First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist

"Today, we declare that no government action can erase our faith nor lessen the powerful and necessary grounding it provides for those who serve."

We join with the Unitarian Universalist Association in protesting any act that attempts to diminish the liberal faith tradition that has seen this nation through its most trying times, from the work of abolitionist and suffragist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper to the martyrdom of Rev. James Reeb, murdered in Selma in 1965. We will not be erased, and we will not cease to provide counsel and solace to those who serve in the armed forces.

We send our unwavering support for Unitarian Universalists (UU) in uniform and our UU military chaplains. We recently learned the Department of Defense (DOD) has removed 180 separate religious affiliations from the US military’s list of religious affiliation codes. This eliminates the code for Unitarian Universalists, as well as Humanists, Atheists and Pagan traditions, and many others. Along with dozens of other religious traditions, UUs will be categorized broadly under “Other” in military’s religious affiliation codes.

Please note this decision does not directly impact the status of our UU military chaplains, who are authorized through a separate faith-based endorsement process with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). What it does mean is that Unitarian Universalist service members will not be able to select their specific religious identity in their personnel records. This may make it more difficult for our uniformed UUs to access the spiritual care that they need.

At this time, we are diligently working with our UUA counsel and partners in a variety of faith traditions to craft a strategic response that faithfully represents our values and demonstrates clear support for our UU service members and their families, as well as all those who are impacted by this DOD policy.

We will share more information when it is available. But today, we declare that no government action can erase our faith nor lessen the powerful and necessary grounding it provides for those who serve.

Read the full statement at the link in the comments.