Source: Star-Telegram

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/news/local/4934945.htm

On January 13, 2003 the Star-Telegram reported that "a former atheist who is now president of the Unitarian Universalist Association will push to put the word 'God' into a new statement of principles of the Boston-based, liberal church group, he said Sunday... 'God' was not mentioned in a statement of principles approved in 1984, the Rev. William Sinkford said at First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church. That reduces the document's effectiveness in comforting people and also puts the denomination out on the fringe of religious life in America, Sinkford said... 'We have lost the ability to speak of what is sacred and holy to us,' said Sinkford, 56, who became the first African-American president and chief executive of the 250,000-member denomination in June 2001... Sinkford says he believes that adding 'God' to the denomination's principles would help attract members and would also increase the denomination's influence in world affairs... In the diverse denomination -- which ordains gays and lesbians and embraces many unorthodox members, including pagans and Wiccans -- many might be uncomfortable putting 'God' into the statement of principles, Sinkford acknowledged. Many claim that adding 'God' to its principles would make it a 'creedal denomination.'"