Faith Without Borders
About Faith Without Borders
The Faith Without Borders (FWB) program is designed to assist congregations in creating and sustaining effective ministries of international engagement. The International Resources Office hopes that this program will provide a useful framework for all congregations:
- those that are already deeply engaged in international ministries,
- those who are only beginning to develop a vision of international ministry, and
- those anywhere else on the spectrum of engagement.
Creating and Sustaining
The Faith Without Borders Program invites congregations to create, maintain and expand their international ministries holistically. Opportunities for engagement in 7 program areas are described and supported.
The Program Areas
- Spiritual Support
- Education
- Justice-making and Advocacy
- Partnership
- Faithful Stewardship
- Pilgrimage and Witness
- Associational Leadership
Consultation, Resources, Recognition and Celebration
Congregations participating in the Faith Without Borders program will receive practical assistance and consultation in all stages of their international engagement from the International Resources Office (IRO). Similarly, the IRO will celebrate the international engagement of Faith Without Borders congregations with denominational recognition.
Five Guiding Principles of Faith Without Borders
- Our international engagement must emerge from a place of deep humility and intentionally seek relationships based on equality and mutuality.
- Our international engagement is most effective when it comprehends the abundance and variety of resources our congregations and international partners already have.
- Our international engagement is most transformative when it is grounded in faithful reflection, including integration of the history of our international engagement.
- Our international engagement is truest to our highest values when it responds with wisdom and passion to institutional oppression and injustice.
- The Unitarian Universalist universe of international programs is incredibly diverse and highly decentralized. Our international engagement is most comprehensive when we understand and utilize partner organizations well.
For more information contact international @ uua.org.
Last updated on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
