Declarations of Democracy: Pluralism-Resources from June Gathering
June 2026
What a gift to be present to such a rich conversation about pluralism at Monday’s Gathering, and the blessings of music from Francisco Ruiz Moncayo.
Folks who came left feeling comforted by renewed hope, connected and sustained, overwhelmed and energized, loved and spiritually refreshed. Will you let us know how you felt after The Gathering and share your feedback with us?
Rev. Dr Sofía Betancourt (UUA President), Tahil Sharma (National LGBTQ Task Force), and Rev. Jacqueline Brett (Eno River UU Fellowship) engaged in a profound conversation about how we live our UU value of Pluralism. Here are a few gems:
The reality is that the origin story of democracy on these lands that we now call the United States does not begin with the so-called founding fathers. It was they who were inspired by what already existed among the Indigenous people of this land, mainly the Iroquois who were already living under their declared democratic principles and practices of collective decision-making, individual rights, community responsibility, and democratic governance. It was actually their model that inspired the rhetoric and ideals that this American nation was founded upon. I've been thinking about this as the ultimate act of misappropriation. - Rev. Jacqueline Brett
This is not about mutually assured destruction. I don't want pain for you because you are different from me. Let’s actually guarantee mutually assured abundance for each of us because it's not a prerequisite to have a certain skin color, gender, sexual orientation to be better off. ~ Tahil Sharma
I believe that a pluralistic call to being is about empowering people within their own value systems and faith traditions to be as fully human as they can be. Each and every different tradition calls us to live within our lifetimes and to bring that best self through our faithful practice into shared space for the work of peacekeeping, humanity, and justice. I want you to be your best Hindu self if that is your practice. And to join me on that meeting ground as my best Unitarian Universalist self so we can sit down and push into what we can be as when human community that has multiple faith expressions of our best possibility. ~ Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt
Take Action
As we said at The Gathering, our faith calls us to be in this for the long haul. Here is how we invited you to do tha this week:
Ground yourself. What is 1 thing you will do to tend to your spirit and regulate this week?
Amplify. What is something you will share with 3 people tomorrow?
Act. What is one thing you will do this week? Find Actions & Toolkits on our Action Center: SideWithLove.org/actioncenter
Declarations of Democracy Series
Join us for the rest of our Declarations of Democracy series where we ask: What are we building for the future of democracy?
October 12: 10 years after Standing Rock
November 9: Democracy & 2026 Elections
December 14: Spiritual Practice
More Resources & links
Queering Faith - National LGBTQ Task Force for some guides Tahil & team put together Faith Policy work!
Follow Francisco and share the powerful song from The Urban Voices Project: RISE AGAIN
The strength of our movements has always been found in our ability to come together. May we continue acting in wider and wider networks of solidarity, and we will see you again in August.
May we dedicate ourselves to love today and always,
Rev. Cathy & Side with Love Staff Team
Ps. Don’t miss our August 10th Gathering on Healing and Repair.
