My dear friends and members of All Souls,
I write to you today with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit buoyed by our collective journey. At the recent General Assembly, we reached a milestone in our shared faith journey—a milestone defined by the values we hold dear and the love at the center of our Unitarian Universalist tradition.
Over the past two hundred years, our articles of faith, confessions, principles, and shared values have evolved and changed to meet the challenges of the day, while aiming toward an ever inclusive and welcoming voice. Today, our non-creedal faith is affirmed by our shared values.
For over three years, thousands of us have engaged in deep reflection and earnest dialogue, discussing and discerning the values that underpin our faith. This rigorous and democratic process culminated in a decisive vote at General Assembly 2024, where delegates approved a new statement of values and beliefs for Unitarian Universalism. With a vote of 2,025 (80.2 percent) to 499 (19.8 percent), we have embraced a new expression of our core values: Equity, Generosity, Interdependence, Justice, Pluralism, and Transformation, all centered around Love.
This thorough review and renewal of our core values are expressions of our faith as a “living tradition.” It aligns with the mandated review of Article II of the UUA Bylaws, which has seen numerous revisions over the years, reflecting our ongoing evolution and responsiveness to the needs of our time.
As we embrace these new shared values, we honor our history and those values that have sustained us. Individual congregations and members are welcome to continue valuing the Seven Principles and Six Sources, just as other congregations have previously ratified the Eighth Principle and its call to antiracism and anti-oppression remains a central aspect of our congregational life.
This journey has reaffirmed that our tradition, Unitarian Universalism, is not static but dynamic, ever unfolding and evolving with new revelations and deeper understandings. It is through our collective efforts, our willingness to engage and listen, that we can create change that is just and equitable, with Love at its center. Let us celebrate this moment and move forward with renewed purpose, keeping love at the center of all that we do.
In faith and solidarity,
Rev. Will Humphrey
I’ll have some periods of limited availability for pastoral care. Here are the dates:
• Vacation: June 30th – July 6th
• Central East Region’s Summer Institute [professional ministry responsibility], California, PA: July 7th – 13th
• Study Leave — Grant Funded Entrepreneurship Ministry Conference 2024, Dublin, Ireland: July 11th – 18th
• Adult Our Whole Lives (OWL) Training [professional ministry responsibility], Durham, NC: August 9th – 11th
During these times, I may have limited capacity to respond to pastoral care needs. However, my hope is to bring back some innovative ideas regarding Entrepreneurship Ministry and the Our Whole Lives curriculum for Adult RE concerning Lifespan Sexuality Education.