Article II:
Our Evolving Purposes, Principles, Sources, Values and Covenants
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 7:00PM, Rev. Thom Belote gave a talk in the Sanctuary on the proposed revision of Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association bylaws. You can view the talk here. Article II is a section of the UUA's by-laws that contains language about the purpose of the UUA; an articulation of principles, values, and commitments we share; a description of the spiritual sources of our faith; a statement of inclusion; and a freedom of conscience clause.
In January, 2023, Rev. Thom led a four-session day-time class on the history of Article II and the proposed revisions. 11 congregants attended. In February, 2023, Rev. Thom offered the same course as a series of evening classes. 21 congregants attended.
The March 30 talk distills all four sessions into a single presentation. The Sanctuary for Dialogue ministry of the Community Church of Chapel Hill, UU, will host a pair of dialogues in April, 2023, on people's responses to the Article II revisions.
At the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly, held June 21-25, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and online, congregational delegates will get to vote on the Article II revisions. If a majority of delegates vote in favor, the Article II revisions will go to a second year of study and require a 2/3 vote of approval in 2024. If either vote fails, the Article II revisions will not be adopted.
In January, 2023, Rev. Thom led a four-session day-time class on the history of Article II and the proposed revisions. 11 congregants attended. In February, 2023, Rev. Thom offered the same course as a series of evening classes. 21 congregants attended.
The March 30 talk distills all four sessions into a single presentation. The Sanctuary for Dialogue ministry of the Community Church of Chapel Hill, UU, will host a pair of dialogues in April, 2023, on people's responses to the Article II revisions.
At the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly, held June 21-25, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and online, congregational delegates will get to vote on the Article II revisions. If a majority of delegates vote in favor, the Article II revisions will go to a second year of study and require a 2/3 vote of approval in 2024. If either vote fails, the Article II revisions will not be adopted.
Resources
Below is an annotated list of the resources Rev. Thom will cite during his talk on March 30.
Article II of 1961 (Six Purposes) A list of the "six principles" as adopted at merger in 1961.
Article II of 1961 (complete text) An image of the original UUA bylaws including the full-text of Article II in 1961.
"Shared Values" by Warren Ross (UU World article from 2000/2006) An article describing the process by which the current language of Article II was adopted and its impact on our faith.
Article II of 1985 The full text of the current version of Article II, containing the "seven principles" and "six sources."
Current UUA Bylaws Listed here in order to provide the text of bylaw C-15.1.c.6 (page 16): "If no study process of Article II has occurred for a period of fifteen years, the Board of Trustees shall appoint a commission to study Article II for not more than two years and to recommend appropriate revisions, if any, thereto to the Board of Trustees for inclusion on the agenda of the next regular General Assembly. "
Article II Study Commission Report, 2023. A 26-page report containing the proposed rewrite of Article II. This report also includes information about the members of the Article II Study Commission, the charge they received from the UUA Board as well as a charge they received from the General Assembly, their process, and some concluding thoughts. The proposed rewrite of Article II can be found on pages 21-24 of the report.
Bonus Material
Historical Attempts to Articulate Unitarian Universalism beyond Article II.
Things Most Commonly Believed Today Among Us by William Channing Gannett (1887)
Unitarians Agree / Unitarians Disagree from Unitarians Face a New Age (1936)
Ten Things Commonly Believed Among Us by David O. Rankin (1980s)
UU Elevator Speeches, UU World (2003-2004)