Principles and Purposes
The
Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association,
covenant to affirm and promote
- The inherent dignity and worth of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human
relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to
spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and
meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace,
liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of
all existence of which we are a part;
The
living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
- Direct experience of that transcending mystery and
wonder, affirmed
in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an
openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
- Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which
challenge us to
confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and
the transforming power of love;
- Wisdom from the world's religions which
inspires us in our ethical
and spiritual life;
- Jewish and Christian teachings which call
us to respond to God's love
by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
- Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the
guidance of reason
and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind
and spirit.
- Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions
which celebrate the
sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the
rhythms of nature.
Grateful
for the religious pluralism which
enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our
understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter
into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and
support.
The Purposes
of the Unitarian Universalist Association
The
Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and
exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and
humanitarian purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to
serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new
congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist
institutions and implement its principles.
The Association
declares and affirms its special responsibility, and that of its member
societies and organizations, to promote the full participation of
persons in all of its and their activities and in the full range of
human endeavor without regard to race, color, sex, disability,
affectional or sexual orientation, age, or national origin and without
requiring adherence to any particular interpretation of religion or to
any particular religious belief or creed.
Nothing herein shall
be deemed to infringe upon the individual freedom of belief which is
inherent in the Universalist and Unitarian heritages or to conflict
with any statement of purpose, covenant, or bond of union used by any
society unless such is used as a creedal test.
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