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The Seven Eight Principles
  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

  6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

  8. And our Eighth Principle... We affirm and promote the following 8th Principle:

    Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by building a diverse, multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

We are a Welcoming Congregation

Being a Welcoming Congregation - those who publicly and successfully welcome bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people have the following qualities:

  • Include and address the needs of b/g/l/t persons at every level of congregational life-in worship, in programs, in social occasions, and in rites of passage-welcoming not only their presence, but the gifts and particularities of their lives as well.
  • Assume the presence of b/g/l/t people and celebrate this diversity by having inclusive language and content in their worship.
  • Fully incorporate the experiences of b/g/l/t persons throughout all programs, including religious education. Include an affirmation and nondiscrimination clause in our by-laws and other official documents affecting all dimensions of congregational life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals.
  • Engage in outreach into the b/g/l/t community in its advertising and by actively supporting b/g/l/t affirmative groups.
  • Offer congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for b/g/l/t persons, and for celebrations of family definitions.
  • Celebrate the lives of all people and welcome same-sex couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirm displays of caring and affections without regard to sexual orientation.
  • Seek to nurture ongoing dialogue between bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and heterosexual persons and to create deeper trust and sharing.
  • Encourage the presence of a chapter of Interweave.
  • Affirm and celebrate b/g/l/t issues and history during the church year.
  • Attend to legislative developments and work to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.
  • Speak out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people are at stake.
  • Celebrate the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.

— from the UUA website

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