And…
In our summer journey through the Unitarian Universalist Principles that name our shared values and, in theory, inform and guide our actions, we turn this week to the 8th Principle. Those of you who are familiar with the UU Principles may remember that we’ve had 7 Principles for a good long while. The 8th is a proposed principle that has already been adopted by more than 200 congregations. Our Association of congregations will vote in June 2023 on whether or not to adopt it. I am hoping UUCM will adopt it next spring at the annual meeting, just before the Association as a whole.
Both famous and infamous for our well-honed word-smithing propensity, Unitarian Universalists are likely first to think it wordy and in need of shortening, and then to think it needs to be articulated differently and with a different spin, and then…, and then…
Paula Cole Jones, one of the authors of the proposed 8th principle has asked us – implored us, in fact – to let go of those needs for the time being, and to ask ourselves whether we get the spirit of it. Do we get the spirit of it? Do we get what’s being asked of us, get what we would be required to do and why?
With that preamble, here is the mouthful of words, and an invitation to hear them heartfully. As with all the principles, it names what we together promise to affirm and promote. In this case:
“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.”
Do you get the spirit of it? Do you get the spirit of it?
This Sunday, with the help of UUCM’s Bending the Arc Toward Justice Task Force, you’ll hear more about the what and the why from both our young and slightly less-young members. Then, over the course of this congregation year, you’ll have chances to explore it, talk about it, and dance and wrestle with it, so that by next May or June, members will be ready to vote on whether or not to take on this long-term commitment.
As is so often true, this journey – both before and after such a vote – will be the destination.
I encourage you to take to heart the where and the why of this way sign.
With care,
Rev. Kevin