Workshop 10: Locus of Moral Authority Revisited

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

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Part of What We Choose: Ethics for Unitarian Universalists

In This Section

Introduction
From What We Choose

The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings. — Albert Schweitzer As we make behavioral choices in our day-to-day lives, we hold a sense of what is right and what is wrong, even if we are not always able to articulate the framework from which that…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From What We Choose

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 7 Activity 1: The Boy Who Cried Wolf 20 Activity 2: Ethical Statements 20 Activity 3: Ethical Skits 40 Faith in Action: Progress on Faith in Action Commitments Closing 3 Alternate Activity 1: Reflection and Conversation 20 Alternate Activity 2:…
Spiritual Preparation
From What We Choose

Set aside time for journaling, reflection, prayer, and/or meditation, using these focus questions: Recall a time in your life when your ethical or moral understandings at the time seemed inadequate? What issue or situation challenged you? How did you adapt to the situation?…
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: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Worship table or designated space Chalice, candle, and lighter, or LED/battery-operated candle Optional: Musical accompaniment for “I Would Be True,” Hymn 559 in Hymns of the Spirit, the maroon Unitarian Universalist hymnal last published in 1958….
Activity 1: The Boy Who Cried Wolf
From What We Choose

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Print the story. Familiarize yourself so you will be able to read or tell it. Write on newsprint, and post: What moral reasoning did the villagers…
Activity 2: Ethical Statements
From What We Choose

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Ethical Statements Pen or pencil for each participant Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1, Ethical Statements, for all participants. Description of Activity Introduce the activity with words like these: We have explored a number of…
Activity 3: Ethical Skits
From What We Choose

Activity time: 40 minutes Materials for Activity A selection of props for skits, such as small toys, natural objects, kitchen utensils, silk flowers, ping pong balls, etc Hats, swaths of fabric, and other items for simple costumes Assorted construction paper, drawing paper, and markers Preparatio…
Closing
From What We Choose

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Taking It Home handout Preparation for Activity Re-post the newsprint with hymn lyrics from the Opening. Customize Taking It Home and copy for all participants. You may wish to include the Faith in Action section. Description of Activity Distribute…
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?
Faith In Action: Progress on Faith in Action Commitments
From What We Choose

Description of Activity Take stock of your progress on Faith in Action initiatives based on the workshops in this program. What projects or initiatives emerged? What agreements were reached about how those projects or initiatives would be pursued? What is ongoing or still needs to be done?…
Alternate Activity 1: Reflection and Conversation
From What We Choose

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Journals or notebooks, one for each participant Writing and drawing materials, such as pens, pencils, fine point color markers, and color pencils Preparation for Activity Set out writing and drawing materials so all can reach them….
Alternate Activity 2: Ethical Guidelines
From What We Choose

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Covenant created in the first workshop Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Post the covenant created in the Workshop 1. Write these questions on newsprint, and post: How did we honor the agreements made in our covenant? Did our…
Taking It Home: Locus of Moral Authority Revisited
From What We Choose

The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings. — Albert Schweitzer Find a family member, a friend, or another trusted conversation partner and share your reflections on what you learned in this program and the evolution of your own moral decision…
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
From What We Choose

Attributed to Aesop, Greek fabulist, c. 620-564 BCE. A shepherd boy, watching a flock of sheep near his village, grew lonely. He devised a way to get some attention and companionship by playing a trick on the villagers. One morning he yelled: “Wolf!…
Handout 1: Ethical Statements
From What We Choose

There are moral sources and/or authorities that inform or guide my ethical behavior. I have firm moral convictions. Each person is entitled to their view of what is right and wrong. Truth exists and our understanding of it becomes clearer over time….
Find Out More
From What We Choose

Look for ethical dilemmas in film. Many universities have an “Ethics in Film” course with an online syllabus which will give you ideas for viewing. Here are some websites to get you started: Food, Inc Minority Report MASHCrash…

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

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 10: Locus of Moral Authority Revisited

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