Workshop 5: Natural, Legal, and Human Rights

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 human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. — The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations, December 10, 1948 Various national and international agreements assert the existence of and proclaim ethical commitments to particular rights.
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From What We Choose

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Opening Scenario 10 Activity 2: What Are Rights? 35 Activity 3: The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Shooting 15 Activity 4: Are Rights Absolute? 15 Activity 5: Rights in Conflict 10 Faith in Action: The Congregation’s…
Spiritual Preparation
From What We Choose

Set aside time for journaling, reflection, prayer, and/or meditation, using these focus questions: Our Unitarian Universalist Principles call us to affirm and promote “the inherent worth and dignity of every person” and “the right of conscience.” In which ways are these principles foundational to…
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 Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Preparation for Activity Arrange the worship table or designated space. Description of…
Activity 1: Opening Scenario
From What We Choose

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Share this scenario: You are on the Investment Committee of your congregation….
Activity 2: What Are Rights?
From What We Choose

Activity time: 35 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, Natural Rights, Legal Rights, and Human Rights Handout 1, The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights Journals or notebooks, one for each participant Writing implements, such as pens, pencils, fine…
Activity 3: The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Shooting
From What We Choose

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Shooting” Preparation for Activity Print the story “The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Shooting.” Prepare to read it aloud. Write on newsprint, and post: What…
Activity 4: Are Rights Absolute?
From What We Choose

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 2, Where I Stand Statements Preparation for Activity Print and read Leader Resource 2, Where I Stand Statements. Create additional statements if there are other rights-based issues that are important in your community….
Activity 5: Rights in Conflict
From What We Choose

Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Invite participants to reflect on the challenge of making day-to-day ethical decisions with a rights-based framework. Use these questions to guide the discussion: In the past, how have you made decisions about which rights to affirm and promote in…
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
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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: The Congregation's Social Justice Priorities
From What We Choose

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, Natural Rights, Legal Rights, and Human Rights Preparation for Activity Read the description of this activity and reflect on the Faith in Action questions, in your journal or with your co-leader. Familiarize yourself with the…
Alternate Activity 1: Rights Issues in Our Time
From What We Choose

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Journals or notebooks, one for each participant Variety of writing and drawing materials, including paper, pens, pencils, fine point color markers, and color pencils Several articles on current events that illuminate questions about legal, natural,…
Alternate Activity 2: Further Reflection on the Shooting in Knoxville
From What We Choose

Activity time: 30 minutes Description of Activity Use these questions to deepen the discussion about the story of the Knoxville shooting. Are there circumstances under which people have a right to use arms in order to make a political, philosophical, or religious statement?…
Taking It Home: Natural, Legal, and Human Rights
From What We Choose

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. — The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations on December 10, 1948 Think about how you act in support of certain rights. As you do so, consider these questions: What role do items like…
The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church Shooting
From What We Choose

On July 27, 2008, people gathered in the sanctuary of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville to watch the children and youth of the congregation present the musical Annie Jr. Suddenly, a shot rang out. At first, many thought the noise was part of the musical, but they…
Handout 1: The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
From What We Choose

Adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. Article 1 All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood….
Leader Resource 1: Natural Rights, Legal Rights, and Human Rights
From What We Choose

Natural Rights: Natural rights are associated with philosophy and religion. The idea behind natural rights is that our humanity (our unique nature) imbues us with certain inherent rights, including the right to life. Such rights are commonly attributed to scriptural or religious teachings, the…
Leader Resource 2: Where I Stand Statements
From What We Choose

All people have the right to worship and believe what they choose. People have the right to bear arms. Church and state should always be separate. Social clubs (like the Boy Scouts of America) have the right to limit their memberships however they see fit….
Find Out More
From What We Choose

Human Rights Former UUA President William F. Schulz is the author of In Our Own Best Interest: How Defending Human Rights Benefits All Americans (Boston: Beacon Press, 2002). Read Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice by Jack Donnelly (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2003). The…

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The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 5: Natural, Legal, and Human Rights

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