Bread Not Stone: Pondering the Principles
Hello friends,
It is such a full time for us in our congregation. We’re kicking off our pledge drive to plan for next year’s budget. We’re working to create new possibilities for moving from contract ministry to settled ministry. We are beginning to read and explore Mistakes and Miracles together as a congregational read.
And there’s lost happening in our larger movement as well, including exploring how we describe and envision our faith tradition through Article II of the bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
If you don’t know, Article II of the UUA bylaws contain the formal statement of our UU Principles and Purposes: saying what the purpose of our association is, what are the principles around which we live our faith out in the world, and what the sources and inspiration are for that work and that faith.
It is intended that we revisit this portion of our association’s bylaws to see how they reflect the actual lived reality of Unitarian Universalism. There has been an appointed commission working for the past few years on a revision of Article II. They have engaged in forums, surveys, small-group conversations, and meetings throughout the year and at General Assembly. They have received thousands and thousands of pieces of feedback: suggestions, concerns, imaginings, possibilities.
And they have crafted a revised Article II which they have presented to the UUA Board this past month. You can find their full report at the link below. It describes their charge, the process, and the proposed new language.
This proposed language will be explored at gatherings before General Assembly in June and possible amendments may be added. If the proposal is approved (by simple majority) at GA this year, it will need to be approved again with a 2/3 majority at GA in 2024 in order for it to be officially adopted into the UUA bylaws.
Please read it. When you do, you will see that it is quite different from our current Principles and Sources. It highlights our shared values and the promises/covenants we make with each other as we live these values out in our lives and communities.
I encourage you to read it with curiosity. I encourage you to read it, notice you first reactions, and take some time to think and ponder. And then read it again.
We will have opportunities in the coming months in our congregation to discuss and explore this proposal. And I’ll be preaching about it. I hope you’ll engage in these conversations with love, curiosity, and open hearts.
Here’s the link: Article II Study Report 2021 – 2023
In peace and love,
Rev. Ian
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