Last week, as I previously noted, I spoke to a Unitarian Universalist congregation about Project 2025. (I posted those comments here.)
Ever since I was Executive Director of Indiana’s ACLU and was first asked to address a UU church, I have enjoyed speaking to UU congregations. They tend to be composed of people committed to civil liberties, respectful of science, and welcoming of a wide variety of perspectives. As their “Welcome” text confirms, UU’s believe that religious faith is uniquely personal, and that attitudes of openness and tolerance are important. I particularly like the “covenant” this congregation recites, which affirms that spiritual growth provides the grounding for peace, ethical living and community service.
Prior to my talk, there is usually a reading, and I was so impressed with this particular one that I asked for a copy. This was a reading that directly addressed the fundamental issue of tomorrow’s vote, which, as the author said, will really be a vote on another covenant– the covenant we Americans have made with each other.
Democracy–as the reading pointed out–isn’t just a word or even just a system of government: it’s a “living, breathing promise.” A covenant.
This promise of democracy is one of collective power and shared responsibility. Many understand that this covenantal promise is not without its challenges. Democracy asks us to engage in issues, to participate in bringing about change, and to care deeply about one another. It is cultivated in small, consistent actions–in the conversations we have, the ways we listen to and learn from one another, as well as the votes we cast. It demands that we see beyond ourselves, recognizing the dignity of every person, and honoring the rich diversity of our lives.
This reading was part of a church service, so care was taken to avoid endangering the congregation’s tax exemption by the endorsement of a political candidate–there was no direction to “go thou and vote in such and such a way.” Instead, what struck me forcefully about this description of the choice we face was its emphasis on community, on the obligation that we humans have to care for each other.
That emphasis really highlights the vast difference between Trump’s MAGA Republicanism and the Harris campaign.
As the multiple Republicans who have endorsed Harris have pointed out, this election is not about our policy differences–it’s about saving the American Constitution and the rule of law, the essential foundations of the covenant described in the reading. Ours is a covenant that requires us to care about other people, to accept a commitment not just to an abstract nation, but to our fellow Americans.
Traditional Republicans and Democrats may have wildly different opinions about how to demonstrate that commitment, how to honor that covenant, but we recognize that it binds us. We may disagree about economic or social policies, but we share a fundamental belief that government exists to create a just environment that facilitates the human flourishing of all of us–including the neighbors who don’t look or think or worship as we do.
Tomorrow’s election is between all the Americans who believe in that covenant and want to protect it, and those who don’t. It really is that simple.
The Republican Party many of us once knew and respected has been replaced by a malignant cult in Donald Trump’s image, and the members of that cult reject the very idea of a democratic covenant. They are not motivated by care for their neighbors. They contemptuously reject the “demand that we see beyond ourselves.”
The brief closing paragraphs of the reading were poignant: they read
It is clear that at the heart of this democracy is the promise of the people–our hopes and dreams. We are the democracy and the stewards of this promise: the practitioners of this sacred work.
As Unitarian Universalists, we believe democracy is more than a political system; it is a shared journey, a collective responsibility, and a profound act of faith in one another. May we walk this path with grace, with purpose, and with phenomenal commitment to the common good.
That commitment–to America’s democratic covenant, to each other, to the common good–is what is on the ballot this year. That’s the choice to be made by We the People.
This Jewish atheist is praying with the Unitarians….
I have never wavered in my support for the Constitution or the vision or principles of liberal democracy. However, as the reality on earth changes, adjusting the fit between that ever-changing reality and the relatively fixed details of the Constitution needs careful consideration.
I hope it’s not too late or too early.
Two items that have drastically changed are extremely disparate distributions: wealth and knowledge. Both are sensitive issues, meaning that the rate of change must be gradual. In fact, we have missed the optimum window for change.
Knowledge has always built on itself. The more extensive it is, the faster it grows.
Wealth has always been the confluence of labor, raw materials, energy, and ideas, producing useful goods, services, and waste.
Ideas have exploded as knowledge has.
