Defining ourselves

Many Unitarian Universalists seem to have an abiding desire to define and redefine themselves and their religious project.

At our recent end-of-summer retreat, members of the Board of Trustees expressed strong interest in developing a Mission Statement for May Memorial. You can expect to hear more about that during the coming year.

This past church year, the congregation adopted a Covenant of Right Relations to help guide our daily church life. This follows years of Cottage Meetings, Listening Circles and other small- and large-group sessions exploring the spirit and mission of this religious community. Back in 2003, the board adopted an Action Plan with a Statement of Aspiration for MMUUS, vowing that “we will support and challenge each other in our effort to understand and live out the Principles of our Covenant, and we will reach out and offer what we have to the Central New York community.” Of course the covenant referred to in 2003 is not the “right relations” document adopted last year, but rather the Statement of Principles and Purposes for the entire denomination.

The simple, eloquent statement of Seven Principles is accompanied by the Six Sources of UU faith. Here are the principles in their entirety: “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: the inherent worth and dignity 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.”

This statement is a foundation stone for my UU faith, thanks in large part to MMUUS leaders who intentionally raised its profile within the congregation. Indeed, the action plan of 2003 promised to make “the Seven Principles and Six Sources a more prominent and widely understood feature of our religious life together.” In RE classes each week, children now take turns reciting a youth-friendly version of the principles. Several years ago I sat down at the piano and worked out a musical accompaniment to the statement’s words.

Now, wouldn’t you know, it’s all up for negotiation, as UUs seek to affirm or re-form the covenant. A Commission on Appraisal appointed by the UUA is in the midst of examining the language and the message to see if Article II—which contains the Principles and Purposes — requires updating. “The bylaws require that this article is reviewed on a periodic basis so that it remains a living document that still ‘works’ for the association,” the commission explains.

Naturally, this is meant to be a democratic process. The commission wants every UU congregation to re-examine the Principles and Purposes by the end of the calendar year. (Find out more at www.uua.org/coa/.) As of this summer, only a handful of churches had held meetings to ponder this subject. I hope we can arrange to join in this process, for I realize that much as I love the Principles and Purposes just as they are (and don’t want to have to abandon my song!), the challenge can be a welcome opportunity for spiritual growth and clarity.

For some reason this challenge reminds me of the words from a great hymn: “It sounds along the ages, soul answering to soul ... the hammer stroke of Luther, the Pilgrims’ seaside prayer, the oracles of Concord one holy word declare.”

~ Fred Fiske