Unitarian Universalists Uniting
To Repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery
To Implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
WELCOME
THE 2012 GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL FEATURE
THE DOCTRINE OF DISCOVERY
CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE GA BROCHURE
Taking the Doctrine of Christian Discovery Home
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE "JUSTICE GA" SCHEDULE
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UUA BOARD REPORT AND
THE RESOLUTION TO BE PRESENTED
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UU BLOG "COOKING TOGETHER"
This website is a repository of basic information for both the 'Doctrine' and the 'Declaration' and has extensive references and resources to assist congregations who wish to prepare for the discussions and actions planned at the 2012 General Assembly.
It should be noted that this effort is in response to the Indigenous Peoples of the World who have asked religious communities to repudiate the 'Doctrine' and to encourage governments to implement the 'Declaration'. At the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia, the representatives of the world's Indigenous Peoples presented this "Statement to the World". And in November, 2010 the National Congress of American Indians passed this resolution.
The Episcopalians and Quakers have already passed resolutions and issued statements repudiating the 'Doctrine'. On February 17, 2012 the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches passed this statement repudiating the 'Doctrine'. Our UU Seven Principles call on us to honor this request, as well.
This UU effort was launched at the 2010 General Assembly in conjunction with the Ware Lecture delivered by Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabe). Those who attended the Ware Lecture received this handout explaining the issue and its importance. The focus has changed since that time from one of encouraging individual congregations to take action, to one of assisting congregations prepare for the 2012 GA.
STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT
From Your Minister - Meg Riley, Senior Minister, Church of the Larger Fellowship
As a kid, I loved the idea of the Indians and the Pilgrims having a happy feast together. In my liberal family and small congregation the generosity of the Indian people, and the fact that the starving Pilgrims wouldn’t have survived without them, was a beautiful story with the Indians squarely in the role of heroes. (Read the full statement)
Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery as a Religious Issue - Phil Arnold, Professor of Indigenous Religions, Syracuse University
The repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery is fundamentally a religious issue. It is a legacy that assumed that Indigenous Peoples were naturally inferior to Christians.
Human Rights Violation - Bruce Knotts, Director UUA United Nations Office
As director of the UUA UNO, I support the UN Declaration on the Rights in Indigenous People and the process of the UN Permanent Forum on the Rights of Indigenous people. The Doctrine of Discovery violates human rights on its face.
Sermon: Doctrine of Discovery - Rev Matt Alspaugh, Unitarian Universalist Church, Youngstown, OH
Once to every soul and nation comes a moment to decide. So our opening hymn tells us.
For Pope Nicholas V, that moment was the 18th of June, 1452, when he stamped his bulla, or papal seal on the bottom of a document, a papal bull known as Dum Diversas.
Webmaster - Dave Weiman
