#366 | Karen Zindell | Changes to Freedom of Belief

2023 Article II Amendment Idea Submissions Amendment Ideas
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Submission 366
Karen Zindell
UU Church of Tampa Inc. (Tampa, FL) 3022

What is your suggestion or idea?

Freedom of Belief Section:
Delete: In expressing our beliefs, we do so in the spirit of love, in ways that further Beloved Community.

Change to: In sharing our beliefs, we do so in kindness and support, and we assume the best of intentions.

What is the reason for your amendment idea?

If not deleting, please define ““spirit of love”” and ““Beloved Community””. Is this the Beloved Community put forth by MLK, or the one that shuns people who disagree, labels contrary opinions as ““harming””, normalizes accusations unsupported by evidence, and shuts down discourse?

Sharing is a 2-way process word that places communication responsibility on both the listener and the speaker.

Have you discussed this idea with your congregation or other UUs?

Yes, all positive

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You are using text from the first draft of the proposed Article II released in late October. In the Article II Study Report 2021-2023, you’ll find revised wording, as it was published in January. These revisions occurred based on feedback from the October release. Freedom of Belief now states:
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.

The Article II Study Report is accessible here: https://www.uua.org/files/2023-02/article-II-study-report-2021-23.pdf