Final Proposed Revision to Article II Completed by the Article II Study Commission in October 2023

Article II Purpose and Covenant: Final Proposal by the Article II Study Commission

The Article II Study Commission completed the final draft of its proposed revision to Article II in October 2023.

We encourage you to carefully read and discuss it with members of your congregations and communities.

Amendments

Amendments to the Article II Study Commission’s proposed revision were submitted by 11:59pm Eastern on February 1, 2024.

Each amendment submitted by congregational petition under Section C-15.1(c)(4) of the UUA Bylaws had a primary congregational sponsor. Each primary congregational sponsor was the primary sponsor of one amendment to the proposal. Amendments met the following standards to be considered:

  • only applied to a single section of the Article II proposal;
  • matched the structure of the UUA Bylaws and Rules; and
  • could not conflict with other rules, bylaws, or adopted statements.
  • had the support of at least 15 certified UUA congregations.

The Board reviewed all submitted amendments to ensure they met the standards listed above. All submitted amendments which were received and supported by the deadline and met these standards were publicly posted on the Discussion Forum on February 2, 2024.

Shared Values Flower Image Available for Use

The Shared Values flower image is now available for download and use. (Read more...)

New Article II Congregational Resources from the Field

In an effort to support congregations to continue to engage with the proposed Article II revision, UUA staff have collected and commissioned some resources from the field to supplement the original Article II Study Commission resources. (Learn more...)

UU World Article

On December 7, 2023, UU World published an article, "As Unitarian Universalists Reassess Core Beliefs, Article II Study Commission Reflects on Progress Made," about the work of the Article II Study Commission and where the conversation is right now. We encourage you to read and share it with your communities.The final proposed revision to Article II was completed by the Article II Study Commission in October 2023.

Final Revision

The Article II Study Commission and the UUA Board of Trustees have shared letters about the final proposal and upcoming processes. We encourage you to read them along with the final proposed revision.

Article II Purposes and Covenant

Section C-2.1. Purposes

The Unitarian Universalist Association will devote its resources to and use its organizational powers for religious, educational, and humanitarian purposes. Its primary purposes are:

  • to assist congregations in their vital ministries,
  • to support and train leaders both lay and professional,
  • to foster lifelong faith formation and spiritual development,
  • to heal historic injustices,
  • to support and encourage the creation of new Unitarian Universalist communities, and
  • to advance our Unitarian Universalist values in the world.

The Unitarian Universalist Association will actively engage its members in the transformation of the world through liberating Love.

Section C-2.2. Values and Covenant

As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.

Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.

Inseparable from one another, these shared values are:

Shared Unitarian Universalist Values

See PDF description.

SharedUUValues_Description (PDF)

Image Description: This image is of a chalice with an overlay of the word Love over the flame, with six outstretched arms that create a circle around each of the core values and form a six-petal flower shape. Each arm is a different color, and clockwise they are: Interdependence (Orange), Equity (Red), Transformation (Purple), Pluralism (Blue), Generosity (Green), and Justice (Yellow).

[Suggested shift to Rule and recommended edits] The UUA may create visual representations of the values, which put love at the center and interconnect each value, and may periodically update that image. A version of this image shall be included, with image description, after “Shared Unitarian Universalist Values” in the published version of these bylaws.

Interdependence

We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.

We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.

Pluralism

We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.

We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.

Justice

We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.

We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.

Transformation

We adapt to the changing world.

We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.

Generosity

We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.

We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.

Equity

We declare that every person has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness.

We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.

Section C-2.3. Inspirations

Direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder are primary sources of Unitarian Universalist inspiration. These experiences open our hearts, renew our spirits, and transform our lives. We draw upon, and are inspired by, sacred, secular, and scientific understandings that help us make meaning and live into our values. These sources ground us and sustain us in ordinary, difficult, and joyous times. We respect the histories, contexts, and cultures in which these sources were created and are currently practiced. Grateful for the experiences that move us, aware of the religious ancestries we inherit, and enlivened by the diversity which enriches our faith, we are called to ever deepen and expand our wisdom.

Section C-2.4. Inclusion

Systems of power, privilege, and oppression have traditionally created barriers for persons and groups with particular identities, ages, abilities, and histories. We pledge to replace such barriers with ever-widening circles of solidarity and mutual respect. We strive to be an Association of congregations that truly welcome all persons who share our values. We commit to being an Association of congregations that empowers and enhances everyone’s participation, especially those with historically marginalized identities.

Section C-2.5. Freedom of belief

Congregational freedom and the individual’s right of conscience are central to our Unitarian Universalist heritage.

Congregations may establish statements of purpose, covenants, and bonds of union so long as they do not require that members adhere to a particular creed.