In the final weeks of the 2020 election, BUU Members, Friends, and Guests shared in a poll answering this question:
Which of our UU values
were in your heart and mind
when you voted?
We sought to discern our collective values, not individual votes on candidates or issues. With the election over our poll has closed. Below you can see the results of 22 participants (18 Members, 3 Friends, 1 Guest) and read Rev. Matthew's reflection.
Voting with Our UU Values
Poll Results
CLICK HERE if you'd like to learn more about our 7 Principles
CLICK HERE if you'd like to learn more about our proposed 8th Principle
Rev. Matthew's Reflection
on Results
My Dear BUU Members, Friends, and Guests,
My thanks and gratitude to the 22 respondents who joined me in sharing which of our principles were in our hearts and on our minds when we voted this election. We had 18 Members, 3 Friends, and 1 Guest join the poll. While far from representing our entire congregation's feelings and thoughts, this group's collective response still offers some interesting insights.
Details
The single agreed upon principle with 100% agreement of all participants was our First Principle, "We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person." Both our Second and Fifth Principles were selected by 91%. Then, both our Sixth and the proposed 8th Principles came in at 86%. 73% indicated that our 7th Principle was a value present for them during voting. 64% chose the 4th Principle. Finally, 59% chose our Third Principle. CLICK HERE to read our 7 Principles in detail.
Patterns
Clearly our First Principle was significant to respondents as they voted, yet, beyond this single principle, there are not clear patterns about the principles themselves. That is, no single other principle stands out or is favored in such a way that a pattern emerges to me.
I do find it very encouraging that our proposed 8th Principle was ranked so high, yet I cannot see a pattern emerging from its pairing with our Sixth Principle, or any special significance that was present for more people than our Third, Fourth, or Seventh Principles.
What do you see? (send me your thoughts below)
Insights
I do read the poll to say that for those who participated in this poll, our values matter. I don't want to overstate this, but it seems relevant that all the values of our principles were present for over half the people while voting. This is not to say that each person voted with the exact words of our principles on their tongues, rather that upon reflection, 22 people felt that our UU values were a part of their choices for candidates and issues this election. And because this election was so relevant to our past, present, and future I believe it demonstrates how our Unitarian Universalist values matter locally, nationally, and globally.
What insights do you gather? (send me your thoughts below)
Next Steps
If our UU values are active in this historic election, it feels as if there is more to explore where our values are a vital to our lives. I'll be looking to discover with you where else our values show up and how they matter in other vital parts of our lives.
What next steps might you take? (send me your thoughts below)
Again, my gratitude to all those who participated. I am thankful too to those of you who have spent some time considering the results of this poll and perhaps sent me some of your thoughts.
In faith,
Rev. Matthew Funke Crary
My thanks and gratitude to the 22 respondents who joined me in sharing which of our principles were in our hearts and on our minds when we voted this election. We had 18 Members, 3 Friends, and 1 Guest join the poll. While far from representing our entire congregation's feelings and thoughts, this group's collective response still offers some interesting insights.
Details
The single agreed upon principle with 100% agreement of all participants was our First Principle, "We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person." Both our Second and Fifth Principles were selected by 91%. Then, both our Sixth and the proposed 8th Principles came in at 86%. 73% indicated that our 7th Principle was a value present for them during voting. 64% chose the 4th Principle. Finally, 59% chose our Third Principle. CLICK HERE to read our 7 Principles in detail.
Patterns
Clearly our First Principle was significant to respondents as they voted, yet, beyond this single principle, there are not clear patterns about the principles themselves. That is, no single other principle stands out or is favored in such a way that a pattern emerges to me.
I do find it very encouraging that our proposed 8th Principle was ranked so high, yet I cannot see a pattern emerging from its pairing with our Sixth Principle, or any special significance that was present for more people than our Third, Fourth, or Seventh Principles.
What do you see? (send me your thoughts below)
Insights
I do read the poll to say that for those who participated in this poll, our values matter. I don't want to overstate this, but it seems relevant that all the values of our principles were present for over half the people while voting. This is not to say that each person voted with the exact words of our principles on their tongues, rather that upon reflection, 22 people felt that our UU values were a part of their choices for candidates and issues this election. And because this election was so relevant to our past, present, and future I believe it demonstrates how our Unitarian Universalist values matter locally, nationally, and globally.
What insights do you gather? (send me your thoughts below)
Next Steps
If our UU values are active in this historic election, it feels as if there is more to explore where our values are a vital to our lives. I'll be looking to discover with you where else our values show up and how they matter in other vital parts of our lives.
What next steps might you take? (send me your thoughts below)
Again, my gratitude to all those who participated. I am thankful too to those of you who have spent some time considering the results of this poll and perhaps sent me some of your thoughts.
In faith,
Rev. Matthew Funke Crary