First Parish Unitarian Universalist
Canton, Massachusetts

Participatory Sermon: Our Movement—
Our Sources, Our Principles

First Parish Unitarian Universalist - Canton, MA
Reverend Diane Teichert
October 21, 2007

Introduction

Some of you may have heard the story about how I first came to know I was a Unitarian Universalist.

It was in the early 1980’s, when I was working near the Boston Common as Director of Organizing for 9to5, the National Association of Working Women. One of my best friends from college, who had become a Presbyterian minister and then was getting her doctorate in Old Testament from a feminist point of view, asked me to do an errand for her on my lunch hour. She asked me to go to the UUA Bookstore to pick up a bumper sticker she was sure they’d have there. It was supposed to say “God is Coming Again! And, boy, is she pissed!”

Well, I went to UUA headquarters at 25 Beacon Street, next to the State House, and—sure enough—they had her bumper sticker!

They also had a poster on the wall in the hallway as you enter, much like what appears on the back of your Order of Worship today. I stood there and read these Seven Principles and the five Sources from which we draw (the sixth hadn’t been added yet)… and I thought: that’s the religion for me! No creeds, no dogma, just a statement of values around which I was already trying to live my life! And a list of sources quite broad! I’m in!

Even though my best childhood friend was a Unitarian Universalist, and even though I married one, and even though he and I attended some UU worship services since moving to Massachusetts, it wasn’t until I read that poster that I felt I’d begun to understand what it was all about.

On alternate Sundays, including today, we publish something like that poster on the back of our Order of Worship. And, if someone here with graphic arts skills would like to design a more readable, but still half-page, format for our use, please do so!

So, in light of my experience with the Principles and Sources, when I learned that a study of them was underway, for possible re-writing, I felt some concern. Maybe I don’t want them to change. Maybe I like them the way they are. Maybe they have sentimental value to me. Let them be!

But… isn’t being willing to look again, and deeply, with both heart and mind, even at what we hold most dear… one of our traits as Unitarian Universalists? Aren’t we always asking ourselves: Is this true for me, in my own experience? Why or why not?

In fact, aren’t these the very questions that drew us here, those of us who came to Unitarian Universalism as adults? Aren’t these the very questions that keep us here, those of us who grew up in the tradition?

The freedom to question, to change and to grow is a Unitarian Universalist hallmark. This is why we call ourselves a movement, and a living tradition. We are open to changing ourselves. As I read during the Chalice Lighting, “new light is ever waiting to break through to enlighten our ways, new truth is ever waiting to illumine our minds; new love is ever waiting to warm our hearts.”

And so, an elected body called the Commission on Appraisal has undertaken a review of the Principles, the Sources, and the Purposes as found in the Bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association, Article II, Sections C-2.1 through 2.4, printed on the insert in your Order of Worship. They were adopted by the 1985 General Assembly and amended to include the sixth Source by the 1995 General Assembly.

The Commission on Appraisal, which originated during the Great Depression, has nine members, none of whom can be UUA staff or trustee, elected by the congregational delegates at the annual meeting of delegates which we call “General Assembly.” The Commission on Appraisal is a kind of think tank charged to “review any function or activity of the Association which in its judgment will benefit from an independent review and report its conclusions to General Assembly… at least once every four years.”

It is undertaking a review of Article II. Any resultant proposals to change it will go to a General Assembly for preliminary approval by a majority vote; if approved, a year of study by the congregations follows, culminating with the next General Assembly, at which any changes will require a two-thirds vote for final adoption.

The Commission on Appraisal has asked for thoughtful input from congregations on the current Principles and Sources, so I have planned this worship service as a vehicle for gathering your discerning input. We will read first the Sources, answer and discuss questions regarding them. Then we will read the Principles, answer and discuss questions about them. And during the Postlude, you will be invited to jot down further responses if you wish. This process is open to everyone, newcomers and long-timers, all of whom I believe will find something important to ponder for themselves, in their own lives.

Sources

We will begin with the Sources, even though they are presented second in the Bylaws. Let’s read them aloud from the full-page insert, with right half of the congregation reading the first line and the left half reading the second line, and alternating to the end. Let’s read the opening line and the closing paragraph in unison:

“The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love;
• Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
• Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.”

I’d like to draw your attention to the first Source for a moment. It refers to our own—each of us—direct experience of “that transcending mystery and wonder.” Let me clarify that though it does not specifically mention God, the Goddess, Spirit of Life and of Love, creative force of the universe, or any other name by which you might worship, I believe it is meant to be interpreted to include such.

And, I’d also like to mention that the 1995 General Assembly added the sixth Source, “spiritual teachings…which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.”

Now, we’ll begin the participatory part of this sermon. Your written responses will be collected during the Postlude. I will tabulate them and send the summary to the Commission on Appraisal.

Still looking at this list of Sources, please reflect on which of these six Sources are most essential to you? Which guide your life most? Are they all equally essential, or are only some important? Please indicate their significance to you in the left hand margin. You have a choice as to how to do that. Either Rank them from 1 to 6, 1 being the most and 6 being the least essential or Star the one or ones that is or are most essential to you. Either way, Make no mark next to any that are unimportant to you. (Repeat instructions).

Now, for the next five minutes, I invite you to pair up with someone near you, if you are willing. And share with each other how you responded and why. I’ll ring the chime loudly to let you know when the time is up, after which there will be a brief Musical Interlude, to give you a chance to collect your thoughts or to write your Suggestions regarding the Sources on the back of your insert.

Principles

Now we are going to turn our attention to the Seven Principles. Let’s read them aloud, with right half of the congregation reading the first line and the left half reading the second line, and alternating to the end. Let’s read the opening line in unison:

“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”

Some like to picture these Seven Principles as an arch, with the first and the seventh principles being the anchor blocks: on the one hand, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person… and on the other, we affirm respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which each person is only a part. The blocks build on top of them, outlining how we will be together in our congregations and how we intend to act in the world.

Now, please take a few moments as individuals to read and answer the four questions regarding the Principles on the insert. I will ring the chime when it is time to finish up. You may write more during the Postlude if you wish.

Closing

Today, we have participated in a democratic process that may result in changes to Article II of our Bylaws. If it does, it will be because people in congregations like ours contributed their best thoughts, the Commission on Appraisal listened, and the congregational delegates, of which we may have three, at the annual General Assembly voted, twice, to amend.

I hope that you enjoyed the process and will take time to jot your suggestions on the form before you turn it in. I hope it got you to ponder the meaning of our faith to you. If you are a long-timer, I hope that you feel that you got to see your faith in a new way. If you are a newcomer, I hope that you learned more about our living tradition today and resonated with its openness to change. Thank you for participating. Amen.

Questions to Answer During the Sermon

Regarding the SOURCES:

1. Which of these six Sources are most essential to you? Which guide your life most?
   
   Either:
   • Rank each from 1 to 6, 1 being the most and 6 being the least essential
     
     or
   • Star the one/s that is/are most essential to you.
   
   Make no mark next to any that are unimportant to you.
2. Note below your suggestions, if any, regarding the Sources:
   
   
   
   

Regarding the PRINCIPLES:

1. Do they express your values?
   __ Very well  __ Somewhat well  __ Not very well   __ Not at all  (check one)
2. In your experience here, how much do the current Principles figure in First Parish life?
   __ Quite a bit  __ Not much  __ Not at all  __ Too much __ Not enough  (check any)
3. Do you think it is good for our association of congregations to have a statement of principles?
   __ Yes  __ No  __ Not sure
4. Note below your suggestions, if any, regarding the Principles.
   
   
   
   
   

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