We consider the adoption of the Eighth Principle

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We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, 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 Racial Justice Committee of EUUC is supporting the adoption of the 8th Principle. Our Racial Justice commitment calls us to carefully consider adopting this principle as a congregation and a denomination. The Racial Justice team will be hosting zoom  conversations to provide opportunities for discussion. The dates, times and zoom links will be posted in This Week at EUUC. The first discussion is Sunday December 6th, from 12:30 to 1:30.

The 8th Principle is in keeping with our Racial Justice Stand. It is in line with our sense of multicultural Beloved Community and our goals toward dismantling systemic racism. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism urges us to adopt this principle in our congregation and in the denomination.

Here are some thoughts on the 8th Principle from BLUU (Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism), DRUUM and the Racial Justice Committee:

  • Our existing 7 principles imply this 8th principle, but do not explicitly hold us accountable for addressing these oppressions directly, especially at the systemic level.
  • Unitarian Universalism has great potential for building diverse multicultural Beloved Community as envisioned by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (not just European/Americans and African/Americans, but including Native Americans, Latinx people, and other cultural groups) globally and could experience tremendous diversification, vitality, and thriving if it works to embody this vision, but it won’t happen without conscious awareness and effort on our part.
  • Dismantling racism, white supremacy, and other oppressions requires work at the personal and institutional levels.
  • Our congregation has unanimously passed our Racial Justice Stand that supports this journey in ourselves, our congregation and our community and that continues to take actions to this end.
  • It brings our commitment to love higher in our consciousness, consistent with our Side with Love campaign.