The Seven Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association:

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote

  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Whereas the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond desires to enshrine its antiracist, anti-oppressive values explicitly in the values it covenants to affirm and promote, and Whereas the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond desires to communicate its antiracist, anti-oppressive values to other Unitarian Universalists, to other Unitarian Universalist churches, fellowships, and congregations, and to the Unitarian Universalist Association and its component organizations; and

Whereas the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond desires to communicate its support for a principle that explicitly expresses antiracist, anti-oppressive, multicultural values among the principles that member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant to affirm and promote;

Be it resolved:

That the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond adopts the following as its 8th principle:We, the members and friends of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond covenant to affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse, multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

The Six Sources of the Unitarian Universalist Association:

The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

  1. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
  2. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
  3. Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
  4. Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
  5. Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
  6. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.

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