Transformation. We adapt to the changing world. We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Other Sources in the Values & Covenant
Lewis Fisher, “Which Way”
"Universalists are often asked to tell where they stand. The only true answer to give to this question is that we do not stand at all, we move. "
Values
Transformation. We adapt to the changing world. We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
Values
Pluralism. We celebrate that we are all sacred beings diverse in culture, experience, and theology. We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Transformation. We adapt to the changing world. We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Pluralism.
We celebrate that we are all sacred beings �diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free �and responsible search for truth and meaning. �We embrace our differences and commonalities �with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
Values
Pluralism. We celebrate that we are all sacred beings diverse in culture, experience, and theology. We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Comparing Principles with Values & Covenant
Principles
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Values
Justice. We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive…
Equity. We declare that every person has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness…�
Generosity. We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. �We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources…
The UU Principles – Highlighting �what remains in the proposed Article II.
Proposed 8th Principle: 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.
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
Right of Conscience appears in the later section “C-2.5 Freedom of Belief”
Article II is More than the Principles
Current Article II: �Principles and Purposes
Proposed Article II: �Purposes and Covenant
Purposes
Current Purposes
The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles.
Proposed Purposes
The Unitarian Universalist Association will devote its resources to and use its organizational powers for religious, educational, and humanitarian purposes. Its primary purposes are to assist congregations in their vital ministries, support and train leaders both lay and professional, to foster lifelong faith formation, to heal historic injustices, and to advance our Unitarian Universalist values in the world. The purpose of the Unitarian Universalist Association is to actively engage its members in the transformation of the world through liberating Love.
Inclusion
Current Inclusion
Systems of power, privilege, and oppression have traditionally created barriers for persons and groups with particular identities, ages, abilities, and histories. We pledge to replace such barriers with ever-widening circles of solidarity and mutual respect. We strive to be an association of congregations that truly welcome all persons and commit to structuring congregational and associational life in ways that empower and enhance everyone’s participation.
Proposed Inclusion
Systems of power, privilege, and oppression have traditionally created barriers for persons and groups with particular identities, ages, abilities, and histories. We pledge to replace such barriers with ever-widening circles of solidarity and mutual respect. We strive to be an association of congregations that truly welcome all persons who share our values. We commit to being an association of congregations that empowers and enhances everyone’s participation, especially those with historically marginalized identities.
Freedom of Belief
Current Freedom of Belief
Nothing herein shall be deemed to infringe upon the individual freedom of belief which is inherent in the Universalist and Unitarian heritages or to conflict with any statement of purpose, covenant, or bond of union used by any congregation unless such is used as a creedal test.
Proposed Freedom of Belief
Congregational freedom and the individual’s right of conscience are central to our Unitarian Universalist heritage. Congregations may establish statements of purpose, covenants, and bonds of union so long as they do not require that members adhere to a particular creed.
Right of Conscience is from the 5th Principle.
Love
Interdependence
Pluralism
Justice
Transformation
Generosity
Equity
Graphic by
Cynthia Landrum