Unitarian Universalist

wil

wil

UNeyeR1
Veteran Member
Messages
24,926
Reaction score
4,303
Points
108
Location
a figment of your imagination
Once again on the belif o matic I end up 100% Unitarian Universalist.... so this Father's Day, I my kids, mom and sister will explore that a little further...

http://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/bylaws/articleii/6906.shtml
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote

  • The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  • Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
  • Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
  • A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
  • The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
  • The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
  • Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

  • Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
  • Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love;
  • Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
  • Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
  • Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
  • 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.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
Click to expand...
 
We visited... it wasn't a 'regular' service...the preacher she was retiring, so it was her goodbye service. A wonderful church building. a very welcoming and open congregation. Huge choir (compared to the number in the seats, about 1/4-1/3 the congregants appeared to be in the choir) and talented as well. The talk was on saying a good goodbye...and the fact that the UU contract with preachers is when they leave a church....they LEAVE a church, to allow the new preacher to do their thing and not be in the shadow of the old...interesting and probably valuable and probably in many churches I just never thought about it.

I think my sister enjoyed it more than I... I need to see a regular service... and hear a few talks before I form an opinion. I missed the deeper metaphysics and meditation time from my Unity Church. I like the activism... and the ideals...although they claim multicultural my Unity Church is much more diverse...
 
Thanks for the report. Yes, regarding diversity, that's most likely quite likely. I've never been to a service, but I got reports from my daughter who figured it might be for her, as a non-practising Hindu. She attended a potluck, got drilled on her vegetarianism, so never went back.

It's funny how 'diversity my way' isn't diversity at all. But who know, each congregation is quite different I'm sure. Like a lot of things.
 
Since it was Father's day and we had dinner plans we did not stay for the potluck they had planned (due to the retirement)... but I can't imagine there aren't a significant percentage of vegetarians. I'd say our Unity church was higher than the local population... while I don't agree with 7th day adventists...since they ARE vegetarians, I enjoy visiting their potlucks muchly!

The church is about on the border of two counties one 65% black, the other 18%... the church was less than 5% (from one point of data)....my Unity church about 60%... of course we have a black preacher, that makes a difference...I am not black, but appreciate diversity in a congregation. That being said...the UU church does more specifically for the black population (reading from their charitable works) where as the Unity church does stuff that is more directly simply community oriented. (of course the community is blacker). Interesting dichotomy.
 
The United Church of Canada was probably one of the first of it's kind ... originally a compromise to save space. and particularly logical during pioneer days.
 
First Unitarian? And I just saw the potluck coming up at the one I visited is vegan... so that pretty much answers that question!
 
wil said:
First Unitarian? And I just saw the potluck coming up at the one I visited is vegan... so that pretty much answers that question!
Click to expand...

I have no idea. Sounds like a great potluck to me. We always had more than a fair share of veggie food at my staff meetings, mostly due to the one vegetarian on staff. But I wouldn't ever want to talk about it ALL the time, and I could care less if meat is present ... even all meat would be fine. Fasting is almost healthy. Same with race or sexual orientation, etc... please ... do we always have to talk about this?

At the church you mentioned above, how much focus is on race? At the temple I go to, all the old-timers fail to notice I'm white. But the newcomers really do notice. Occasionally I'll still get asked the 'stupid' questions.
 
At the Unity church not very much...they were appreciative Obama was elected....what has gone on since Charleston I don't know. At the UU I just attended there were prayers for Charleston, and one of their charities was helping inner city kids...race wasn't mentioned but implied.

I also can easily miss a meal when it is all cadavers...but in reality, it rarely is...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top