Principles of UU:
Including Source #1: “The Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures,
which moves us to a renewal of the Spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold Life.
Seven Principles of UU
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Six Sources
- Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the Spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold Life
- The Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront (worldly) powers and (worldly) structures of evil …. with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of Love
- The Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life
- Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s Love by loving our neighbors as ourselves
- Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
- 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.
Widening the Circle of Concern
Report of the UUA Commission
on Institutional Change
(Notes)
RECOMMENDATIONS
Education about the covenantal nature of our faith will allow communities to support and nurture one another as the overall US climate becomes more hostile to and disinterested in a life of faith.
Returning to the practice of honoring covenant is essential in the world in which we find ourselves. The divisions between generations, between economic levels, and between people of different races, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities are unprecedented. If we remember that we are a
covenantal faith, we have a better chance of surviving the changing perceptions and attitudes about religion and faith in our nation.
Promote a more accurate understanding about what congregational polity is, especially its covenantal nature and its relationship with our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of people and their ability to participate in decision making through a values frame.
TAKE-AWAYS
An articulation of what is commonly believed among us need not result in a creedal test for membership or involvement in our communities.
These times require a liberatory faith that invites us each into the spiritual work of empathy and healing.
We need to put greater emphasis on what it means to be bound to one another in an interdependent web and in keeping with our covenantal tradition.
We need covenantal understandings among all affiliated Unitarian Universalist organizations about the need for equality, inclusion, and diversity initiatives.
https://www.uua.org/sites/live-new.uua.org/files/widening_the_circle-text_with_covers.pdf
