Our Values
As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. Inseparable from one another, these shared values are:
Interdependence. We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.
Pluralism. We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
Justice. We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.
Transformation. We adapt to the changing world.
Generosity. We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
Equity. We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
Our Inspirations
Direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder are primary sources of Unitarian Universalist inspiration. These experiences open our hearts, renew our spirits, and transform our lives. We draw upon, and are inspired by, sacred, secular, and scientific understandings that help us make meaning and live into our values. These sources ground us and sustain us in ordinary, difficult, and joyous times.
We respect the histories, contexts, and cultures in which these sources were created and are currently practiced. Grateful for the experiences that move us, aware of the religious ancestries we inherit, and enlivened by the diversity which enriches our faith, we are called to ever deepen and expand our wisdom. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Our Denomination
Our church is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA), which was formed by a merger in 1961 of the Universalist Church of America (org. 1793) and the American Unitarian Association (org. 1825). Unitarianism was originally based on belief in the oneness of God (finding no evidence of the Trinity in the Bible) and Universalism was based on belief in universal salvation (as opposed to salvation of only the elect).
By the early 20th century, however, the focus of both denominations was less on creed and more on action. Both emphasized the importance of personal experience and conscience as the foundation of belief and found common purpose in the creation of a just and equitable society.
UUA General Assembly
General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to send voting delegates.
The Dictionary of Unitarian Universalist Biography contains the stories of many Unitarians and Universalists who have devoted their lives to intellectual inquiry, spiritual exploration, and public service.
Unitarian Universalist congregations are members of the UUA, but each Unitarian Universalist church is a democratically run organization. The UUA does not assign ministers or give directives to congregations, but rather serves as a resource to more than 1,000 member congregations and their 200,000 members in North America.