On June 16, we held our annual “Question Box.” Those present were invited to submit questions and I answered as many as I could in the amount of time given. There were so many great questions left, so I’ll be answering them in today’s and upcoming columns.
Question: Is Live Oak UU tax-exempt? I’m a frequent critic of Christian denominations that preach politics from the pulpit while enjoying tax-exempt status. It would be hypocritical not to apply the same standard to my chosen faith. How does Live Oak handle this issue?
Answer: Yes, we are tax-exempt. We do not preach politics from the pulpit, nor do we promote candidates as an institution.
There are misunderstandings about what this means – does that mean for example, that we cannot promote Pride? Or speak to issues of policy, such as when a school district begins censoring chapters from textbooks? Or what about promoting voting itself?
No. The real rules are actually straightforward and finite: we cannot endorse candidates. “Congregations and their representatives can do nothing that advocates for or against candidates for public office or political parties.”
Engage in issue advocacy and organizing for justice
Conduct voter education
Voter access through voter registration
Get Out the Vote drives
Combat voter suppression
Support or oppose ballot initiatives
Educate candidates on issues
Sponsor candidate forums
Prepare and distribute non-partisan voter guides
Lobby elected officials
Host a variety of activities at our congregations
What has happened in recent years is that what are religious matters for us have been made political. Ours is a prophetic religion – for two hundred years, we have answered the call of love, taking action for abolition, civil rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA+ issues, and liberation of all. When our religious values are attacked in the public square, that does not, must not, silence our prophetic voices. We preach our religious values from the pulpit, with calls to action. (But not calls to a particular political party or candidate.)
And… we are not prohibited from criticizing government leaders. “Speaking truth to power” is one of the historical calls in our religion.
Question: What is the inherent worth and dignity of someone like Samuel Alito?
Justice Alito is getting quite a bit of negative attention recently, and for good reason. But I want to get into the deeper part of this question: what does it mean for anyone to have inherent worth and dignity?
That phrase, “inherent worth and dignity” was adopted as a principle of Unitarian Universalism in 1985. “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person.”
Since that time, UUs have discussed and debated it. Does “inherent” mean all people are born with it? Can you lose it, or give it up?
For me, I think the most relevant detail is this: “covenant to affirm and promote.” This is not a belief statement. It is a part of a to-do list. Whether we believe in it or not, we are called to affirm and promote every person’s worth and dignity.
I believe that is doable. It’s not always easy. It means criticizing a person’s actions, while not implying they are less than human. I believe it also means speaking truth to those in power and letting them know their very humanity, their worth and dignity, call them to be better. To be more ethical, just, and compassionate. To prioritize the worth and dignity of all people, not just one’s political friends. To center love and justice in their decision-making.