Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb

Passed unanimously at the May 18, 2003 Bi-Annual Congregational Meeting We the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb, affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all people. Therefore, in accordance with our denomination's first principle, and in stating our identity as a Welcoming Congregation, we commit to:

1. Provide congregational and ministerial support and worship space for services of union, memorial services, dedications of children, and celebrations of the evolving definitions of family for all its members and friends, regardless of sexual orientation.
2. Offer educational and worship opportunities that celebrate diversity using inclusive language, and express the concerns of bisexual, gay, lesbian and/or transgender persons in congregational life by celebrating the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.
3. Nurture and support the ongoing dialogue between people of different sexual orientations and gender identifications, in order to create and sustain deeper trust and sharing.
4. Generate, participate in, or support in the larger society the movement toward obtaining justice, freedom, and equality for people of all sexual orientations.

Passed at a special congregational meeting called on April 13, 2003
with a vote of 23 for and 1 opposed.

Background Information by Joe Pourroy, Social Justice Chairperson:

As the current military actions in Iraq seem to threaten a wider war and the loss of civil liberties at home became a reality, members and friends of UUFD asked the Social Justice Committee what could be done. After research and discussion the Social Justice Committee drafted a resolution and notice went out to the Fellowship to consider the resolution for a vote at a specially called congregational meeting. After two sessions of discussion, the resolution came to a vote and was approved 23 to 1.

The resolution joins other efforts in the DeKalb community to focus on peaceful ends to conflicts in the world. A weekly peace vigil begun by members of the DeKalb Area Interfaith Network for Peace and Justice provides an ongoing quest for peace. This simple statement of principle begins the difficult work of making peace, liberty and justice a reality for all.

PREAMBLE:
Moved by the spirit of the sixth principle which calls on us to “covenant to affirm and promote a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all,” the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb, Illinois, proposes the following resolution:

RESOLUTION:
As Unitarian Universalists we affirm justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. While we recognize the sacrifices made by our troops and their families and value the lives of the men and women who are being placed in harm's way, we also value peaceful negotiation and cooperation with other nations in solving the conflicts of the world with a focus on meeting human needs. In accordance with our Unitarian Universalist Sixth Principle, we work for a world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

Therefore, we the members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb do hereby declare our opposition to the following policies:

1. The doctrine of preemptive military action.
2. The disproportionate investment of national resources in offensive military operations at the expense of vital programs, needed to meet human needs and ensure our national security.
3. The sacrifice of our cherished civil liberties in the name of homeland security.

If we, the most powerful nation on earth, disregard accepted norms of international behavior, we will set a highly dangerous precedent for the rest of the world. We uphold the belief that peace is patriotic, and we urge our national leaders to pursue every avenue of nonviolent resolution to conflict among nations.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb
158 N. Fourth Street
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-756-7089
uufdchurchoffice@aol.com

9:00 a.m. - Church opens for Coffee & Conversation
9:45-11:00 a.m. Worship Service - Note: Children (age 4+ stay with us through the entire service)
11:00-11:15 a.m. - Coffee quick break
11:15-12:15 p.m. - Faith Development programming for all ages.

Child care services available. Our church is handicapped accessible. For directions to our church, please click [map]