Nonetheless, the international commitment of North American Unitarian Universalists has been often weak. We have lacked staying power. Sometimes we have lacked the resources or the will to see our global commitments through and our self-interest or self-centeredness has caused us to shrink from our global calling.
Never before in human history, however, has the need for international understanding and engagement been greater than it is today. Never before has it been more important to encourage global citizenship.
Feeling fresh urgency - against a background of increasing fear and xenophobia, in a new era of instantaneous communication and with increasing awareness of the interdependency of people and their struggles for social justice - the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council projects a bold new vision:
We will establish global citizenship as a common commitment of liberal religion, transform ourselves and our congregations, and thus make international engagement a moral and spiritual principle of UU congregational life.
Much as the modern civil rights movement solidified social justice as a core value of Unitarian Universalism, we commit the partner church movement to make global citizenship integral to the core identity of all Unitarian Universalists and every UU congregation.
We will:
* BE the bridge that connects our congregations with the world
* REACH across all boundaries to collaborate with old and new partners
* CREATE transformational opportunities for pilgrimage and hospitality, for learning and service
* CHALLENGE our selves theologically and open ourselves to changed values and behaviors
* INITIATE creative unprecedented partnerships between North American UU congregations and diverse faith communities and organizations so that together we may promote international awareness, human rights and a better world
* SUSTAIN this global vision, enlarging and renewing it as Ònew occasions teach new dutiesÓ