Unitarian Universalist Policy
The following are some brief excerpts from the numerous resolutions that have been passed on the death penalty/capital punishment. For the full text, click on the links or search our collection of Social Justice Statements.End the Death Penalty
2000 Action of Immediate Witness
As a community of faith promoting justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, we call for an end to the death penalty. The 2000 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association urges
- The Governor of the State of Tennessee to commute all existing death sentences;
- governors of all other states to similarly commute death sentences and to prevent the restoration or continuance of capital punishment in any form; and
- its member congregations to engage actively in efforts to eliminate the death penalty, to work with other organizations in this effort, and to increase efforts to persuade governors to forego capital punishment.?
The Execution of Minors and Those Who Are Mentally
Retarded
1989 General Resolution
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 1989 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association express its opposition to this decision;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association urges Congress and state legislators to protect these classes of individuals.
Capital Punishment
1979 General Resolution
BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1979 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association urges the Governor of the State of Florida to commute all existing death sentences; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly urges Governors of all other states similarly to commute death sentences and to prevent the restoration or continuance of capital punishment in any form.
Death Penalty
1974 General Resolution
BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1974 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association continues to oppose the death penalty in the United States and Canada, and urges all Unitarian Universalists and their local churches and fellowships to oppose any attempts to restore or continue it in any form.
Capital Punishment
1966 General Resolution
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association seek to encourage the governors of the states and the Canadian cabinet to pursue a policy of commuting death sentences until such time as capital punishment is abolished throughout the United States and Canada.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association urges its member churches and fellowships to work for the formation of state councils affiliated with the American League to Abolish Capital Punishment, or work with such state councils where they already exist and to support the Canadian Society for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.
Capital Punishment
1961 General Resolution
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association urges its churches and fellowships in the United States and Canada to exert all reasonable efforts toward the elimination of capital punishment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That copies of this resolution be sent to the Governors of all states in which capital punishment has not yet been eliminated, and to the Canadian Minister of Justice.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
