Article 2 Discussion

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Next Discussion: Sunday, May 21 – 12:30 PM Sign up here! Lunch provided.

On April 23, about 20 of us met to discuss values and the proposed changes in the UUA Article 2. Article 2 of the Unitarian Universalist Associate by-laws is the home of the UU Principles, Purposes, and Sources. When the Universalists and Unitarians merged, they included principles in their bylaws to be sure that those ideas would be at the heart of what guides our faith. But we are a living tradition, and sometimes change is needed. 
 
The Article 2 Commission studied the issue and widely solicited input for a proposed revision. Their report was published early this year. The 26-page report, which includes how the team worked, the current Article 2, and the proposed version, can be found at https://www.uua.org/files/2023-02/article-II-study-report-2021-23.pdf. The proposal centers certain common values which identify how UUs will act in the world, which is somewhat different than the current Principles (but on close examination includes wording from the current Principles).
 
During our discussion on April 23, we identified our individual values and those we cherish in our faith community. We then discussed these, identifying the following clusters of similar values:

  • Connection/trust/community
  • Authenticity/honesty
  • Love/kindness/compassion
  • Empathy
  • Teamwork
  • Justice/service/equity
  • Wisdom/curiosity/growth
  • Nature
  • Health

Although these are listed on separate lines, some of these groups are closely related to each other as well. Of course, these were just the voices of the folks in the room, but amongst those there was a lot of agreement. We then looked at the proposed Article 2 values which center on Love, and saw that the proposed Article 2 values incorporate all of these ideas that floated up from our work here at UUFoM.
 
One more discussion of the proposed Article 2 is scheduled for Sunday, May 21, at 12:30 PM, prior to several of us going to the UUA General Assembly in late June where the proposal will be voted on – with a final vote necessary in June, 2024. We hope you will take a few minutes and read the Article 2 report (link above), as preparation for the May 21 discussion and to stay abreast with this important UUA issue.