Commission Studying UU Principles and Sources Extends Feedback Deadline to July 18th

From UUA.org

After such wonderful feedback from the sessions at the 2022 General Assembly (GA), the Commission studying Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws, which will rewrite our Principles and Sources, has extended its deadline for individual feedback to July 18th. 

If you did not attend GA, you may view all the public videos from GA online. The Article II presentations can be found within the following General Sessions under the On-Demand Video section: 

• Introduction to the work, Purpose, and Freedom of Belief in General Session II (beginning with Dan McKanan’s theological framing at 20:35, followed by a presentation at 32:30). 
• Values and Covenant in General Session III (beginning at 24:15, followed by Dr. Elías Ortega’s theological framing at 1:29:20). 
• Inclusion and Inspirations in General Session IV (beginning at 33:00, followed by Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt’s theological framing at 1:20:34).

Record your thoughts, comments, questions, and ideas via the GA 2022 – Feedback for Article II Study Commission hub at padlet.com/a2sc/ga22. 

You can learn more at the Article II Study Commission’s website: uua.org/a2sc
Follow the Commission on Facebook:  Article II Study Commission or Instagram: RevUU_A2

Background Information:
Our current Unitarian Universalist (UU) Principles and Sources are listed in Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Bylaws. Article II is the foundation for the work of our Unitarian Universalist (UU) movement. It encompasses the covenant to which all of our UU congregations and UU covenanted communities pledge themselves when they become members of our UUA. 

Since the founding of the UUA in 1961, our Principles and Sources have been amended several times, with a full review having been conducted last in 1987. The 5th Principle was the subject of a report in 2009, which dealt with the ways in which General Assembly (GA) and other UU gatherings do and don’t embody an inclusive democratic process. At GA in 2017, there was discussion of an amended 1st Principle, addressing non-human life, and of amending the Principles to add the 8th Principle, addressing racism. The 7th Principle has also been the subject of discussions about possible amendments. In response to those discussions, in 2020 the UUA Board established an Article II Study Commission to conduct a full review and consider revisions to Article II of the UUA Bylaws.  

One of the Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW) passed at the UUA General Assembly last week was “We Do Not Consent: Rejecting Legal Challenges to Abortion.” This AIW is a clear statement that our Unitarian Universalist faith affirms that our bodies are sacred, that we are each endowed with the twin gifts of agency and conscience, and that each of us should have the power to decide what does and doesn’t happen to our bodies at every moment of our lives because consent and self-determination are holy.  

The AIW also points out how the change in law will cause greater hardship for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), people of low financial resources, those with disabilities, and those in the LGBTQAI+ communities, who are most harmed by legal and systemic barriers to comprehensive reproductive health care. This AIW calls upon us to act individually and collectively to organize, advocate, witness, support, educate and fundraise. 

Here are some of the many ways to live into this AIW and our UU values: 

VOTE! If you want to get involved with UUtheVote, please contact Shirley Adams through Realm or at admin@ucevanston.org.  

Get involved in conversations with your legislators! If you want to work with our Legislative Action Team, please contact Jane Bannor through Realm or at admin@ucevanston.org.  

Go March or Get Trained! 

• July 12, 26, August 9, 23 at 7:00 pm, participate in the ACLU People Power’s Abortion Activist Services, Know Your Rights: Digital Privacy and Abortion Access. 
• July 17 at 10:00 am, participate in Abortion Access Front’s training on abortion activism. Register here. 
• July 21, 28, and August 4 from 7:00-8:30 pm CT, participate in UUA Side with Love’s Reproductive Justice Congregational Organizing Series. Register here.

Donate to one of the organizations helping people who are pregnant have abortion access as an option! 

Healthcare providers with abortion access:  

• Hope Clinic  
• Planned Parenthood 

 Abortion funds, which remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access:  

• Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF)
• Wisconsin Women’s Medical Fund 
• Indiana Hoosier Abortion Fund 
• Missouri Abortion Fund 
• National Network of Abortion Funds 

Direct service providers (help with travel coordination and costs, lodging, food, medicine, and emotional support):  

• Midwest Access Coalition

Educating medical providers on a wide range of comprehensive reproductive health care topics that improve access:  

• Midwest Access Project  

Finally, one of the best ways is to talk with others about your values and your support of self-determination, abortion access, and privacy rights! At UCE, we have formed a Reproductive Justice Ad Hoc Group. If you would like to be engaged with this group, please contact Rev. Susan at sfrances@ucevanston.org. Knowing this is a long-haul issue, we are already partnering with our sister congregations through the Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois, our local interfaith colleagues, and abortion access providers in the Midwest to determine how we, as a congregation, can support reproductive justice for all.