Congregational Statements

Statement of Purpose
UUFSD is a safe haven and community of inspiration, creatively meeting the emotional, social, educational, and spiritual needs of our members and their families in ways consistent with our UU principles. Through this mutual support, we are empowered to transform the world, one person at a time.

Congregational Position on the Invasion of Iraq
(Adopted by a 92% vote on March 16, 2003)
In solidarity with:

• the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee which signed the Center for Community Change's 1/03/03 ad in the New York Times, "Embrace Peace and Prosperity";
• the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations which signed MoveOn.org's 12/12/02 ad in the New York Times, "Let the Inspections Work";
• Unitarian Universalist President Bill Sinkford's 9/20/02 statement, 'Responding to the Threat of War';
• the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the UU Ministers' Association;
• and the statements of the Methodists, the United Church of Christ, and the Catholic Bishops, as well as religious individuals like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, John Shelby Spong, retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope John Paul II, and many other major denominations and clergy

As concerned citizens of the world and committed Unitarian Universalists, the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito believes:

1. The United States government must allow the United Nations’ process of inspection for weapons of mass destruction to go forward and must accept its outcome.
2. The United States government must not make a pre-emptive strike against Iraq and must not wage war unilaterally.
3. There are no excuses for the death and repression brought on the Iraqi people by Saddam Hussein’s repressive regime.
4. Any war with Iraq could cause massive loss of life on both sides, large financial burdens on all the governments and people involved, and could lead to an extended conflict with devastating effects on the U.S. economy and little hope for the future of Iraq.

We, therefore, encourage and promote reliance on peaceful means and negotiation to solve issues with Iraq, rather than military action, unless a unanimous vote of the United Nations Security Council recommends otherwise.

Welcoming Congregation Resolution
WHEREAS, UUFSD seeks to attract, accept and retain as members people who share the values of our Purposes and Principles, regardless of religious or cultural background, race, physical characteristics or sexual orientation; and, since we have known that, traditionally, religious institutions have been especially inhospitable to people with diverse sexual orientations, we have been aware that we must make a concerted effort to specifically welcome those people into our caring community.

Over the past several years, our congregation has visibly displayed a Rainbow Flag at our welcome table on Sunday mornings; held workshops; conducted worship services and forums on Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender (BGLT) issues; shown support for the BGLT community by marching in the San Diego BGLT Pride Parade; has amended its bylaws to be more inclusive in regard to sexual orientation, and has welcomed and included Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender individuals and families as full and active members in all aspects of the life of our congregation, and celebrated and affirmed their lives through the support and services of our congregation, including union ceremonies. In addition, two members of our youth group have sought to start Gay/Straight Alliance clubs in their respective high schools; our Social Action Committee sponsored a petition signed by many of our members objecting to the early renewal of the Boy Scouts lease of prime land in Balboa Park at a nominal fee and the Welcoming Congregation Committee has sponsored two All-People's Dances and a mini-film festival that were publicized in the BGLT community.

We recognize that this resolution is a foundation from which to continue our welcoming of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender people, while engaging in the ongoing, widening welcoming of all other people as well, as called for by our Purposes and Principles.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito declare our Fellowship A WELCOMING CONGREGATION, as established by the Welcoming Congregation Program of the Unitarian Universalist Association and empower the Board of Directors of UUFSD to seek recognition from the Unitarian Universalist Association of our status as a Welcoming Congregation.

The Fellowship was designated a Welcoming Congregation in August 2003.