UU Statewide Advocacy Networks

Public Voices for UU Values

"To seek justice, to work for the Beloved Community is simply part of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Faith exists by mission as a fire exists by burning. Our faith gives us a place to stand in the midst of a world than seems to have lost its way."

Rev. Richard Gilbert

History

The Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (UUSAN) currently consists of 11 Networks. Each Network is locally based, led by UUs working under the basic principle that sustained, positive change is built through the work of organized activist with the courage to challenge and confront oppression. Through this work we seek to build our faith and give voice to Unitarian Universalist Principles in the public arena.

In our work, we acknowledge the importance and value of religious voice in the public debate. The United States stands proud of its commitment to the separation of church and state. However, separation does not mean silence. And churches have rarely been silent during the history of this country. Religious groups have been at the forefront of many of the major political debates of this country. For UUs, the natural voice of religious leaders combined with our own Principles requires us to be an active voice in the public arena. This is reflected in our history of leadership in many of these debates including the abolition of slavery, work for suffrage rights and civil rights and most recently in the work for marriage equality.

State Networks focus on increasing the power of our voice and making those voices an effective tool for change.   The voice of a single church can be very strong, but the building of a network around the state enables us to strengthen the voice of our individual churches and expand our reach, build on-going relationships with legislative leaders, and develop political skills needed to enact the changes we are seeking. But even more importantly, State Networks give visibility to Unitarian Universalists.  Through the small acts of many we have the opportunity to become a respected voice in our State Houses for the oppressed, the needy and the poor.

California and New York were the first states to establish networks. The growth of networks was significantly enhanced by the UU Service Committee (UUSC) decision in 2004 to support local activist as agents of change and bearers of a powerful, progressive religious voice by offering start up grants to state networks. The UUA has further supported the networks by encouraging congregations in states where there is a Network to join the Network and providing opportunities for joint programming between the UUA and the Networks.

Today UUSAN is an informal organization, which operates under shared leadership.  We meet monthly and work in a consensus model.  Monthly conference calls are organized by the UUSC and attended by representatives of the UUA Office of Advocacy and Witness and the UUA Washington office.   We share current work efforts, best practices and look for opportunities to work together in support of our shared vision so we can make a difference in creating a world in which each person realizes their full human rights

Current Issues

Unitarian Universalist Principles

There are seven principles, which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:

• 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.

Unitarian Universalism (UU) 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 neighbors 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-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community. For more information, visit http://www.uua.org/visitors/index.shtml