guided by love
Our Values
Our religious tradition honors the many spiritual pathways that affirm the worth, dignity and the interdependence of all life. In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.
love at the heart of uuchv
Our mission statement is short, but it challenges us to live authentically and honestly, to build a welcoming community, and to work hard to better this world. All with love at the center of our work.
"Inspired by love, our mission is to seek our true nature, connect deeply and openly, and act for justice."
In our tradition, our Covenant is what the members of our community intentionally promise to eachother. We are committed to being together in ways that foster our growth as individuals and as a community and acknowledge our connectedness and interdependence.
"We, the members of the UU Congregation of the Hudson Valley, affirm and covenant to:
- listen actively and respectfully
- be accepting of all voices
- seek full and equitable participation
- use language of kindness
- assume positive intent
- approach conflict directly and work toward a mutually acceptable resolution through honest interaction and compromise
- express gratitude for the efforts of others
- honor each other's personal journeys
To create an atmosphere of trust and safety, we agree to call each other back into covenant when necessary and to forgive ourselves and others."
love at the heart of unitarian universalism
Unitarian Universalists share these values, all centered around love:
Love
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values.
We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.
Pluralism
We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Generosity
We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Interdependence
We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.
We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Equity
We declare that every person has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.
Justice
We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.
We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.
Transformation
We adapt to the changing world.
We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.
Inspired by love, our mission is to seek our true nature, connect deeply and openly, and act for justice.
SEEK. CONNECT. ACT. LOVE.
together we... love