The UUCT BIPOC group is a support group for its members. They do not take an advocacy role in the congregation. Allies for Racial Equity (ARE) is the white-identified advocacy group whose mission calls us to: “Confront and dismantle racism and racial inequity in ways that are accountable to communities of color and, in particular, […]
The 8th Principles asks us to understand how racism and other oppressions affect us as individuals and as a congregation. It challenges us to consistently build relationships of mutual trust and responsibility across lines of difference. Together, we will examine white-centered practices in our congregational life including structure, leadership, and worship. We will change these […]
Other UU congregations: Host ongoing opportunities for learning including anti-racism and anti-bias workshops and training. Encourage and practice support of local businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and other peoples of color. Audit their church by-laws, policies, and practices. Explore reparations projects. Financially support participation of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, and other peoples of […]
The concept of race was created centuries ago to support a system of enslaving people. We won’t dismantle the effects of this long history of racism through our efforts alone. We won’t even completely dismantle racism and other oppressions in our congregation. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to do whatever we can. We can […]
My last Meridian Article introduced the Principles as adopted in the 1960s. The first major revision was in the mid 1980s. It is striking to read the original 6. They reflect their time. The language is male-centered and Judeo-Christian is the only religious tradition. The members of the UU Women’s Federation [UUWF] took issue. There […]
For me, Beloved Community means creating the space where everyone can be their whole selves, not just those who are already here; where no one feels the need to hide a part of their identity, or who they really are, to be accepted into our church community. A first step can be practicing the radical […]
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations are the ends that we affirm and promote in the second UU principle. The end we covenant to affirm in the 8th Principle is more expansive and all-encompassing: “diverse, multicultural Beloved Community.” What might that look like? The phrase “beloved community” was coined by philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce and […]
Hopefully before the 8th principle is adopted by UUCT, all members of the congregation will have become familiar with what the principle means. If it is well known to everyone, discussed within the congregation, and talked about in church services, then it can become owned by every member of the church. That’s why the Allies […]
I first heard about the proposed 8th Principle almost two years ago. My initial reaction was: “Wow, that’s a lot to say and remember!” “We covenant to affirm and promote 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 […]
We often say that Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal rather than creedal religion. Rather than professing a common set of beliefs, UU congregations and their members make promises with each other and their communities; mutual promises to journey together in certain ways. Covenants are powerful. They can change a culture. They can transform relationships, communities, […]
