About Unitarian Universalism
People can be surprised to learn that Christians, Jews, Atheists, Mystics, Scientists, Pagans, and Buddhists are capable of all being members of the same religious community. So often, religion is identified with a creed, providing a single answer to the quest for truth. In our four-hundred-year history, our movement has evolved into a non-creedal faith. We affirm the importance of freedom of conscience, with all of us empowered to ask questions, trust our experience, and follow our spiritual path amid a loving, trustful community.
Our lives are enriched through mutual respect, deepened through the exchange of ideas, and nourished through the support of a caring congregation. Each person is essential. When we listen and cooperate, everyone learns much more than we can all alone.
Unitarian Universalists gather around the values of love, freedom, and dignity--and a shared vision for a just world. UUism allows the inner spiritual spark in each of us, the room, and the encouragement to grow and find its highest and most sincere expression.
We encourage you to explore the website of the Unitarian Universalist Association, an association of over 1,000 Unitarian Universalist Congregations of which we are a part.
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Together, we are United by our commitment to the 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 heritage of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for living our shared values through the spiritual discipline 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.
We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Pluralism. We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Justice. We work to be diverse, multicultural, beloved communities where all thrive.
We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.
Transformation. We adapt to the changing world.
We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Generosity. We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Equity. We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.