tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22125486.post115147568418551716..comments2023-10-31T00:32:46.675-07:00Comments on Sparks in the Dark: Semper Reformandumogrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15910505029382522110noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22125486.post-1169313916102300452007-01-20T09:25:00.000-08:002007-01-20T09:25:00.000-08:00As with all things, further consideration and edit...As with all things, further consideration and editing... I've tinkered with the proposed wording, and thought about why it's important, too.<BR/><BR/>My objectives:<BR/>To update and freshen the Principles.<BR/>To keep them succinct.<BR/>To rescue them from the oft-heard complaint that they're dry as pretzels. <BR/><BR/> (I particularly sought to ensure that the portions which are bolded can stand alone, trying to imagine them serving two purposes; something that could be taught to children and something that I could imagine someone might actually want read at their deathbed, something that serves as an affirmation of who we are, what we believe, and what our faith is about.)<BR/><BR/>To reach back and capture pieces of the essential nature of congregational polity that I believe are missing as we currently understand ourselves--to our detriment--and to reach forward.<BR/>To see if the spirit, as well as intellect, of UUism--as currently understood--can be poured into them. <BR/><BR/>I believe that Unitarian Universalists and Unitarian Universalism would greatly benefit from focusing on pouring our old wine into new bottles.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Affirming our faith's rejection of creed, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant to uphold these religious principles:<BR/><BR/><B>Every person is worthy of love</B>; we shall treat each other, and all beings, with justice tempered by love and compassion;<BR/><BR/><B>We remain religious seekers</B>; acknowledging that we are finite beings with limited understanding and that therefore we must remain open and responsive to the insights of others;<BR/><BR/><B>We shall depend on love, reason, and liberty in governing our religious communities</B>; offering an example to the world;<BR/><BR/><B>We shall promote openness, fairness, and honesty in in our congregations</B>, and in all interactions; resisting authoritarianism and living out the highest democratic principles;<BR/><BR/><B>We shall responsibly extend our love and care to all living beings and all the Earth</B>; we are a part of, not apart from, nature.<BR/><BR/><B>We affirm that ongoing revelation offers new insights to humanity.</B> We acknowledge the beauty and wisdom present in all the world's religious traditions; we recognize our roots in the Western religious traditions and the rich inspiration we find in other traditions. We affirm the value and need for mystery, wonder and reason, and we recognize our responsibility to re-interpret religious traditions in light of the present.<BR/><BR/>As free and interdependent congregations we enter into this covenant; we promise to one another our mutual trust and support; should we break this covenant, we shall listen, accept guidance and appropriate discipline by other congregations within this covenanted association. This is our bond of union.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>In part, I'm posting this because I can't attend the Commission on Appraisal's meeting today, due to illness...ogrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15910505029382522110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22125486.post-1155175425205082212006-08-09T19:03:00.000-07:002006-08-09T19:03:00.000-07:00Hey, I like this much better than Mr. Crankypants'...Hey, I like this much better than Mr. Crankypants's version! Pretty cool....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com