Update 6/17: This AIW was selected to be added to the final agenda. See full AIW ballot results.
Updated 6/12
Proposer: Fred Van Deusen, UUSJ, First Parish in Concord, MA
Collaborator: Ursula Scott, UUSJ Democracy Action Team Co-convener, River Road UU Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Brief Description: In a time when the soul of democracy is under siege, Unitarian Universalists should rise with a flame kindled not only in protest and defiance, but in covenantal love and sacred resolve. This AIW resolution affirms a deep theological and historical grounding for democratic action, invoking the symbolic power of the flaming chalice and the tradition of covenant as spiritual and civic commitments. Recognizing the current threats to justice, equity, democratic institutions, and the rule of law—from authoritarian abuses to systemic oppression—the resolution calls on us to transcend isolation, strengthen alliances, and uphold civil society through peaceful, principled resistance. It urges UUs to engage nationally and locally with movements for justice, inclusion, and democratic renewal, framing this moment as both a moral trial and a sacred opportunity to co-create a radically inclusive, beloved community.
Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism, a Call to Action: Reaffirming Our Covenants for Democracy and Freedom!
BECAUSE, the flaming chalice, the living symbol of contemporary Unitarian Universalism, recalls the compassion and strength needed to aid Jewish refugees on the eve of World War II, and has come to represent helpfulness, sacrifice, and enduring faith in action [1];
BECAUSE, as Unitarian Universalists, we bind ourselves to one another through covenants—sacred promises made in response to the profound gift of life, held as shared care and mutual accountability, long central to religious communities; and born with reverence and holy aspirations through the spiritual discipline of Love;
BECAUSE, in this commitment we walk paths once taken by those who, from the earliest days of this great and troubled republic, pledged themselves to liberty—a liberty not of unbounded freedom but of responsibility freely embraced: the necessary constraint of just law, a moral check against abuse of power, and the civic work to sustain fragile institutions;
BECAUSE, this is no ordinary moment but a time that tries the soul—a time that calls us to reaffirm the values we, as a faith, have declared our own, holding fast to justice, through which we dismantle racism and systemic oppression; inclusive democracy, and the dream—yes the dream—of fully accessible, radically inclusive communities where all may flourish;
WHEREAS, drawing the circle wider requires a covenant of more profound love that reaches toward that “impossible possibility”—to love our neighbors as ourselves, to cherish the frailty and dignity of our shared humanity, and to act not from outrage or self-righteousness, but from hope tempered by courage and deepened by conviction [2];
WHEREAS, the pillars of justice, equity, democracy, and the rule of law are under siege from authoritarian assaults on the justice system and constitutional protections, to the erosion of due process, freedom of speech and press, and the values of diversity and inclusion; from the unlawful deportation of immigrants to the weaponization of state power to silence dissent;
WHEREAS, autocratic actors are wielding institutions like the Department of Justice, law enforcement, the IRS, and federal contracting not for the common good, but to intimidate and punish their political opponents and ideological challengers;
WHEREAS, the corrosion of democracy is fueled by dark money and autocratic actors seeking secret advantage, the enrichment of officials and special interests at the public’s expense, and the dismantling of independent oversight and capacity for community accountability [3][4][5];
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT we, the 2025 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), call upon the UUA, its member congregations, and congregants, as appropriate, to:
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Cast off the cloak of isolation and transcend our differences—both within and beyond ourselves—to defend the guarantees of just law, constitutional integrity, equal justice, meaningful separation of powers, due process, and the freedoms of speech, press, and assembly by:
- non-violent civil society action, including our vocal support and exercise of these guarantees and our witness;
- legislative advocacy; and
- judicial action, including our support of impactful litigation.
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Take bold action activating our faith not only to resist but also to build a nation that honors the dignity, needs, and values of all its people, one where the beloved community may thrive.
And more specifically be it resolved, that the UUA:
- With UU ministers and lay leaders, explore how to become a catalytic force working actively with leaders of other faith traditions to develop common strategies, events, actions, and messaging to bring a strong multi-faith presence that promotes our common values, counters the autocratic actions and messages of elected leaders, helps build a powerful pro-democracy movement, and guides us to a common dream where all can thrive. [6]
And be it resolved, that UU congregations:
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Adopt a congregational resolution that affirms their collective commitment to protect and strengthen freedom and democracy and to resist, through peaceful and principled means, encroachment by authoritarian forces seeking to strip citizens and non-citizens of their rights, voices, and power to hold leaders accountable; [review a sample resolution]
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Contribute to a vital pro-democracy movement by designating or creating a “democracy action team” (or whatever your UU community chooses to call it), composed of congregation members that will:
- Build on existing infrastructure, guidance, and support by engaging with UU organizations (such as [Side With Love], [Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice], [UU State Action Networks], and other local UU congregations), as well as other local, state, and national organizations, religious groups, and allies (such as League of Women Voters, ACLU, Poor People’s Campaign, Common Cause, Protect Democracy, the Brennan Center for Justice, Democracy Forward, etc.);
- Work collaboratively with current congregation efforts to support immigrant, racial, LGBTQ+, environmental, and other related social justice (all are impacted by authoritarianism);
- Provide needed education and training opportunities to engage the congregation and keep members safe and protected in non-violent protest and non-cooperation actions;
- Organize and communicate pro-democracy congregation actions and events that align with local grassroots efforts to protect and assist those directly harmed by injustice;
- Promote, support, and participate in national and local rallies and non-violent actions that are consistent with our UU values and principles;
- Provide a faith-based presence to local pro-democracy actions and events.
Feedback session recording:
“The Flaming Chalice,” by Susan J. Ritchie, Pamphlets, Unitarian Universalist Association (2007). The History of the Flaming Chalice, About Unitarian Universalism, Unitarian Universalist Association (2007). ↩︎
“The Relevance of an Impossible Ethical Idea.” Reinhold Niebuhr (Harper and Brothers, 1935), 113.); “Reinhold Niebuhr’s Ethical Dualism” King, Martin Luther, Jr. (Boston University), 1952 ↩︎
What Is Dark Money?, Campaign Legal Center, May 9, 2022 ↩︎
Spending skyrocketed following Citizens United in 2010. According to Open Secrets data, $15.9 billion was spent on federal elections in 2024, $5.5 billion on the Presidential election, and $10.2 billion on congressional elections. These expenditures were more than twice what was spent in 2008, adjusted for inflation, although they were less than the $18.3 billion spent in 2020. ↩︎
Expert Brief: Dark Money Hit a Record High of $1.9 Billion in 2024 Federal Races, Anna Massoglia, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, May 7, 2025 ↩︎
From Dictatorship to Democracy, A Conceptual Framework for Liberation, Chapter 7, “Planning Strategy”, Gene Sharp, The New Press ↩︎