Third Principle - Acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth in or congregations and in society at large.

1. Acceptance suggests embracing of differences and toleration for each other's mistakes and foibles. However, it also means not papering over differences but trying to work them out.

2. Spiritual growth can be a mutually supportive process but also can entail some anxiety and friction. People are uncomfortable being challenged to broaden their spiritual perspectives. The congregation can creatively challenge people, but we must be careful not to tacitly assume that another person’s “growth” means moving towards our own beliefs.

3. What do we mean by Aspiritual?@ Definitions vary, and some UUs don't even like the term. Some definitions that were discussed:

• Spirituality is our relationship to the Creator.
• Spirituality involves an element of mystery - embracing the unknown and that which cannot be fully explained or conceptualized.
• Spirituality relates to our sense of wholeness - of being connected to all of existence. We experience this both in our connection to nature and to other human beings.
• Spirituality is a journey, not a fixed destination.
• One=s quest for spirituality is a unique, individual quest, but it can be meaningfully shared with others.