Our Shared Values, Centered Around Love

After more than three years of discussion, debate, and reflection about our values and core theology, Unitarian Universalists this summer approved a new statement of values and beliefs for our faith.

The values are Equity, Generosity, Interdependence, Justice, Pluralism, and Transformation, centered around Love. A new image, the Shared Values Flower, depicts these values as petals with love at the center.

Our new expression of shared values was adopted by a vote of 2,025 (80.2 percent) to 499 (19.8 percent) at General Assembly 2024, held online June 20-23. The vote changed Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) bylaws, which hold the language that describes our faith.

The values were described and discussed at three meetings of our congregation conducted by the Denominational Connections Committee. Articles that shared different viewpoints were posted on the UUCC website. Our four delegates were elected by the congregation and participated in the General Assembly discussions and votes.

Unitarian Universalism is often described as “a living tradition,” that has changed in many ways from the original Christian roots of Universalist and Unitarian heritages, and it continues to evolve today. Most recently, this evolution has taken the form of adopting new language to describe who we are as UUs.