Immediately before the final vote on Article II at the 2024 General Assembly, Victoria Safford wrote,
“However we vote, we put love at the center, unflinching, insistent: this free faith we so cherish
reveres the past and trusts the dawning future more. We believe in evolution—unfolding always, not
unraveling—and revelation is not sealed.”
Article II of the UUAs Bylaws, the section of the Bylaws defining the principles and purposes of the
UUA, is “the foundation for all of the work of our UUA and its member congregations and covenanted
communities” according to the UUA.
This year the delegates at GA voted to approve a new statement of values and beliefs, replacing the
seven principles which had comprised Article II since 1985. The Principles and language of 1985
were a radical shift from those adopted in 1961, removing language about God and replacing “man”
and “men” and “brotherhood” with more inclusive language. In was in 1985 that the earth-based
religions were added for the first time.
In 1985 the language shifted because of the Women’s Movement. In 2024 the changes were called
for from multiple directions. It was a response to the Black Lives Matter Movement, the Trump
presidency, LGBTQ+ activists, the immigration movement, and more.
At the end of June, 2024, “the faith’s new expression of shared values was adopted by a vote of
2,025 (80.2 percent) to 499 (19.8 percent) with 21 abstaining” (from UU World, “Love at the Center:
New UU Statement of Values Passes after Momentous General Assembly Delegate Vote” by Elaine
McArdle).
The new shared values are Equity, Generosity, Interdependence, Justice, Pluralism, and
Transformation, centered around Love, each with it’s own description. This article has links to the
actual language: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/uua-article-ii-passes-general-assembly-unitarianuniversalism-bylaws-vote-values-statement
Here at UUCOV, I’ll be preaching about the change to Article II on January 5th, and after that service
there will be time for people to discuss this change.
Because it brings us to an issue that congregations across the country are each approaching in their
own way- given that we have no creed as a denomination, what will we as a congregation do with the
Seven Principles?
How will we stand, or not stand, in relation to them, now that they are no longer a part of the
principles and purposes of the UUA?
This is a good time for you to begin thinking about how you feel about the Seven Principles, and how
you want UUCOV to go forward.
I look forward to talking with you throughout the next few months as you consider where you stand.
Warmly,
Rev. Amy