What is Unitarian Universalism?
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal, non-creedal religious movement with
its roots in the Protestant Reformation. We’re open to new truths and not
limited by a creed or set of doctrines. We hold a diversity of individual
convictions within a spirit of loving fellowship. Though not united by doctrine,
there are principles that we hold in common. Ours is a faith which puts its
trust in freedom, personal conscience, thoughtfulness, acceptance of diversity,
and the transforming power of love. Unitarian Universalists are known for
our emphasis on ethical living and our dedication to social justice.
How widespread is Unitarian Universalism?
There are some 200 000 Unitarian Universalists in more than 1000 congregations
across the United States. Our congregations are united in an association of
churches called the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA).
The UUA has a main office in Boston, Massachusetts, and district offices across
the United States. Unitarian Universalist congregations in Canada are members
of the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC). Outside of North America, there
are significant Unitarian movements in Great Britain, Romania (Transylvania),
and the Khasi Hills in India. There are also large Unitarian or Universalist
churches in South Africa, the Czech Republic, the Philippines and elsewhere.
Individual congregations around the world, along with national associations
such as the UUA, are members of the International Council of Unitarians and
Universalists (ICUU).
How is Unitarian Universalism structured?
There’s no real hierarchy in Unitarian Universalism. We have no priesthood
or bishops. Each local congregation is its own ultimate authority, making
decisions for themselves democratically. The congregation has the right to
ordain and call its own ministers, to buy and sell its buildings, and to develop
its own style of worship. Our individual congregations freely join together
in our denominational associations, which exist to serve the needs of local
churches (including help finding a trained minister, the development of educational
materials, the publishing of hymn books, and so on). We’re a “bottom up”
rather than “top down” religious movement.
What do the words “Unitarian” and “Universalist”
mean?
Ironically, for a religious movement without dogma, we are named for two
doctrinal positions! Unitarianism means a belief in the unity of God, as opposed
to Trinitarianism, the belief that God is three Persons (Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit). Universalism is the belief that all people will be saved by
God, and nobody is doomed to spend an eternity in Hell. Unitarians and Universalists
were two distinct movements. The American Unitarian Association (founded
in 1825) and the Universalist Church of America (founded in 1779) merged
in 1961 to form UUA. Since then, we’ve come to be known as “Unitarian Universalists”
or sometimes simply “UUs.”
Is Unitarian Universalism a new religion?
Unitarianism began as an organized religious movement in Eastern Europe
in the early 1500s, though anti-Trinitarianism had existed before then. The
best known opponent of the doctrine of the Trinity was Michael Servetus, (1510-53)
who was burned at the stake as a heretic for his views. Faustus Socinus began
a church in Poland in the 1530s based on Unitarian theology. The Unitarian
movement came to be called Socinians, after the movement’s founder. In England,
Unitarian and Universalist views arose in the early 1700s and Unitarian churches
were founded at that time. A major proponent of Unitarianism in England at
that time was Joseph Priestley, a minister and scientist, also known for
his discovery of the circulation of blood. He emigrated to America and founded
the Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, the first organized Unitarian church
in the United States in 1796. King’s Chapel in Boston, founded as a congregation
of the Church of England, became Unitarian in its theology in 1785, as it
re-wrote the Book of Common Prayer to omit references to the Trinity. During
the early nineteenth century, a split arose among the original Puritan churches
of New England. On the one hand were traditional Calvinists and those influenced
by the “Great Awakening” and on the other, those who opposed Calvinist doctrines
of the depravity of humanity and the predestination of souls, and who favored
rationalism over emotion in worship. Broadly speaking, it was a split between
liberals and conservatives, with the liberals having a more positive view
of humankind, believing that people could improve themselves by cultivating
their ethical lives, rather than needing the atoning death of a divine savior.
Their opponents derided them as “Unitarians,” claiming they didn’t even believe
in the divinity of Jesus. William Ellery Channing, speaking for the liberals,
preached a sermon in 1819 called “Unitarian Christianity” which became the
defining statement of the movement. Eventually, the New England churches
divided, with the conservatives becoming “Congregationalist” and the liberals
“Unitarian.” The Universalists were also responding to the Calvinist orthodoxy
of the day, reacting against a theology that stressed the judgement and anger
of God. The first Universalist church in America was founded in Gloucester,
Massachusetts in 1779. Universalism spread quickly and had an urgent sense
of mission, with many Universalist churches springing up and being served
by circuit-riding preachers. In 1833, the General Convention of Universalists
was established, organizing state and regional “conferences” into a national
body. The Unitarians also formed an organized body, in 1825, called the American
Unitarian Association, which eventually became a denominational body composed
of member congregations.
