A summary of the arguments

Opinions on this question are best expressed by people in our congregations. What follows are brief summaries of the key arguments presented in the past. You can find more in the letters and statements received by the Thomas Jefferson District board in the Decision History collection on this site.

Retain the name of Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was a great statesman who was born and lived within the current borders of this district.Jefferson wrote about Unitarianism and reflected that everyone would be Unitarian one day so he is considered a famous Unitarian Universalists. His contributions to the Declaration of Independence and his role in enshrining freedom of religion and the separation of church and state in the constitution were essential to the formation of this country and to the freedoms we enjoy as Unitarian Universalists.

The fact that Thomas Jefferson owned slaves is a reflection of the times and it's unfair to apply today's values to the times in which he lived. He did so many good things and this was just a small aspect of his life.

Change the name from Thomas Jefferson to Southeast

By embracing the name of Thomas Jefferson, we embrace a symbol that troubles many people of color and other UUs. The story that honors Jefferson as an American hero is a story told from a white, European American perspective. Our Unitarian Universalist principles call us to make room for everyone's story, including African Americans, Native Americans, and feminist women, who tell a very different story of Jefferson. In these stories, Thomas Jefferson was an unrepentant slave holder who chose not to free many of the people he enslaved, even upon his death. He forced Sally Hemmings, an enslaved woman, to be his concubine, to have sexual relations with him, and to bear his children, children he never acknowledged as his, although some were freed upon their 21st birthdays. He advocated for the forced relocation of indigenous people in the United States that eventually resulted in the relocation of many of the Cherokee people from part of what is currently the Thomas Jefferson District. Although we claim Jefferson as a Unitarian because of his writings about Unitarianism, he was baptized, died, and buried in the Episcopal Church. He was never a member of a Unitarian congregation.

At a time in our history when we have committed to becoming a multicultural Unitarian Universalism, when we work to practice radical hospitality, when we say our doors are open to all people, we are sending mixed messages to people of color both inside the Association and those considering becoming UU if we do not allow everyone's story to be told. It is time to give up Thomas Jefferson and all that he represented to move together into a brighter future where all people are embraced with dignity, equity, and respect.

On a practical level, most districts have a geographical name so a name like Southeast makes it easier for those outside the district to identify the area served by the district.

Note: If you feel this page inaccurately represents either of the positions or is missing a critical piece of the argument, please contact Annnette Marquis, District Executive, at amarquis@uua.org, and we'd be happy to consider helpful revisions.