A Congregational Resolution: Committing to Democracy Through Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Willamette Falls in Oregon City, OR – March 2026

BECAUSE as Unitarian Universalists and members of the oldest Free Church west of the Rocky Mountains:
1. We are accountable to one another for living our shared values of equity, generosity, interdependence, justice, pluralism, and transformation;
2. We aspire to love our neighbors as ourselves and to cherish the dignity and frailty of our shared humanity;
3. We draw from Unitarian Universalist and our congregation’s history of free and responsible searches in open discussion, allowing us to find shared understandings and join in coalitions with others;
4. We promote and defend democratic principles including equal justice, effective separation of powers, due process, constitutional integrity, and the freedoms of speech, press, and assembly;
5. We aim to act not from outrage or self-righteousness but from hope tempered by courage and deepened by conviction;

WHEREAS:
1. The 2025 Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly passed an Action of Immediate Witness entitled “Faithful Defiance of Authoritarianism, a Call to Action: Reaffirming Our Covenant for Democracy and Freedom” in which they resolved, in part, that UU Congregations: Adopt a congregational resolution that affirms their collective commitment to protect and strengthen freedom and democracy and to resist, through peaceful and principled means, encroachment by authoritarian forces seeking to strip citizens and non-citizens of their rights, voices, and power to hold leaders accountable;
2. The current administration is wielding public institutions including the Department of Justice, immigration enforcement, the IRS, funding agencies, the National Guard, federal contracting, and the FTC not for the common good, but to intimidate and punish their political opponents and ideological challengers, and in flagrant violation of the Constitution, due process, and rule of law;
3. This corrosion of democracy is fueled by private money and those seeking personal advantages, the enrichment of officials and special interests at the public’s expense and the dismantling of independent oversight with the capacity for community accountability;
4. Authoritarianism divides citizens, exploiting and demonizing the most vulnerable among us while doing moral injury to everyone by denying the worth and dignity of all people;
5. In our neighborhoods and across the country, immigration enforcement officers use tactics that interfere with accountability, including failure to disclose arrest or detention information and refusal to identify themselves; and these along with excessive violence are causing widespread fear and social disruptions including children missing education, individuals forgoing necessary healthcare, businesses losing patrons and workers, and community members hesitating to help with reporting, solving, and preventing crime due to damaged trust in local law enforcement;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Willamette Falls:
1. Affirm our commitment to democracy as a moral and spiritual imperative which serves as an essential check against abuse of power and as a foundation for the realization of equity and justice.
2. Condemn all efforts to subvert democratic institutions, suppress voting rights, intimidate public servants, manipulate the judiciary, and spread authoritarian ideologies.
3. Commit to nonviolent action in defense of democratic values and to active resistance against authoritarian encroachment through legal, ethical, moral, and peaceful means such as being a faith-based presence at pro-democracy actions and events.
4. Encourage education and civic engagement within and beyond our congregation, including hosting forums, participating in effective non-violent actions such as protests and strikes, and supporting other efforts to reinforce democracy, transparency, and accountability;
5. Partner with other faith communities and civic organizations to build a broad-based coalition movement to uphold democratic principles and resist authoritarianism.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall be shared with:
1. All Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, fellowships, and organizations  in Oregon, the UUSJ, UUSC, and the UUA.
2. Pro-democracy organizations, aligned faith communities, and the press including local, UU, and interfaith outlets.
3. Local, State, and Federal Elected Officials who represent congregation members.