Are Unitarian Universalists Christian?
Unitarian Universalism is a diverse religious movement. Because each congregation
is autonomous, there are a variety of theological orientations in our association.
Most UUs do not identify their personal convictions as Christian, though many
of us do. Beginning in the early decades of the twentieth century, more and
more Unitarians and Universalists were influenced by religious humanism, a
movement of thought that affirms the centrality of humanity and human experience
in religion. In 1933, the leaders of religious humanism, many of them Unitarian
ministers, published a manifesto of their views. Humanism soon became the
dominant stance of most Unitarians and Universalists and by the 1940s, those
who were Christian in their convictions were quickly becoming a minority.
Many believed in God, but did not consider themselves Christian. Others were
agnostic, but upheld the ideal of moral living. Today, there’s a real diversity
of religious convictions among UUs. Though most consider themselves religious
humanists, there are also theists, Christians, and proponents of nature-centered
spirituality. As a movement, Unitarian Universalism emerged from liberal Christianity,
and to some extent we are still within the cultural context of Protestant
Christianity, though a majority of our congregations have moved outside the
theological Christian consensus.
Is Epiphany Community Church a Christian congregation?
Epiphany Community Church was founded as a Christian congregation in the
UUA by Unitarian Universalists who were interesting in maintaining, exploring,
and developing ways to follow Jesus Christ as contemporary Unitarian Universalists.
Christian and theist Unitarian Universalists find a spiritual home at Epiphany,
along with seekers of all kinds.
When did Epiphany Community Church start?
Epiphany met together for worship for the first time in September 1996.
On January 4, 1998 Epiphany was chartered as a member congregation of the
UUA. We’re the first Christian church to join the UUA since the 1961 merger.
As a young congregation with a special place to play in the larger UU movement,
Epiphany is an exciting, vital community of faith!
What do Unitarian Universalist Christians believe?
Like all Unitarian Universalists, we’re quite diverse in our personal theological
and spiritual tenets. Many abide by the historical faith stances emphasizing
the unity of God, the humanity of Jesus, and the universal love of God. Yet
even our historic roots are diverse. Before the twentieth century, for example,
most Universalists believed in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our
sins and held a high place for Jesus as Savior. Today, there are UU Christians
who affirm this as well as UU Christians who see Jesus simply as a teacher,
prophet, and guide. Some see the Bible as the inspired Word of God, and others
as a collection of historical documents of a particular people. We appreciate
the metaphoric nature of Christian symbols and stories and try to be more
than literal in our approach.
How can you call yourselves Christian with such
a diversity of opinions?
Most Christians define themselves by what they believe. For UU Christians,
Christianity is not a set of beliefs but a way of life. For us, Christian
faith is not a matter of believing certain things about Jesus, God, or the
Bible, but rather a way of living out the gospel of Jesus. We are more interested
in making the reign of God real in our world—in love, forgiveness, justice
and compassion—than we are in whether one conforms to a particular religious
orthodoxy. Beliefs are important, but they do not unite us or define us. We
freely walk the Way of Jesus together, holding one another in God’s light
as we support and care for one another on our spiritual paths.
Where can I learn more about Epiphany Community
Church’s approach to Christian faith?
The best way is to worship with us on Sunday morning! For reading material,
our minister suggests: “Teacher, Guide, Companion: Rediscovering Jesus in
a Secular World” by Erik Walker Wikstrom; “The Heart of Christianity” by Marcus
Borg; “Why Christianity Must Change or Die” by John Shelby Spong; “A New
Kind of Christian” by Brian McLaren; and “If Grace Is True: Why God Will
Save Every Person” by Phillip Gulley and James Mulholland. Check out the
Web site of the UU Christian Fellowship, a membership organization of UU
Christians: www.uua.org/uucf
Will Epiphany’s minister officiate at weddings
for people who are not members? What about baptisms?
Our minister will perform rites of passage for non-members. These include
weddings, ceremonies of union, baptisms, child dedications, funerals and memorial
services. Contact the church office to make an appointment or e-mail the
minister at minister@epiphanyuu.org
How do I join Epiphany Community Church?
If you find yourself in sympathy with our purposes and principles, and attend
Sunday morning worship regularly, you may want to join the congregation. You
may contact the minister at any time about joining. We have regular newcomer
brunches and an orientation class for newcomers called “Stepping Stones.”
These will help answer any questions you might have and to deepen your knowledge
and familiarity with Unitarian Universalism and our approach to Christianity.
One becomes a member of Epiphany by signing our membership book and supporting
the congregation financially.
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