Dear friends,

Happy New Year! I am sending you care as we begin another year. This, 2023, is an important year for Unitarian Universalism.

We are currently in a multi-year process to consider changes to our UUA Principles and Purpose. This process formally began in 2020 when the UUA Board appointed an Article II Study Commission. This is a dry name for such important work. The reason is our Principles, Purpose, covenant and Sources are contained in Article II of the UUA Bylaws.

Our seven Principles and six Sources – which we know and love – were adopted in 1985. They offered a substantial (even radical) change from what preceded them. The changes came through years of effort by UU women, particularly the UU Women’s Federation, to push for gender equality in UUism, support for women in the ministry and to eliminate sexist language from our bylaws, hymns, and yes, from the version of Article II passed in 1961 (at the time of merger).

But the changes didn’t just address gender, they made significant language changes that reflected the times. It removed language of God, man, and brotherhood, but also added the language of interdependence and added sources reflecting the growing theological diversity shaping our tradition.

As a lifelong UU, coming of age after these changes, I am grateful. They changed our movement in ways that were important for the success of women leaders, ministers, and for me, as our first elected woman president. These changes, at the time, brought fierce dissent. But more, they inspired excitement and possibility.

Why Review Our UU Principles and Purpose?

In the mid-2010’s, the ground began to shift again – much as it did in response to the women’s movement. The emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the election of Donald Trump with his racist and misogynist campaign, and the urgent calls to confront white supremacy culture in our own movement – all of these compelled UUs to ask questions about whether our Principles reflected fully who we are and who we need to be.

By the 2017 General Assembly, there were multiple grassroots efforts to change our Principles. The first was overwhelmingly adopted – to change “prophetic women and men” to “prophetic people” to move beyond gender binary. There was also a proposal to change the first principle from “the inherent worth and dignity of all people” to the “inherent worth and dignity of all beings.” This proposal was ultimately tabled as delegates grappled with the reality that we still had a lot of work on living the first Principle for people. Discussions of the Eighth Principle were also taking place and by 2020, hundreds of UU congregations had adopted it! The Eighth Principle recognized the need to go beyond aspirational Principles to articulate commitments to dismantle systems of oppression – calling us from aspiration to action.

It was within this context that your UUA Board appointed an Article II Study Commission to integrate these conversations and lead a discernment process for our whole Association about our core values, covenant, and purpose. The Board gave the Commission a broad charge to review, change, or reimagine Article II to “enable our UUA, our member congregations, and our covenanted communities to be a relevant and powerful force for spiritual and moral growth, healing, and justice.”

After two and a half years of study and conversations with thousands of Unitarian Universalists, the Article II Study Commission submitted their final report and proposal to the UUA Board for its January 20th meeting. Read the report and proposal (PDF 26 pages). https://www.uua.org/files/2023-01/a2sc_rpt_01172023.pdf

This spring, congregational delegates and the Board can propose amendments to the proposal. Amendments will be considered at the 2023 GA and require a majority vote to be accepted. If any of the delegate amendments are accepted, and if the proposal receives majority approval, then the Article II Study Commission will make any necessary changes to create a final draft for consideration at the 2024 General Assembly. The final proposal will require a two thirds majority vote at GA 2024 to be adopted.

Seven years ago, when I was beginning my campaign for UUA President, I approached the process with an intention to be open to the process while letting go of outcomes. My hope for us as Unitarian Universalists is that we approach this discernment about Article II with similar openness. May we enter our conversations with a spirit of curiosity, holding off attachment to outcomes, and listen with our whole hearts and to the fullness and diversity of voices in our community. May the process itself deepen our understanding of and commitment to our faith.

Yours,
Susan
https://www.uua.org/pressroom/press-releases/why-change-principles

So I was in a coffee hour zoom break room with the CLFUU (separate from their regular zooms). The conversation was basically about oppression vs liberation and what could that look like for various people. I piped up because as a low income person on SSDI there’s a lot of restrictions that go with different levels of SSI and SSDI. In my case, I basically can’t choose who I get to marry if I get married and the big one that gets everyone stumped is I can’t work but so many hours. The kicker is, that rule only applies if I want to stay in the oppressive lower class of America. I never wanted to be here but despite having a college degree and am relatively smart; most people (even others on these degrading programs); only stick with the oppressive belief that you can’t work too many hours or make to much money on Social Security programs. My degree is in Sociology, so I totally understand what I’m talking about when I say I want to break out of poverty, not be on SSDI and get the opportunity to be middle class or better. I’m sick of living in public housing and other shit. In this break room, two others were also on similar programs. The man was trying to support my goals and understood what I was trying to achieve but the lady who was also on an SSA program was still in the poverty/oppressive mindset of “you can’t make too much money on SSDI, etc”, the man and I called her out, she apologized but nothing got solved because the break room timed out and I was so mad I left the coffee hour. I’ve had similar issues with my local UU basically being classist toward me too. So I don’t know why UU’s don’t encourage their disabled people more to fight the ableism and classist oppression that our US government puts us in. It saddens me how much so many disabled people I live with in my apartment and online who don’t try harder to fight the classism and ableist oppression they’ve been dealt.

