Workshop 3: The Collective Good

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of What We Choose: Ethics for Unitarian Universalists

In This Section

Introduction
From What We Choose

All action is for the sake of some end; and rules of action, it seems natural to suppose, must take their whole character and color from the end to which they are subservient. — John Stuart Mill, 19th-century British philosopher and civil servant Many of us make our ethical decisions by trying to…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From What We Choose

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Opening Scenario 10 Activity 2: Utilitarian Ethics 25 Activity 3: The Lesser of Two Evils 25 Activity 4: Democracy, Authority, and Utilitarian Ethics 25 Faith in Action: Transgender Inclusion Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Social…
Spiritual Preparation
From What We Choose

Set aside time for journaling, reflection, prayer, and/or meditation, using these focus questions: Think of a time when you had to make a moral/ethical decision and the options before you looked equally bad. Given that there was no ideal way forward, how did you decide what to do?…
Welcoming and Entering
From What We Choose

Materials for Activity Sign-in sheet and pen or pencil Pocket folder, pen/pencil, and paper for each participant Name tags, single-use or durable Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Refreshments Preparation for Activity Using the Workshop-at-a-Glance as a guide, create and post the agenda on…
Opening
From What We Choose

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Worship table or designated space Chalice, candle, and lighter, or LED/battery-operated candle Preparation for Activity Arrange the worship table or designated space. Practice reading the excerpt (below) from “The Basis of Morals,” so you feel…
Activity 1: Opening Scenario
From What We Choose

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Share this scenario: You are on a television game show. You are offered a choice of two doors to open. You are told that if you open door Number 1, you will receive a million dollars….
Activity 2: Utilitarian Ethics
From What We Choose

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Excerpt from John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism Leader Resource 1, About John Stuart Mill Preparation for Activity Review Handout 1, Excerpt from John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and copy for all participants….
Activity 3: The Lesser of Two Evils
From What We Choose

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Journals or notebooks, one for each participant Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Write on newsprint, and post: When have you had to make a choice between unappealing or downright undesirable options (i.e., what we sometimes cal…
Activity 4: Democracy, Authority, and Utilitarian Ethics
From What We Choose

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Susan Stanton’s Story” Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Print the story “Susan Stanton’s Story,” and prepare to read it aloud (or ask a volunteer to read it, and provide a copy of the story in advance)….
Closing
From What We Choose

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Customize Taking It Home and copy for all participants….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From What We Choose

Consider these questions as you review the workshop with your co-leader: Which parts of the workshop most engaged participants? Why? Were there parts that did not work as well? What could we have done differently? Where was it easy for you to work together? Where was it difficult?…
Faith In Action: Transgender Inclusion
From What We Choose

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Transgender 101 resources (UUA website) Preparation for Activity Find the Transgender 101 page of resources on the Unitarian Universalist Association website. Print the page and copy for all participants. (Also, send participants the electronic…
Alternate Activity 1: Social Justice Outreach - The Needs of the Few?
From What We Choose

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, About John Stuart Mill Preparation for Activity Become familiar with your congregation’s social justice efforts, particularly those aimed at supporting or assisting those in marginalized groups. Print…
Alternate Activity 2: Looking at Outcomes - Ethical Eating
From What We Choose

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Workshop 2, Handout 1, UUA Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Copy Workshop 2, Handout 1, UUA Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating for all participants. Description of Activity…
Taking It Home: The Collective Good
From What We Choose

All action is for the sake of some end; and rules of action, it seems natural to suppose, must take their whole character and color from the end to which they are subservient. — John Stuart Mill, 19th-century British philosopher and civil servant Between workshops, pay attention to policy…
Susan Stantons Story
From What We Choose

Transgender individuals face much discrimination in the United States, in part because their struggles and their journeys are not well understood. In the spring of 2007, a public battle arose in Largo, Florida, around the struggle of one transgender person. Susan Stanton, then known as Steve, had…
Handout 1: Excerpt from John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism
From What We Choose

From Chapter 2 of John Stewart Mill’s Utilitarianism (London: Longmans, Green, Ryder, and Dyer, 1871)….
Handout 2: UUA General Assembly Resolution on Confronting Gender Identity Discrimination
From What We Choose

Confronting Gender Identity Discrimination 2007 Responsive Resolution Whereas the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations noted, in his June 21st report to the General Assembly, the work of our West Florida congregations on the issue of employment discrimination again…
Leader Resource 1: About John Stuart Mill
From What We Choose

Part I John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a 19th-century British politician and political philosopher. Born and raised in London, Mill had a brilliant mind: He learned Greek starting at the age of three, and Latin and algebra when he was eight. He went on to serve the University of St. Andrews as…
Find Out More
From What We Choose

An accessible book on utilitarian ethics is Louis P. Poiman’s Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2005). Find CNN coverage of Susan Stanton’s story, including materials and interviews the family shared publicly.

Download all of What We Choose (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 3: The Collective Good

Tapestry is Sunsetting

Shop Books & Gifts

Defund Fear Safety Without Policing, Prisons, and Punishment

Get Inspired for Worship

CSA as Spiritual Discipline

Find Faith Development Tools

Red Bud