Witnessing for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.
Justice & Diversity
Working for justice in our world is a principal way for Unitarian Universalists to express faith. Many people undertake social justice work to show their gratitude for life's gifts and their commitment to making our world the best place for all.Depending on their theologies—Jewish, Humanistic, earth-centered, Jesus-centered, Buddhist—individual Unitarian Universalists have different ways of verbalizing their motivations. However, the preciousness of life on earth, as opposed to future life in a far-away paradise, and the inherent worth and dignity of every person with whom we share the planet, emerge as common themes for undertaking social justice work.
The members of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) do not always agree on what constitutes a worthy cause, or on how to express our support or opposition to various initiatives. Our belief in congregational polity means that any congregation has the right to support the issues it desires. Some congregations do not want to take any stands at all. Unitarian Universalist congregations encourage individuals to speak for themselves, but never in the name of the congregation. At our annual General Assemblies, where delegates from member congregations vote on Association business, statements of conscience are passed that reflect the will of the gathered voting body. These statements become the basis of reference for anyone speaking on behalf of the UUA.
As we work to ensure that our communities include people of all ages, physical abilities, races, financial circumstances, sexual orientations, national origins, educations backgrounds, and spiritual understandings, we will learn how to create the Beloved Community of which we all dream. In such communities, the gifts of all are valued and needed, whether parent or artist, bookkeeper or bus driver. This, indeed, is the training ground for living in democracy!
If you have a passion for a particular justice issue, the likelihood is good that there is a Unitarian Universalist group that would love to have you as a member. Unitarian Universalists have formed in small organizations to stop the death penalty, confront violence against women, promote stewardship of our planet, promote economic justice, fight heterosexism, preserve religious liberty, and do just about anything else you can imagine!
Excerpted from the Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide, "Social Justice," written by Jacqui James and Meg Riley. 2004, Unitarian Universalist Association.
For more information contact socialjustice @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, June 6, 2008.
