Just a few weeks ago, Unitarian Universalists from across the country gathered for General Assembly to reaffirm our deepest values—justice, democracy, and human dignity. Together, we envisioned the world we are building: one rooted in fierce love, bold resistance, and collective liberation.
Now, we return to a sobering reality.
The Supreme Court’s recent decision in United States v. Skrmetti strips transgender youth of life-affirming care. Efforts to dismantle birthright citizenship threaten the very promise of equality under the law. And now, a disturbing signal from the IRS threatens to undermine the long-standing separation of church and state by suggesting clergy may endorse political candidates from the pulpit.
These are not isolated events—they are part of a broader movement to entrench white Christian nationalism and roll back fundamental rights.
But here’s what we know: our faith was made for moments like this.
At GA, we recommitted ourselves to sacred, liberating work—defending LGBTQIA+ freedom, demanding immigrant justice, and affirming that our congregations can be prophetic without becoming partisan. We left not in despair, but with renewed fire.
Side With Love continues to walk with you—offering spiritual grounding, tools for action, and communities of care. Together, we are building a future where everyone belongs—no exceptions.
Keep showing up. Keep loving boldly.
In hope and solidarity,
The Side With Love Team
In a time when the line between church and state is under attack, the IRS has signaled a dangerous shift—suggesting clergy should be allowed to endorse political candidates from the pulpit. Though no official policy has changed yet, the implications are serious.
The UUA has long held a clear position: faith leaders must remain prophetic, not partisan. Side With Love and UU the Vote continue to provide guidance and resources to help congregations speak boldly on the moral issues of our time while staying within the bounds of 501(c)(3) law.
We call on all people of faith and conscience to defend the separation of church and state—an essential safeguard against rising authoritarianism and white Christian nationalism.
Read the full statement and access resources »
June Recording + Resources Now Available
Amidst the escalating crises from Los Angeles to DC to Gaza, Side with Love offers The Gathering to collectively rededicate ourselves to love, joy, and justice. Last night, we gathered to stoke that fierce love and rekindle our collective hope and dream of a world of beauty, love, peace, and respect. We gathered to remind each other that what each of us – each of YOU– does matters.
We gathered to make sure you are grounded in our faith and in specific actions YOU can do. From Shana’s music to Nicole’s teachings about strategy and power to Rev. Kentina’s presentation about the incredible faith rooted reproductive justice work SACReD, what will carry you through this week and motivate you in rooted, strategic action?
Missed it or want to revisit it?
Watch + Access Resources »
August The Gathering: Register Now!
This month, we followup on June's conversation about power with deeper teaching from Side with Love's Nicole Pressley and we'll spotlight a campaign by UUs in Georgia, as their state is facing a critical moment in its climate future - move towards cleaner & renewable forms of energy, or double down on the use of toxic coal and fossil fuels that will come with a hefty financial and environmental price tag. Georgia Power is trying to pursue the latter, and make Georgia families pay the costs. Learn how the UU Georgia Legislative Action Network, Side With Love, and Georgia Interfaith Power & Light have been organizing together to Claim Our Power in this critical moment. Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones, minister in Gwinnett Georgia, will ground us with music and prayer.
We proudly endorse Good Trouble Lives On, a national day of protest and community organizing in honor of Rep. John Lewis. With over 300 events planned, there are many ways to get involved.
Side With Love Action Center
The Action Center is your one-stop hub for powerful engagement across our justice priorities: climate justice, democracy, decriminalization, and LGBTQIA+ and gender justice.
New resources, events, and spiritual practices are posted weekly to help you grow, connect, and act.
Grounded, Resilient, & Responsible Toolkit
As threats rise, so must our resilience.
The Ground, Resilient, and Responsible Toolkit offers guidance for spiritually grounded, sustainable, and safe activism.
Our Faith Was Made for Moments Like This: July Update from Side with Love
I’ve looked into this and would love to go to a church or congregation or whatever it would be called. I feel like I’m missing something and would love to find a community of like minded people because where I live I’m kind of an outcast for being a liberal, non Christian person. The problem is that I will need to travel about an hour to find a congregation(?) and that’s fine, but I need to get over the idea that it feels like I’m joining a cult?? I believe that the right cult can suck anyone in, and while Christianity has never had potential to be my cult I have a worry in the back of my mind that if this is a cult it is one that could??
