Unitarian Universalism is a progressive religious movement in the midst of deep work around accountability, covenant, and the ethics by which we hold one anotherβs relative safety and wellbeing. Yesterday, our main Facebook page posted language stating that we honor all people βregardless of their actions.β This is simply untrue, and I apologize on behalf of the UUA for the distress raised by this language. I want to take the space here to explain why this language was rightly such a cause for concern.
To imply that any and all actions are honored here is not only incorrect, but it conflicts with the theological center of our tradition. Universalism is about personhood, not behavior β in other words, our faith makes the radical claim that everyone is born beloved, that no person is beyond the reach of Loveβs embrace, and there is always the possibility of redemption and repair. But because our faith is communal and covenantal, it also calls us to directly address harm, both interpersonal and systemic.
We are called to hold one another in love across a range of past mistakes, across a range of beliefs, across a range of identities and perspectives and a great many other things. We teach that there is always a path back into beloved community. But the covenant that lives at the center of our faith is grounded in love itself. And that love requires that we hold one another accountable for our actions, and that we do the work of repair when we have caused harm. Thank you, Beloveds, for your feedback and your depth of care for our values in the public square.
Photo: Copyright: Β© 2023 Nancy Pierce/UUA
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