Published on Mon Aug 03 2026 06:00:00 GMT+0600 (Omsk Standard Time) by 8th Principle UU

The 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism did not emerge from a single moment of inspiration, but from years of reflection, struggle, and a growing awareness that the existing seven principles, while beautiful, were not enough to confront the deep realities of systemic racism and oppression within our faith and society. This principle, which calls us to journey toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community, has its roots in the dedicated work of anti-racist activists who saw a critical gap between our aspirations and our practices. The story of its origin is a story of insight, partnership, and a commitment to accountability.

Two Paradigms: The 7 Principles and Beloved Community

Paula Cole Jones, who served as the Director of Racial & Social Justice for the Joseph Priestley District (JPD) of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), spent more than fifteen years working with congregations on issues of race and systemic oppression. Through that experience, she came to recognize that there were essentially two operating paradigms within Unitarian Universalism. The first was the familiar framework of the Seven Principles, which emphasize individual worth, justice, equity, and the interdependent web of existence. The second was the vision of Beloved Community, a concept popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which calls for a deep, radical multiculturalism where all people are truly welcomed and valued.

The Seven Principles affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Jones observed that it was entirely possible for individuals and congregations to believe they were living out these Seven Principles while remaining largely unaware of or unengaged with systemic racism and other forms of oppression. Most UU congregations, even those located in racially diverse communities, remained predominantly European-American in membership, leadership, and cultural expression—especially in music and worship style. This disconnect highlighted the need for an explicit commitment to dismantling racism and building multicultural community, beyond the general language of the existing principles.

From Insight to Action: Crafting the 8th Principle

Recognizing this gap, Jones began conversations with Bruce Pollack-Johnson, a fellow UU and anti-racism advocate, about what an addition, Pollack-Johnson drafted an initial version of what would become the 8th Principle. This draft was then refined through collaboration with a group of anti-racist activists in the Joseph Priestley District, ensuring that the language was both aspirational and actionable.

The resulting principle states that we covenant to affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community, and that this work requires accountable actions that dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions. This wording intentionally moves beyond passive affirmation to active, accountable work. It names racism and other oppressions directly, calling for transformation at both personal and institutional levels. The principle was designed to complement, not replace, the existing Seven Principles, providing a specific focus that they lacked.

A Congregation Commits: Restoration Leads the Way

The UU Church of the Restoration in Philadelphia, where Bruce Pollack-Johnson was a member, became the first congregation to incorporate the 8th Principle into its own covenant. They did so shortly after the initial draft was developed, signaling their commitment to live out this new articulation of faith. Then, in May 2017, the congregation took the significant step of formally adopting the 8th Principle for themselves and recommending that the Unitarian Universalist Association adopt it as well.

This act of grassroots leadership demonstrated that the principle was not merely a theoretical idea but a practical tool for congregational transformation. It showed that local communities could take ownership of the work of anti-racism and multiculturalism, and it encouraged others to consider whether their own covenants reflected a deep enough commitment to these values. The Restoration congregation's example highlighted that adopting the 8th Principle was not an endpoint but a beginning—a commitment to ongoing learning, reflection, and action.

Historical Context: UUism's Mixed Record on Racial Justice

Unitarian Universalism has a complex history when it comes to racial justice. On the one hand, many UUs were active in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and the UUA itself has made formal commitments to becoming an anti-racist, anti-oppression, multicultural (ARAOMC) organization. In 1992, a resolution was passed at General Assembly calling for such a commitment, and in 1997 a stronger resolution was adopted, outlining a path toward becoming an ARAOMC organization. These were significant steps, reflecting a genuine desire to live out the values of justice and equity.

However, the historical record also includes painful truths. During the era of abolitionism, Unitarians were present on both sides of the debate—some fought for the end of slavery, while others, including some prominent figures, were themselves slaveholders. In the early 20th century, some Unitarians were proponents of eugenics, a movement that had devastating consequences and contributed to the racial ideologies of Nazism and apartheid in South Africa. Even after the ARAOMC resolutions, funding and institutional support for anti-racism work began to wane in the 2000s. The accountability mechanisms that were supposed to ensure progress failed, and many congregations slipped back into complacency, allowing systemic racism to persist unchecked.

Why an 8th Principle? De-centering Whiteness and Fostering Accountability

For those who identify as white, it is all too easy to ignore the realities of systemic racism, because the system is designed to make whiteness the invisible norm. This very invisibility is what keeps racism alive and, in many ways, worsening. The 8th Principle challenges this by explicitly calling for the de-centering of whiteness and other dominant cultures within Unitarian Universalism. It asks us to examine how our institutions, even those with good intentions, may perpetuate exclusion through their structures, practices, and cultural expressions.

The 8th Principle is not a rejection of the first seven principles; rather, it is a necessary extension of them. It provides a specific, focused commitment that renews our dedication to anti-racist, anti-oppressive work. It serves as an accountability tool, reminding us that our faith requires more than individual kindness—it requires systemic change. As the movement for the 8th Principle has grown, it has become clear that this principle is essential for fulfilling the potential of all our principles.

We needed something that would hold us accountable, that would make explicit what had been implicit for too long. The 8th Principle is our commitment to action, not just aspiration.

By naming the specific oppressions we must confront and demanding accountable action, the 8th Principle transforms our understanding of what it means to be a people of faith. It says that spiritual growth is inseparable from the work of justice, and that our covenants must reflect that truth.

The Growing Movement: Adoption and the Road Ahead

Since its adoption by the UU Church of the Restoration, the 8th Principle has been embraced by a growing number of congregations across the United States and beyond. Each adoption represents a covenant to engage in the ongoing work of dismantling racism and other oppressions. The principle has also sparked broader conversations within the UUA about how to institutionalize this commitment at the denominational level, including discussions about formally adding it to the UUA's Principles and Purposes.

The journey toward becoming a truly multicultural, anti-racist faith is long and challenging, but the 8th Principle offers a clear direction. It reminds us that spiritual wholeness is inseparable from the work of building Beloved Community. By naming the oppressions we must confront and committing to accountable action, we take a crucial step toward fulfilling the promise of our existing principles. The 8th Principle is not just an addition to our list; it is a call to transformation, inviting every UU to live more fully into the values we profess.

Written by 8th Principle UU