I’m not sure if this makes any sense, but I just want to discuss this with someone because I really need a community and don’t want to join something out of desperation that could be culty. I’m also not trying to say anyone here is culty, because I don’t think that but I also believe that for the right cult I WOULDNT think it sounds like one??
I’m a liberal person in a liberal college town looking to join a liberal fellowship, which all feels fine except for the fact that I’m Jewish. I’ve recently had a very hard time finding true acceptance in communities because they jump to conclusions upon learning I’m Jewish, even once I think I’ve eased their worries. Too many people think I support genocide (I don’t) no matter what I say. Is this likely going to be a problem at a UU fellowship? I’m tempted to just not mention to anyone that I’m Jewish. I’ve already been subject to hate crimes in this town; I don’t need more.
I’m also a bit concerned that some of the practices at my local fellowship border on cultural appropriation. There’s something about chanting in Sanskrit that makes me feel like it would be offensive for me, a white woman who has never stepped foot in India, to join in.
It’s already out of my comfort zone because there doesn’t appear to be anyone from my generation there - seems like the youngest folks are in their 60s. I’m not sure how much more discomfort I’m willing to knowingly subject myself to.
Can anyone offer some clarity on this? Are these common things to question with UU?
Here's some background information: I was homeschooled after 3rd grade and now that I'm an adult, I would like to make some friends. I'm wondering if joining one of these local churches would be a good way to do that? As for why I chose UU over other religions. That's because I'm an atheist and don't believe in a diety. This is one of the few religions that accept atheists and the only one with a meeting place near me.
The IRS recently made news by suggesting that clergy be allowed to endorse political candidates to their churches. While this potential change surfaced as part of a lawsuit the IRS is involved in, no changes to IRS policies or the laws governing political activity for nonprofits have been finalized or fully enacted.
For years, the UUA has published guidance to our congregations and leaders about how to be a prophetic voice advocating for UU values in the public square. Additionally, our faith has a long history of faithful statements and resolutions that unequivocally support the separation of church and state. As such, we are deeply concerned by the IRS’s actions which would further erode this fundamental principle and democracy itself. The UUA maintains adherence to this principle and calls on all people of faith and conscience to uphold this cornerstone of democracy. This serves both to safeguard the public pluralism of religious freedom and civil rights from government interference, and to preserve the independence of religious organizations, allowing us to follow our calling without entanglement from the state. Both are more important now than ever in pushing back against the rising tide of authoritarianism and the infiltration of white Christian nationalism into government and public policy.
We offer a plethora of resources supporting congregations in being “Prophetic, Not Partisan,” including “The Real Rules” -- a handy guidebook on appropriate political activity and justice organizing. This guidance is woven into all of our nonpartisan, pro-democracy work through UU the Vote. These recommendations remain the UUA’s best guidance on navigating IRS rules and current law governing non-profits, including congregations.
In the weeks and months ahead, we will continue to monitor the potential impact of any changes to nonprofit laws. In a time when UUs are under heightened scrutiny from hostile governmental leaders, we are particularly conscious that there are many who would seek any avenue to question our legitimacy and standing. Our guidance remains the same as it has always been to protect our essential position in our communities: partisan activity is incompatible with an organization’s 501(c)3 status, including for us as churches, while it remains our moral duty to advocate publicly and unapologetically for laws and policies that align with our shared UU values.
Side With Love Denounces IRS Undermining of the Johnson Amendment
(This is rambling thoughts of spiritual seeker) I'm just beginning to read and learn about Daoism and it's a nice fit for me. For a while now I've gone to my local UU church (not regularly) and feel like that fits as well. I like the activism part of UU but as I listen to more and more people speak on Daoism the more they follow the way the less they care. Do they fit?
Does anyone know of any similar phrasing, Spanish keywords, or other churches they have that approximate UU or are UU adjacent? The best i found was this new age group that pretended to be about secular humanism, but were talking about the "age of aquarious" and things like that.
Not that I judge people who believe that or brush it off,I'm into it a bit myself. it's just not the type of group I'm trying to find. I want to worship, I want to sing praise songs, I want the church experience but to "Come as I am" because I don't even have a label for me right now. I want parables from different religions, devotionals and stories instead of sermons. At least that's what I understand of UU.