Part of the depth of a Unitarian Universalist faith is our reliance on covenant, rather than creed. As Rev. Melissa Ziemer-Carvill points out in this sermon delivered at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York on August 14, 2003 when she served as their summer minister, a covenant is more than a promise, but a relationship between ourselves and each other, and the holy, that not only calls us to our higher purpose but also offers forgiveness when we fall short.

Rev. Ziemer-Carvill now serves the Unitarian Universalist Church in Kent, Ohio.

On Not Throwing Anything Away

by Rev. Melissa Ziemer-Carvill

Here’s a little quiz. The words to our opening hymn, Come, Come Whoever You Are, are from a poem by the 13th century Sufi mystic Jelalludin Rumi. There are many adaptations of the poem, but most of them include a line omitted from our hymnal. See if you can pick it out.

“Come, come, whoever you are Wanderer, Worshiper, Lover of Leaving, Ours is no caravan of despair Though you have broken your vows a thousand times… Come, yet again, Come.”

Did you catch it? Though you have broken your vows a thousand times . . . We leave that one out, but I think it is such an important line. We need to know that we are not the only ones who break our vows. We need to know that imperfection is part of the human condition, that we can fail again and again and still, we are welcome.

(Read on … )

The Rev. Mark Stringer, who serves the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, Iowa, earned himself quite a bit of attention when he performed the first, and only, legal same-sex wedding in the state of Iowa, literally moments before the ruling allowing this wedding was placed under a stay order. You can read his account of the wedding, as presented to his congregation this past week, here.

While performing that wedding ceremony was certainly a headline-grabber, Rev. Stringer’s sermon from almost a year ago, on October 22, 2006, demonstrates it to have been an act of deep faith, of the courage to live in one’s convictions. Unitarian Universalism is at its core a religion that calls us to walk our talk, to covenant with creation itself to live in service and in love.

Please enjoy these words, which, I think, illustrate beautifully the struggle and the commitment this faith shows to our principles.

The Inherent Problem with Inherent Worth and Dignity

by the Rev. Mark Stringer

Today I will consider the first of the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism, as articulated at a General Assembly of our association in 1985: “We the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.” This first principle is a foundation for all the principles that follow. It is, in my estimation at least, a principle that exemplifies Unitarian Universalism.

But its importance in our religious tradition does not mean that it is revered by all UUs. In fact, I have heard from several people for whom this first principle is a concern, if not a major stumbling block. As one newcomer recently told me [paraphrased], “Mark, I don’t know about this inherent worth and dignity stuff. What about sex offenders…or murderers…or Osama Bin Laden? Do we have to affirm their inherent worth and dignity? I don’t think I can.”

(Read on … )