Unitarian Universalism, as a non-creedal religion, requires
us to make our own meaning from our experiences and to focus on our heart and
mind, in an “ethos of care and compassion.” [1]
As Unitarian Universalists, as people on a spiritual
journey, as diverse believers, we need a community that can provide care and
support for us as we open ourselves to deeper meaning. “With an open heart and mind, with a
compassionate and caring faith community, and with a zone of doctrinal freedom
that sanctions and enables us to draw on different theological, religious,
scientific, and spiritual resources … [we develop] a Unitarian Universalist
religious sentiment or conviction.” In
other words, we affirm that we are Unitarian Universalists.
Freedom enables a
diversity of perspectives
“Orthodox, conservative, and traditional evangelical and
fundamentalist traditions, by contrast, do not allow for this mental space of
doctrinal freedom; the freedom that enables and encourages a theological
diversity of explanations . . . that [can] prompt a change of heart. Our
liberal faith tradition is founded, in part, on this difference between emotion
and belief. This is why we can love beyond belief. Our hearts are not
restricted by [a prescribed] belief.
We transmit this
openness to difference to our children
We maintain doctrinal freedom in our worship (liturgy)
during our Sunday services. Moreover, we transmit this openness to difference
to our children through the way we teach them how to handle their shifting
emotions long before their own personal religious belief systems as Unitarian
Universalists are set in place. This is our emotional signature as a caring and
compassionate religious people, a people who love beyond belief.
For UUs intellectual
freedom is a religious right and we are moral agents
We are members of a democratic faith because of our ongoing
affirmation and experience of intellectual freedom as a religious right and
because of our ever-renewing experience of emotional integrity through our
liturgical rites. These personal experiences of open-mindedness and
open-heartedness as a religious practice prompt us, as Unitarian Universalists,
to work in the world for justice, equity, and freedom as moral agents.” (from
Tapestry of Faith, What moves us UUs).
Community
As we affirm and promote a faith that is not static, as we
seek our own individual beliefs, as we make meaning in constantly changing
world, as we live in a community of diverse believers, as we embrace being
non-creedal, as we keep our hearts and minds open to change, as we work to make
the world a better place, we covenant to be a beloved community, affirming
that we will treat one another with respect, love, care, and compassion.
This community and the larger community of Unitarian
Universalists support one another on this journey, a journey that began
hundreds if not thousands of years ago, and which is still in process. We are willing to consider our own errors and
our own missteps. We are willing to
break a few rules, look outside the box of traditional religion. We always have. This is our heritage. We exist in the tensions and the
reconciliations of such a journey. And
we come together here to be on this journey as a community.
We bring our children on this journey with us, but we are
not here just for our children. We bring
our own needs here, but we are not here just for our own spiritual needs
either. We bring our desire to make the
world more equitable and just, but that is not the only reason we come
together.
We come here because we are Unitarian Universalists; we
are here to give our faith meaning and to live our faith together. This is my faith; this is your faith; this is
the faith of our forebears; this is a faith for any who choose to join us on
this bumpy, often uncertain, wonderful, beautiful, heart changing journey we
are on.
May you make a meaning that resonates in your heart this
season.
Blessings,
Reverend Tom
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