The growth in investment banking as a service has exploded, changing the distribution of currency or tokens of wealth.
Aligning those distributions with our Constitutionally mandated flat distribution of rights and responsibilities under the law is increasingly necessary.
My gratitude to you and the Unitarians.
Sheila, everyone is welcome in my UU congregation, ever this long-lapsed Quaker, even a Jewish atheist…even a MAGA adherent where we would hope to help them find their humanity.
Unitarian Universalism has always struck me as being the distillation and expression of the way things should be. It is idealistic but also strives to learn more about trying to reflect that idealism into our own lives in large and especially small ways, with acceptance and tolerance of our fellow humans. Sadly, as I read your column, I kept thinking of how in my opinion none of that sits well with the cult that is trump. It simply doesn’t fit. It is antithetical to their dark and angry view of a country that is against them. Outrageous conspiracies abound, and retribution and even violence is threatened. I don’t believe that will subside no matter how this election turns out, and the next inhabitant of the White House will be burdened with the seemingly impossible task of amelioration, perhaps above nearly everything else. I profoundly hope that our new POTUS is the one with the capacity to do just that, Kamala Harris.
Thank you again Sheila.
I join with you and others in praying for the survival of our American Democracy.
I am a long time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Muncie, and felt like I belonged the first service I attended over a decade ago.
The UU’s have always been the liberal answer to Christianity – like the opposite of evangelism. Sadly, many churches and Christians look down upon UUs because they accept gays, which goes against all the cherry-picking biblical references they can find.
As Phil pointed out, the UU in Muncie has always been an open-minded and welcoming church in our community. You don’t even have to be a Christian to attend their services. I worked with one of the former pastors on several issues taking place in our community. One was a farcical National Day of Prayer at City Hall, where a Baptist preacher was less than open with his preaching and was doing so in City Hall. We got that fixed quickly!
He also dedicated an evening to Buddhism, where we meditated and prayed using basic Buddhist principles. That openness was a first for me as I explored my personal spirituality.
I disagree with the so-called spirit of community and democracy shown to us in Washington. They are all professional liars for oligarchs running the show. The current administration is committing genocide against Arabs, and that includes Harris. I know Trump said he’ll do the same thing, but that doesn’t give Harris, Dems, and our press a pass. We are global pariahs.
I was once on the board of directors of the First Unitarian Church of Brooklyn, N.Y.C. We got married there, by my pastor and a Rabbi. The creed is open and welcoming, not judgmental.
And, yes, this is an either/or election, with tfg laying the groundwork for his self-serving challenges. Let us hope that her will need tp run theme nd be as successful this time as he was last time. After which i will gladly shout Hallelujah for Jack Smith!
There are a number of Christian Churches, that actually follow the teachings of Jesus. For a long while I have prayed and talked to anyone who would listen, that we needed the real Christian Church’s leadership to take back the mantle of Christianity from the posers. Finally, I’m beginning to see that happen. I hope it isn’t too little too late.
Not sure if it bodes well or ill, but I went to early vote on Friday and, since I only had an extra hour to get it done, I couldn’t get through the line in time – I probably would have needed 1.5-2 hours instead. Turnout seems very high this time around.
Extra weirdly, and it probably has no bearing on anything, there were NO Trump/Vance signs outside the polling place. Now, I live in a conservative area so maybe it was just so assumed they didn’t bother with a sign. Still, it was nice not to see, if nothing else.
For me, I’ll go back on Tuesday morning and get it done day-of.
The creed of universal unitarianism is “search for truth” and Harvard university was based on that. Too bad we all can’t have that kind of education.
I won’t be praying with you but I will be holding my breath about this election. So much of my life will be affected by who is POTUS. The anxiety level is sky high right now. I could barely get through your post with all of the distractions going on in my head and had to reread paragraphs. Harris must win.
The choice this election is clear to me. I will vote to protect the Constitution and protect Democracy. I am 100% Country well being first over Political gain! I love my country way more than any political party. I am praying common sense prevails and our Democracy stands after all the ballots are counted.