The Meridian
The History of our Principles
For the past year and a half I have been catching up on UU history and using that information as a guide or platform to learn about contemporary America. I grew up in a Universalist Church and remember the merger of the Universalists with the Unitarians. I don’t remember the initial Six Principles that were…
Beloved Community
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations are the ends that we affirm and promote in the second UU principle. The end we covenant to affirm in the 8th Principle is more expansive and all-encompassing: “diverse, multicultural Beloved Community.” What might that look like? The phrase “beloved community” was coined by philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce and…
Living into the 8th Principle
White as the norm, the default, permeates our society. Movie reviews never note “an all-white cast with a white-centered narrative.” The store’s selection of makeup has no special section for white skin. I’ve yet to hear a song introduction acknowledging a “Euro-American” composer. Joyful white people in wintry scenes are standard on holiday cards and…
In-Person RE THIS SUNDAY, November 14th
Message from the DRE Hello and Bright Blessings! My goodness, it’s been so long! I am so excited I finally get to share with you that we’re ready to return to some in-person RE and Youth Group activities at UUCT! This process will be much more an intentional unfolding rather than the big back to church celebrations…
Will the Eighth Principle be Sustainable in Our Church?
Hopefully before the 8th principle is adopted by UUCT, all members of the congregation will have become familiar with what the principle means. If it is well known to everyone, discussed within the congregation, and talked about in church services, then it can become owned by every member of the church. That’s why the Allies…
To Dare Everything – An 8th Principle Reflection Informed by James Baldwin
In “The Fire Next Time” James Baldwin warned his nephew: “You were born where you were born and faced the future that you faced because you were black and for no other reason.” Today’s headlines reverberate with that observation. Because you are Black and for no other reason…you will be incarcerated in greater numbers…you will…
Why Is the 8th Principle So Long?
I first heard about the proposed 8th Principle almost two years ago. My first impression was that it seemed long and complicated compared to the other seven principles! But as I continued the journey to understand more about my own white privilege and complicity in upholding systemic racism and other oppressions, I came to see that…
Holding History
Message from the Minister Greetings Beloveds, Join me for a drop by event on the veranda on November 3 between 10 am – Noon or on November 7th between 2 pm – 4 pm. I want to learn about the history of the church from your perspective. What was one (or a few) really important moment(s) in your relationship with the church? Some of the stories shared on the timeline will be…
Pillars of Systemic Equity
As UUCT engages in the process of adopting an 8th Principle it is important to understand what the mission really is. Rather than thinking about dismantling racism and other oppressions, as stated in the 8th Principle, we can think about it in positive terms like the ACLU does and think of it as building systemic…
The 8th Principle and Challenges Past, Present, & Future
It’s not easy being a Unitarian Universalist. We don’t pledge to believe a set of beliefs. We affirm and promote ‘a free and responsible search for truth and meaning’. And we do it for all of our lives. Years ago, I grew up in the Universalist Church of North Attleboro, MA. The Universalists had freed…
The 8th Principle ≠ an 11th Commandment!
Are you feeling as if adopting the proposed 8th Principle is like adding an 11th Commandment? Some UUs have that reaction. Our seven principles express our covenant with other congregations in the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). A vital aspect of our living tradition is that our covenants are not set in stone. We can decide,…
Making Connections with the 8th Principle
Many of the books we’ve read for the book group Centering Black, Indigenous and People of Color Voices have helped to expand my thinking about the 8th Principle. The first that comes to mind, however, is a book we read together many months ago, “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi. The book…