Two Unitarian Universalists, Paula Cole Jones and Bruce Pollack-Johnson, have proposed a new principle to add to our existing seven principles. The text they’ve proposed is:
“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, 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 and our institutions.”
More information, including where this came from and why they believe this is needed, is on the 8th principle website.
Congregations across the U.S. and Canada are considering this proposed principle and more than 200 of them have adopted it.
An 8th Principle Work Group has formed here at UUAA. We invite the congregation to learn about the proposed 8th principle and consider whether to adopt it. The 8th Principle Working Group is planning a variety of events to help congregants engage with the 8th principle:
- A forum on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 2 pm [complete – Handout for the forum ]
- A forum on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 2 pm [complete]
- A forum on Sunday, November 6th at 2:00 pm —Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)’s bylaws is under revision. Article II includes our UU seven principles and six sources. At this forum, we will look at the draft, which has just been released, and share our reactions to it.
Register for the Nov 6th forum using this link.
Download the handout for the forum — the UUA’s Article II draft - Dialogs (dates TBA)
- Other events TBA
Events on the 8th principle will be announced in UUAA’s monthly and weekly newsletters.
The following documents provide information on the proposed 8th principle. Some of them are by people in favor of the principle and others are by people who are opposed to the specific wording of this principle. All of them are intended to give you the information you need to start considering the proposed 8th principle.
- Background
- Supportive
- Concerns
You can download a zip file of all eight “Supportive” and “Concerns” PDF documents.
For more information about the proposed 8th principle, contact the 8th Principle Work Group at 8thprinciple@uuaa.org.