Minister's Musing

Rev. Mark Ward
Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville

April 2007

Who are we? The question of identity is one that we Unitarian Universalists have long struggled with. We organize ourselves around no particular religious leader or text, and though we trace our history to a strain of liberal religious thinking stretching back several centuries, we profess no single affirmation or creed. And yet, we gather as churches and as a religious body. So, who are we?

As an association of congregations, the way that Unitarian Universalists answer that question is given in Article 2 of our Bylaws, otherwise known as the Purposes and Principles. The UUA was founded in 1961 with one set of Purposes and Principles, which was significantly altered a little more than 20 years later in the 1984 and 1985 General Assemblies. Now, a little more than 20 years after that our Commission on Appraisal is reviewing the language again.

And so once again we are asking the question, who are we? Are the words of the Purposes and Principles on target, or is there something missing? Some critics find the language lacking in theological depth – the “seven banalities” one critic dubbed them. Others say they find them inspiring, that when they walked in the door of one of our churches and found them hanging on a wall they knew they’d found a religious home.

As a way of preparing the way for this discussion I have conducted a series of services this year centered on the Seven Principles. The series concludes April 22 with a service on our Seventh Principle. Two weeks later on May 6 I am planning a service to reflect on the next step. Should we change the Principles? And if so, how, and why? I’ll offer some ideas, but I’m also interested in your thoughts and reflections as well. So, I would like to invite you to join me. As I mentioned in the March 11 service, I am extending the invitation to any of you who may wish to send me your thoughts on what you think we should keep, toss, or change in the current seven UU Principles and why. Send them via e-mail (minister@uuasheville.org), by mail, or just drop a note in my box at church. Please try to send your thoughts by April 30. I will make room for some comments in the service, and we will plan to publish all of them on our Web site. Then, I’ll send the whole batch of my sermons and your thoughts to the Commission on Appraisal for their consideration.