I am wondering what “love” means for you.

I am particularly interested in hearing whether or not you think that, in order to love someone or a group of people, you need to be in a personal relationship with them.

In other words, is some level of emotional intimacy necessary in order to love? Can someone “love” abstract groups of people? What does it mean to “love” humanity as opposed to “loving” people in one’s life one actually knows. Should there be two separate words to describe whatever this abstract “love” is and the love that involves an emotional, complex connection with actual known individual(s)?

We got to a UU "church" with a "minister" on Sundays - where we "worship" and sometimes sing "hymns". I really don't like all the psuedo-Protestant language. And "worship" is the hardest for me. I do not worship or venerate any deity or concept. That language makes my skin itch. (I've been told worship doesn't have to be directed towards any object. Sure, Jan). I'm not mad that people use and like the term. But for me.... I'd like to know some good alternative terms to use to make me feel comfortable when I get invite in the weekly email to "attend worship".

Hello ya'll! I'm interested in becoming an UUA minister. I was formerly an ordained minister with a non-denomination congregation as well as worked 10+ years in ministry with the Salvation Army and United Methodist Church. (my theology has become way more liberal and progressive). I have a Master of Theology, but from my understanding, I would need to complete a MDiv. I would enjoy doing so, but am quite leery of the cost, as well as I can't really move and attend in person as I own business's where I live. Does anybody know of a low-cost, online MDiv?
Also, I feel that I have enough relevant experience and would have no problem starting at a congregation tomorrow (hopefully, I don't come across as arrogant!). I don't mind furthering my education, but would rather not wait years until I finish an MDiv, etc.
My observation (I humbly admit I could be wrong) is that there are congregations that are in need of ministers (I have noticed some having openings for over a year!). Yes, some are part-time positions, but I feel someone like me (who doesn't need full-time work) could fill the congregation's needs.
Any advice or thoughts? Thanks!

Hello ya'll! I'm interested in becoming an UUA minister. I was formerly an ordained minister with a non-denomination congregation as well as worked 10+ years in ministry with the Salvation Army and United Methodist Church. (my theology has become way more liberal and progressive). I have a Master of Theology, but from my understanding, I would need to complete a MDiv. I would enjoy doing so, but am quite leery of the cost, as well as I can't really move and attend in person as I own business's where I live. Does anybody know of a low-cost, online MDiv?
Also, I feel that I have enough relevant experience and would have no problem starting at a congregation tomorrow (hopefully, I don't come across as arrogant!). I don't mind furthering my education, but would rather not wait years until I finish an MDiv, etc.
My observation (I humbly admit I could be wrong) is that there are congregations that are in need of ministers (I have noticed some having openings for over a year!). Yes, some are part-time positions, but I feel someone like me (who doesn't need full-time work) could fill the congregation's needs.
Any advice or thoughts? Thanks!

What would you recommend for someone like me that is interested in UU, and is seeking to practice it outside of the US or other countries that have UU congregations?

What would you recommend for someone like me that is interested in UU, and is seeking to practice it outside of the US or other countries that have UU congregations?

Hello, does anyone know if there is an UU group in Spain? Thank you in advance .

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A great number, if not the majority of the members of my local church are agnostic or atheist. There are quite a few who practice Wicca/wicca-influenced paganism. I’m one of the only Buddhists who regularly attends (AFAIK, the only one.)

I would love to hear from other UUs who are otherwise religious (especially Buddhist UUs) about their experiences! Personally, I love my congregation and I almost always have a great time when I go, but I sometimes find myself bored with some of the more secular aspects.

Hello I am an early 40’s single male. Live alone, no children and no friends. I have depression so bad that I got fired from my job two weeks ago. . I lost a very close family member and have been literally the lowest point in my life. I am now to the point that I do not have the power to even turn on a light because the light just makes me more depressed. I know reddit has some really good people though and I hate to ask but could someone please maybe spare me $10 to get something to eat? I was single so I really never bought groceries just ate takeout mostly cause it’s so cheap and now I am dead broke, no job, no food, no way to pay rent at the end of the month, and still waiting for my unemployment to be approved and searching for jobs and cannot find any due to having no car (I worked previously from home) and it is a rural area. I have cashapp if anyone can help, I hate to do this and this is the most embarrassing thing to ask, but I have asked churches for help and to no avail. Honestly living in a small southern town and being openly lgbt is awful. I so cannot wait to get a way out of here and move up north. But right now I’m hungry. I’ve been calling my therapist off and on and it’s helped a little but when you lose the person who raises you it takes a lot out of you. Especially when you’re used to seeing them everyday. Anyways, I know I don’t have it any worst than most and need to look at the bright side, but it’s hard. If anyone could help me with anything at all I will get it back to you when I get on my feet I swear. And I will eventually I just need a little help right now and have no one. I’ve also tried payday loans but no job and a horrible credit history has barred me from that. Anyways, thanks for reading and please send me positive vibes, and even if you can’t help I feel better just venting and am open to all advice. I’m just hungry and literally ate my last piece of bread this morning. Anyway, thanks so much for reading this. And hope I didn’t depress you too bad today.