Tapestry of Faith: Virtue Ethics: An Ethical Development Program for High School Youth

Introduction

Part of Virtue Ethics

The soul that is within me no man can degrade. — Frederick Douglass

Today's workshop focuses on respect. Respect, like several other virtues, goes both ways: One should respect others, and one must respect oneself. This virtue is embedded in our first Unitarian Universalist Principle, the inherent worth and dignity of each person.

The Faith in Action activity, Respect Videos, is a project that will also work well with other virtues. If you have the time and technology to provide this activity and the youth enjoy it, consider making an entire video series.

Goals

This workshop will:

  • Examine the meaning of respect
  • Explore situations where respect is used or called for
  • Introduce Reverend Joseph Jordan, a 19th-century Universalist minister and the first African American ordained in the Universalist denomination
  • Guide youth to identify themselves as users of respect.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

  • Explore the meaning of respect
  • Learn about the 19th-century Universalist minister, Reverend Joseph Jordan
  • Discuss dilemmas where respect is tested
  • Identify ways they do or could practice respect, and commit to the future practice of respect in their lives.