Category: 8th Principle

Even To Question, Truly Is An Answer *

As a congregation, we set our intention last May to work towards building a diverse multicultural Beloved Community that works to dismantle racism. Does that sound too big a job for our small community of communities? Are you wondering how we will do this? What will change? Where should we start? The 8th Principle group […]

Coming Soon: A UUCT Common Read on UU Congregations and Multiculturalism

UUCT members, friends, frequent visitors, and others interested, plan now to participate in a congregation-wide reading and discussion of the book: Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism. Small discussion groups will begin in late February or March and meet for four 90-minute sessions. The book, which is also the Unitarian Universalist Association 2022-2023 […]

What Difference Can the 8th Principle Make at UUCT?

There is no simple formula on how a congregation should begin living into the 8th Principle. There is no one right way to work at building a diverse multicultural Beloved Community, no simple answer as to how to dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. It is up to us as individuals […]

ARE@UUCT’s Changing Role

Now that the congregation has adopted the 8th Principle, the Allies for Racial Equity group (ARE@UUCT) is stepping back from our very active role last year in informing the congregation about the 8th principle. A new group is forming to focus on UUCT’s work after adoption: the journey to live into the 8th principle. Several members […]

To the Congregation: An Appreciation

Allies for Racial Equity, ARE@UUCT, thanks the congregation for engaging with the 8th Principle over the past nine months. We thank UUCT members for adopting the principle as a congregation at the Annual Meeting on May 22. Quite a few other congregations adopted the principle in May, with the total number of adoptions by UU […]

Why We Should Adopt the 8th Principle as It Is Written

At our annual Congregational Meeting on May 22nd, UUCT members will vote on adopting the 8th Principle: “We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tallahassee, 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 […]

Where Would the 8th Principle Reside After We Adopt It?

Some churches, such as First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon, reference the seven principles in their bylaws, listing each one. So, they will amend their bylaws to speak to eight principles. UUCT does not currently include the 7 UU Principles in our bylaws, nor do we mention them. Other churches adopted the 8th Principle as […]

How do we dismantle racism in our church?

Allies for Racial Equity is a UUCT advocacy group whose mission calls us to “confront and dismantle racism and racial inequality in ways that are accountable.”  How can we do this? I don’t pretend to give a complete answer. I can list some of the actions of other UU churches, along with a few of […]

The 8th Principle in Action

The 8th Principle calls on each of us to take responsibility for building beloved community by dismantling racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. I see this as a call to commit ourselves to action not only within our congregation but also within our community. UUCT’s involvement with the Capital Area Justice Ministry […]

The 8th Principle Is Grounded in Our Universalist Theology

For me, the 8th Principle is grounded in our Universalist theology. Our Universalist ancestors believed in universal salvation: that an all-loving God would not condemn anyone to everlasting damnation — that all would go to heaven. Our concept of universal salvation has evolved over time into one of an all-loving community here on earth. Our […]