In 2020, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), our national organization, published “Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change” analyzing structural and systemic racism and white supremacy culture within Unitarian Universalism and making recommendations to advance long-term cultural and institutional change.
In 2021, the Fifth Principle Project, a grassroots initiative of Unitarian Universalists who want to reinvigorate the right of conscience and renew the democratic process in the governing of the denomination, published “Used to Be UU: The Systemic Attack on UU Liberalism – What You Need to Know and What You Need to Do,” contending that the UUA leadership has lost touch with the spirit of its mission to serve the member congregations of the Association and is no longer listening to the voices of everyday UUs.
Both of these books, directly and indirectly, speak to the proposal to have an eighth principle and to re-examine the current seven principles.
Since our congregation will have our annual congregational retreat in January to discuss, and ultimately vote to either approve or not approve an eighth principle for our congregational vote at the next General Assembly, we would like to propose an Adult RE offering which would involve participants reading both of these books independently and then meeting once, at most twice, to share responses to the ideas. This would afford more of us to be knowledgeable to better discuss the question of the eighth principle at the retreat.
If you are interested in participating in this offering, please contact Stacey Pattison (patti1s@cmich.edu) by Sunday, October 24, so that we can order the books right away, giving time to read and with the intent of having the conversation in November (just before Thanksgiving) or the first week of December, at a time agreed upon by participants. The cost of the books is $16.00 and $12.50 respectively, shipping to be paid by UUFCM, with scholarships available for those congregants for whom this could be a financial burden. If you prefer not to buy the books but are interested in listening to the discussion, you are welcome to join us when we meet.
In 2021, the Fifth Principle Project, a grassroots initiative of Unitarian Universalists who want to reinvigorate the right of conscience and renew the democratic process in the governing of the denomination, published “Used to Be UU: The Systemic Attack on UU Liberalism – What You Need to Know and What You Need to Do,” contending that the UUA leadership has lost touch with the spirit of its mission to serve the member congregations of the Association and is no longer listening to the voices of everyday UUs.
Both of these books, directly and indirectly, speak to the proposal to have an eighth principle and to re-examine the current seven principles.
Since our congregation will have our annual congregational retreat in January to discuss, and ultimately vote to either approve or not approve an eighth principle for our congregational vote at the next General Assembly, we would like to propose an Adult RE offering which would involve participants reading both of these books independently and then meeting once, at most twice, to share responses to the ideas. This would afford more of us to be knowledgeable to better discuss the question of the eighth principle at the retreat.
If you are interested in participating in this offering, please contact Stacey Pattison (patti1s@cmich.edu) by Sunday, October 24, so that we can order the books right away, giving time to read and with the intent of having the conversation in November (just before Thanksgiving) or the first week of December, at a time agreed upon by participants. The cost of the books is $16.00 and $12.50 respectively, shipping to be paid by UUFCM, with scholarships available for those congregants for whom this could be a financial burden. If you prefer not to buy the books but are interested in listening to the discussion, you are welcome to join us when we meet.
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