Topic: Principles and Values

The Seven Principles
Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote:

  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

  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning

  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process

  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

These principles guide how we relate to each other and the world—rooted in love, openness, and responsibility.

UUA Core Values (UUA Bylaws, Article II, revised 2024)
The revised Article II emphasizes foundational values that grow from and deepen our covenant with one another. These values are:

  • Love – The central value that holds all the others together. We are called to love ourselves, each other, and the world.

  • Justice – We work toward equity and liberation for all.

  • Interdependence – We honor the sacred web of life and our place within it.

  • Equity – We strive to dismantle systemic barriers and create inclusive communities.

  • Transformation – We welcome change and growth, both personal and collective.

  • Pluralism – We value diverse beliefs, cultures, and voices as sources of wisdom.

  • Generosity – We practice gratitude, compassion, and a spirit of mutual care.

Together, these principles and values call us into deeper relationship—with each other, with our communities, and with the world. They are not static beliefs, but living commitments we strive to embody each day.

Does the Arc of the Universe Bend Toward Justice?

Theodore Parker, 19th century Unitarian minister, preached that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, and Dr. Martin Luther King often repeated this claim during his sermons. But who or what makes it bend?

This service discusses the book “The Moral Arc: How Science … read more.

Black History Matters…to All of Us

We will explore the story of slavery by Harriet Jacobs, a slave who finally escaped, and consider what she felt were the implications for blacks and whites of the south’s “peculiar institution.” We’ll contrast that perspective with the ideas of Cornell West, a contemporary scholar, … read more.