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The
Matrix (A Work-in-Progress...)
During the Winter of 2004, congregations were invited to conduct workshops
designed to solicit the hopes, aspirations and underlying Unitarian and
Universalist values of our members. The Statement of Principles Task Force
crystallized a set of key themes that appeared consistently in the
congregations' responses. The Task Force was then able to construct a "matrix",
comparing the Themes from the Workshops to the current Statement of
Principles. While there can be (and has been) much discussion as to
exactly how precisely each one of our current principles reflects our collective
values and aspirations (i.e. the current version of the matrix is very much a
work-in-progress), a "big picture" conclusion is clear...
The current Statement of Principles still reflects the values of Canadian
U*Us. However, it appears that the current Statement is perhaps incomplete
and does not give voice to as many of our shared aspirations and values as it
might...
| Legend |
| The
theme is reflected TENUOUSLY in the
Principle. |
| The
theme is reflected IN A LIMITED FASHION
in the Principle. |
| The
theme is reflected SIGNIFICANTLY in the
Principle. |
|
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1.
What are our deepest yearnings?
|
| Key Themes |
Principle #1 |
Principle #2 |
Principle #3 |
Principle #4 |
Principle #5 |
Principle #6 |
Principle #7 |
Sources |
| The
inherent worth and dignity of every person |
Justice,
equity, and compassion in human relations |
Acceptance
of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations |
A
free and responsible search for truth and
meaning |
The
right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations
and in society at large |
The
goal of world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all |
Respect
for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part |
See
below |
| Peace
for my Self |
|
|
Low |
Low |
|
|
|
|
| Peace
for my family |
|
Med |
|
|
Low |
|
|
|
| Peace
in my community |
|
Med |
Low |
|
Low |
Med |
|
|
| Peace
in the world |
|
Med |
|
|
Med |
High |
|
|
| Community/Connection
with the Self |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Med |
Med |
| Community/Connection
with others |
|
|
Low |
|
|
Med |
Med |
|
| Community/Connection
with creation/Spirit/the divine |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Med |
Med |
| To
love and be loved |
|
|
Low |
|
|
|
|
|
| To
find purpose and meaning |
|
|
High |
High |
|
|
|
High |
| To
be of use / make a positive change in the
world |
|
|
|
|
|
Med |
|
|
| |
|
2.
How would someone know that a given value was
a value of yours?
|
| Key Themes |
Principle #1 |
Principle #2 |
Principle #3 |
Principle #4 |
Principle #5 |
Principle #6 |
Principle #7 |
Sources |
| The
inherent worth and dignity of every person |
Justice,
equity, and compassion in human relations |
Acceptance
of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations |
A
free and responsible search for truth and
meaning |
The
right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations
and in society at large |
The
goal of world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all |
Respect
for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part |
See
below |
| A
life of integrity (interpreted as: walk the
talk; live your values; conscious living) |
Med |
Med |
Med |
Med |
Med |
Med |
Med |
|
| Working
for peace and justice locally, globally |
|
High |
Low |
|
Med |
High |
|
|
Generosity,
compassion, honesty
|
Low |
High |
Med |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
3.
What is your personal ministry?
|
| Key Themes |
Principle #1 |
Principle #2 |
Principle #3 |
Principle #4 |
Principle #5 |
Principle #6 |
Principle #7 |
Sources |
| The
inherent worth and dignity of every person |
Justice,
equity, and compassion in human relations |
Acceptance
of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations |
A
free and responsible search for truth and
meaning |
The
right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations
and in society at large |
The
goal of world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all |
Respect
for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part |
See
below |
| Helping
other people - emotionally, spiritually,
practically & financially |
High |
Med |
High |
|
|
Med |
|
|
| Teaching |
|
|
Med |
High |
Low |
|
|
|
| Environmental
stewardship |
|
|
|
Low |
Low |
Med |
High |
|
| Promoting,
building, fostering healthy, sustainable
communities |
High |
High |
High |
High |
Med |
High |
High |
|
| |
|
4.
