Anti-Racism 8th Principle Adopted by UCE!!!: May 21, 2021

After five months of education, conversation, and debate about a proposed new principle focused on dismantling racism and other oppressions, the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Evanston, Illinois, formally adopted the principle by an overwhelming 95% vote. The new principle becomes the eighth in a list of guiding values that light the way for UUs everywhere. Here is the new 8th Principle as adopted at our annual meeting, followed by the full list.

We, a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, 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 in ourselves and our institutions.

Here is our full list of Principles that guide UCE:

1. 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. 2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. 3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. 4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. 5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. 6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7. 7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
8. 8th Principle: Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

A lot of the preparatory discussions before the annual meeting focused on the meaning of the words in the new principle. What does it mean to be accountable? What does it mean to dismantle racism and other oppressions in our institutions? One person said, “This seems like a no-brainer and we should all vote yes.” A few questioned where our care of the environment lives in this principle and how we will remain in covenant as we do this work in an accountable manner. We will have to continue to have conversations about these important issues. Right now, the whole association is looking at the principles and their wording through a study commissioned at the 2020 General Assembly.

The next step for us, after celebrating this success, is for each of us to think about how to continue to build accountable anti-racism and anti-oppession work into our UCE community. Team 8th will be working with the ministers and the YWCA Equity Consultants on the ways to live into our new principle. To that end let us use the perspective of Mia Mingus, an activist for disability justice, who expresses: “What if accountability wasn’t scary? It will never be easy or comfortable, but what if it wasn’t scary? What if our own accountability wasn’t something we ran from, but something we ran towards and desired, appreciated, held as sacred?”