You may be familiar with the acronym JETPIG – shorthand for the Six Shared Values adopted at our General Assembly (annual gathering of mainstream UUs) in 2024.

The Values are an updated statement of what we want to do in the world, starting with one another. Basically, our reasons for being.

JETPIG didn’t happen overnight or without deep differences. It replaced the Seven Principles – our previous “snapshot” of who were back in 1985 (with some worthy additions along the way.)

Not everyone was or is onboard with the updated snapshot, but the majority of our mainstream congregations, staff and minsters understand the need for a more focused approach to our way of religion. To that end, the Shared Values were brought into being by a diverse core of leaders, and it shows.

Here are the Values as adopted by over 80% of the delegates to the 2024 General Assembly. Each is supported by a brief, clarifying statement:

• Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.  We work to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation.We create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice.We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.

• Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology. We learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning.We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.

• Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive. We work to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression.We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.

• Transformation: We adapt to the changing world. We collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically.Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.

• Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.

• Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion. We use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.

These are high aspirations, friends. Even more challenging, we aim to ground these Values in love. Keeping it real, we don’t always meet the moment with love, and we’re not always the people we seek to be.

But these six touchstones are there to help us when we falter, and encourage us when we rise above. Get to know our JETPIG. It’s a fun name for telling ourselves and the world out there what we’re all about.