“The Interdependent Web, Part 1”
Sara Phinney Kelley (she/her), Director of Religious Growth and Learning, UUCSV – First written for the Sunbury Daily Item January 2026
The last time I talked about the Principles that many UUs live by, I focused on the principle of the inherent worthiness and dignity of all beings. It is probably one of the two most familiar and most beloved Principles for UUs. The other is the 7th and last:
“Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”
UUs have a long history of caring for the Earth, and many UUs find spiritual fulfillment when out
in nature. This Principle is so important in our faith that it was incorporated, almost word-for-word, into the newly-described Values that UUs all over the continent voted for in 2024. Only one word is different. That one word, changed from “Respect” to “Honor”, transforms the meaning. Respecting the interdependent web that is our known universe spurs us to admire and value an enormous range of things:
The Big Bang, the Milky Way and other galaxies, our solar system, and Planet Earth; Oceans, lakes, glaciers, rivers, creeks, ponds, and all the creatures that make their home in water; Life-giving atmosphere and all the birds and bugs who fly through the air; The amazing beauty of the land, the forests, the deserts, the grasslands, the beaches, and all the species who populate Earth; and also Human beings and the animals we interact with most regularly.
In practical terms it means that UUs have worked hard for decades to protect all life on our planet. Climate Justice is one of four social justice issues that the denomination focuses on; several affiliated organizations and ministries work on this issue. Three national study/action issues since 1999 have centered on climate issues. Religious education programs for children, youth, and adults that celebrate the wonders of our world and help us think about solving problems that affect our interdependent web are used by UUs everywhere.
Now we as a denomination turn to Honoring. Honoring deepens our feelings about all creation, bringing faith into the relationship. The words of the Value of Interdependence say it very clearly: “With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.”
Honor, reverence, and a humble reminder to de-center humans as the only important beings on this planet that supports us all: these ideals bring us all closer to divine presence, whether that is G*d, or Allah, or Universal Love. It is a reminder that we are really just a part of something much greater, but that we also have a mandate to care for the universe. We are stewards, not exploiters. As people of faith, what are we called to do with our place in the universe and our understanding of honoring the interdependent web of all existence? I believe we are called to make our Earth, indeed our universe, the best possible home it can be. Just because we have the power and the knowledge to take minerals out of the ground and burn them to make our human lives comfortable and convenient, should we? Or should we think about how other sources of energy might leave the Earth less disturbed, or even undisturbed?
Our congregation’s young people are spending much of this winter thinking about our throwaway culture and how it affects the Earth and all the beings: human, plant, and animal. Many of us adults have heard of Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, and now Repair, but how many of us actually do those things? Are we willing to pay a little more in taxes or fees in order to get our municipalities really recycling, and not just hauling loads to the landfill because it is cheaper? Try Googling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to get a sense of what might happen with the plastic water bottle you bought and threw out. Our kids were mortified and are now motivated to try to do something about it. We may not be able to lower the Earth’s temperature alone, but we can remember to honor and revere our Earth and everything on it every day, and to do our part to make it better for all of us.
