A Statement of Faithful Witness and Public Commitment

We, the members of Mount Vernon Unitarian Universalist congregation, raise our voices at this moment in history because 

To remain quiet when human dignity is threatened is to abandon our deepest values.

Grounded in our Unitarian Universalist faith, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This belief is not abstract. It calls us into action—especially when laws, policies, and public practices deny people safety, voice, belonging, or freedom.

We stand for human rights—for the right of every person to live free from fear, discrimination, violence, and erasure. We reject systems that dehumanize migrants, criminalize poverty, target LGBTQ+ people, silence dissent, or undermine the basic protections of democracy.

We stand for integrity—truth-telling over propaganda, moral courage over convenience, and accountability over power without restraint. We believe democracy depends on honesty, transparency, and leaders who serve the common good rather than their own interests.

We stand for community engagement—not as charity, but as solidarity. We commit to showing up beyond our walls, building relationships across differences, and working alongside those whose voices have been ignored or suppressed.

We stand for democracy—not as a slogan, but as a sacred trust. Democracy requires participation, protection of voting rights, respect for the rule of law, and a shared responsibility to safeguard freedom for generations yet to come.

Our Unitarian Universalist tradition has never been neutral in times of moral crisis. From abolition to civil rights, to marriage equality, our faith has taught us that love demands resistance, and justice requires courage.

Therefore, we commit ourselves to:

• Speaking out publicly and faithfully

• Engaging in nonviolent action for justice

• Educating ourselves and others

• Voting, organizing, and advocating

• Standing with those most at risk

We do this not out of fear, but out of love.

Not out of anger alone, but out of hope.

Not because it is easy—but because it is right.

This is who we are.

This is what our faith calls us to do.

And this is the moment we will not turn away from.

-- Submitted by Rev. Dave Clements, adopted by the Board of Trustees, January 2026