TABLE OF CONTENTS
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INTRODUCTION
CORE CONCEPTS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Covenantal Faith
Interdependence
Restorative Justice
Accountability in Practice
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INTRODUCTION
Unitarian Universalist (UU) accountability is not based on dogma, but on the practice of honoring community covenants and living out shared principles. The UU view is a relational process focused on repairing harm through restorative justice, not a punitive system of punishment.
Covenantal Faith
Instead of adhering to a fixed creed, UUs make promises to one another to guide their actions and relationships. Holding one another accountable means helping the community and its members live up to the values they have pledged to uphold.
CORE CONCEPTS OF
UU ACCOUNTABILITY
Interdependence
UUs believe in the "interdependent web of all existence," meaning that every individual and action is interconnected. This concept means that when one person is harmed, it affects the entire community. Mutual accountability ensures the health of the whole community by recognizing that "none of us are in this alone".
Restorative Justice
A cornerstone of UU accountability is the use of restorative practices to address wrongdoing. This approach emphasizes healing, repairing relationships, and restoring community, rather than simply punishing the person who caused harm. This is contrasted with punitive models, which UUs believe run counter to their core values. Restorative accountability focuses on:
HIGH SUPPORT - Centering the well-being of all involved, especially those harmed.
HIGH ACCOUNTABILITY - Naming harm, and holding people responsibile for repairing relationships.
ANTI-OPPRESSION & EQUITY - Accountability is viewed through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens. This requires a deep commitment to dismantling systemic oppression within UU congregations and the wider world. It means being accountable not only to each other, but to those most impacted by injustice.
Accountability in Practice
FOR INDIVIDUALS - Accountability is a "spiritual practice" that includes holding oneself accountable for promises and values. It also means taking responsibility for personal beliefs and their ethical implications for the world.
FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS - UUs believe that showing up at a protest is not enough. True accountability to marginalized communities requires actively aligning one's actions and goals with the leadership of those communities to dismantle systemic injustice.