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Proposed replacement for article II section C-2.2, to replace lines 17-43:
Inseparable from one another, these shared principles are:
The inherent worth and dignity of every being. We declare that every being has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness.
We covenant to care for all beings with love and empathy, while working toward justice for all. We cherish the gifts and appreciate the diversity and beauty of all beings.
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. We imagine a world where justice, equity, and compassion in human relations thrive.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, activism, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities. Our collective responsibility is to act with compassion to achieve equity and justice.
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. We accept one another and encourage spiritual growth in our congregations.
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.
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We seek truth and meaning with responsibility and freedom.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. In our religious pluralism, we embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect. With respect for science and world religions, we celebrate that we are all sacred beings diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions.
We covenant to cultivate a spirit of generosity, gratitude, hope, and empathy in our lives in our decision-making processes.
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. We adapt to a changing world and imagine a powerful vision of peace by peaceful means, liberty by liberatory means, and justice by just means.
We covenant to create a world community free from marginalization, with accountability to one another, and hope for a better future. We freely and compassionately share our beliefs, presence, and resources.
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. We honor the interdependent web of all existence.
We covenant to cherish Earth and all beings by creating and nurturing relationships of care, generosity, mutuality, and respect. With humility and reverence, we acknowledge our place in the great web of life, and we work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle all oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.
We covenant to dismantle racism, xenophobia, queerphobia, sexism, ableism, ageism, and all forms of systemic oppression. This requires us to stand with, defend, and work towards justice for marginalized peoples. Our compassion and generosity connect us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
This is an amendment from the Board of Trustees at First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City. Our board members are:
President of the Congregation - Marshal Gimpel
President-Elect - Marcia Woodward
Immediate Past President - Lynn Ann Wagner
Clerk - Deborah Shinn
Treasurer - Ron Wasson
Clare Auwarter
Lorriana Lee-Knapp
Larry Little
Laura Lochner
Becky Tallent
Ann Meeks
Rationale:
We like the covenantal language, but there is discontent within UU communities with the thought of our principles being removed from Article II. It would help to keep the principles and also to include the beautiful covenantal language that the Article II Study Commission came up with. This seems like a compromise that most UUs could get behind, where, as it stands there are many UUs who do not support the Article II Study Commission’s proposal. The principles are beloved by so many and while we know that they would remain if they were no longer a part of Article II, they would not retain the same importance and prominence in our religious movement. In our proposed re-write of the values section (changed to principles) Section C-2.2 we retain our beloved principles (add the 8th principle in a more inclusive manner) and also the beautiful covenantal language that the Article II Study Commission spent so much time crafting for us.
The 7 values as they stand in the proposal are limiting as there are many more things that UUs value than those 7 words and we feel that keeping the principles is more expansive and inclusive.
We were also concerned about messaging with the current Article II proposal, it’s hard to have messaging around 7 value words, but in keeping the principles we will retain the easy messaging around our religion that so many love.