What would be missing from your life if there
was no U*Uism or if you had not encountered
it?
|
| Key Themes |
Principle #1 |
Principle #2 |
Principle #3 |
Principle #4 |
Principle #5 |
Principle #6 |
Principle #7 |
Sources |
| The
inherent worth and dignity of every person |
Justice,
equity, and compassion in human relations |
Acceptance
of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations |
A
free and responsible search for truth and
meaning |
The
right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations
and in society at large |
The
goal of world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all |
Respect
for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part |
See
below |
| A
religious community |
|
Low |
High |
High |
|
Low |
|
High |
| A
community and a deep sense of belonging |
|
Low |
High |
Low |
|
Med |
Low |
|
| Safe
opportunities for personal growth -
spiritual, intellectual, social (e.g.
leadership) |
Low |
|
High |
High |
Low |
|
|
Low |
| A
place of common values |
High |
High |
|
|
High |
High |
High |
High |
| A
place of common that honours diversity and
inclusiveness |
Low |
Low |
Low |
|
|
Low |
|
Med |
| |
|
5.
What can U*Us do for Canada and the World?
|
| Key Themes |
Principle #1 |
Principle #2 |
Principle #3 |
Principle #4 |
Principle #5 |
Principle #6 |
Principle #7 |
Sources |
| The
inherent worth and dignity of every person |
Justice,
equity, and compassion in human relations |
Acceptance
of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations |
A
free and responsible search for truth and
meaning |
The
right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations
and in society at large |
The
goal of world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all |
Respect
for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part |
See
below |
| Radical
acceptance of all |
High |
Low |
Med |
|
|
|
|
|
| A
celebration of diversity |
Low |
Low |
Low |
|
|
Low |
|
|
| An
alternative to the mainstream religious /
spiritual path |
|
|
Low |
High |
|
|
|
|
| A
commitment to act for justice & peace |
|
Low |
|
|
Low |
Med |
|
|
| A
commitment to collaborative
processes |
|
|
|
|
Low |
Low |
|
|
| |
|
6.
What are the shared values and loyalties that
bind us together as U*Us in Canada and make us
unique?
|
| Key Themes |
Principle #1 |
Principle #2 |
Principle #3 |
Principle #4 |
Principle #5 |
Principle #6 |
Principle #7 |
Sources |
| The
inherent worth and dignity of every person |
Justice,
equity, and compassion in human relations |
Acceptance
of one another and encouragement to spiritual
growth in our congregations |
A
free and responsible search for truth and
meaning |
The
right of conscience and the use of the
democratic process within our congregations
and in society at large |
The
goal of world community with peace, liberty,
and justice for all |
Respect
for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part |
See
below |
| Our
commitment to being an inclusive and tolerant
spiritual community |
High |
High |
High |
|
Low |
Med |
|
Low |
| Affirmation
of the inherent worth and dignity of everyone |
High |
High |
Med |
Low |
Low |
Low |
|
Low |
| A
world view with global responsibilities &
a preference for action |
Med |
Med |
Low |
Low |
Low |
High |
Med |
Low |
| A
commitment to democracy and the democratic
process |
Med |
Med |
Low |
Low |
High |
Low |
|
|
| An
approach to truth as being fluid and evolving |
|
|
Low |
High |
Low |
|
|
Low |
| Freedom
to question, to believe and to act |
Low |
Low |
Low |
High |
Med |
|
|
Low |
| Drawing
inspiration from many sources |
|
|
|
Med |
|
|
|
High |
| Valuing
of the "good of the greater whole"
(more than individualism) |
|
Med |
Low |
|
Low |
Med |
Med |
|
| Connection
with / reverence for the natural world
(environment) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
High |
Low |
Sources:
The living tradition which we
share draws from many sources:
- direct experience of that transcending
mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which
moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to
the forces which create and uphold life;
- words and deeds of prophetic women and
men which challenge us to confront powers and structures
of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming
power of love;
- wisdom from the world's religions which
inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
- Jewish and Christian teachings which
call us to respond to God's love by loving our
neighbours as ourselves;
- Humanist teachings which counsel us to
heed the guidance of reason and the results of science,
and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
- spiritual teachings of Earth-centred
traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and
instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of
nature.
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