By Tom Stites
The November presidential election is bearing down on us, thrusting the Fifth Principle of Unitarian Universalism into the forefront of our religious lives.
The Fifth Principle affirms “the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large” – and society at large needs our consciences to compel us to take action because the future of our nation’s democracy is at stake.
What can we do? The Unitarian Universalist Association has launched a national campaign called UU the Vote, and FRS is planning to join the UUA and many other UU congregations in a mobilization to make sure that a record number of people cast ballots. The UUA campaign will also include multi-faith and secular partners.
The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, the UUA President, will grace our pulpit March 29 and she assures us that we can count on her sermon delivering the UU the Vote news. In the meantime, if you’re eager to join in this mobilization, email Tom Stites so we can get a head start on our planning and have something to tell Rev. Frederick-Gray when she visits.
“Things are dire,” Rev. Ashley Horan, UUA Organizing Strategy director, told UU World this month. “This is no time to sit on the sidelines. This is no time for casual faith.”
To learn more, check out this UU World article, and for more resources, go to this UUA web page.