The CUC Statement of Principles Task Force has developed this first draft of a new Statement of Principles for review by the member congregations.

The role of the Task Force is not to be the “author” of the new Statement; rather it is to act as the “agent” of the general membership in crafting a text that accurately reflects their values and aspirations, based on the input provided at the congregational workshops held in the Spring of 2004.

The purpose of the draft at this stage is to ensure that we are on the right track and that the content of the Statement is correct and representative. The Task Force acknowledges that the text will need refining and polishing after receiving feedback from the congregations. At that point we will address “style” issues.

At this time, we are asking people to read the draft Statement and let it “sit” with them for a while. In the January monthly mailing from the CUC to congregations, we will be circulating supplementary information from the Task Force that describes the rationale for the chosen wording and the mechanism for collecting feedback. WE INVITE YOU TO USE THIS MATERIAL TO CONDUCT CONGREGATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON THE DRAFT TEXT AND TO PRESENT YOUR FINDINGS TO THE TASK FORCE BY MARCH 31, 2005.

Once the Task Force has received feedback from the congregations, we will summarize and present your conclusions at the CUC Annual Conference and Meeting in Hamilton this May. Through subsequent workshops, the text will be further refined. It is anticipated that a revised draft will be presented for adoption at the 2006 ACM in Saint John.

If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please visit the Task Force website at www.cuc.ca/statement, or contact us by e-mail at statement@cuc.ca.

Sincerely,
Rev. Wendy McNiven & Kalvin B. Drake
Co-Chairs, CUC Statement of Principles Task Force
January 2005

FIRST DRAFT
The Congregations of the Canadian Unitarian Council covenant to proclaim and promote the
shared values and aspirations of their members as represented herein.

STATEMENT OF SHARED VALUES & ASPIRATIONS

Affirming the power of religious community, we come together in our congregations to:
• Celebrate the unity and interdependence of all existence within which we are called to be true to our own conscience and experience;
• Engage in our individual search for truth and meaning as part of a spiritual mosaic;
• Love and be loved, to support each other in our spiritual growth and to bring peace into our lives and the world.

Giving life to our shared values, we strive to make a positive change in the world by:
• Honouring the inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Acting with compassion, generosity and integrity in all relations;
• Ensuring that all people have a voice and a role in matters that affect them;
• Fostering a fair, diverse and sustainable global community.

From our historical roots within Protestant Christianity, we have drawn on the Unitarian
challenge to Church doctrine and the Universalist belief in unconditional divine love. Today, we
find insight and inspiration from many and varied sources:
• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder that moves us to renew our spirit and connect with the forces which create and uphold life;
• Wisdom from the world’s humanist and spiritual traditions which guides us with reason and teaches us to live in harmony with our neighbours and the rhythms of nature;
• Prophetic words and deeds that challenge us to confront injustice and cruelty with conviction and the transforming power of love;
• The legacy of those who have served and will serve this, our living tradition.

First Draft by the CUC Statement of Principles Task Force, pending feedback from the member
congregations and subsequent literary refinement. January 2005.
For more information, please visit www.cuc.ca/statement or contact statement@cuc.ca