Hello, as the title says I'm trying to remember the UU book I was given to read for my Coming of Age journey though the UU church. It was black, and it had a chalice on it or maybe flames on it. I believe it had a history of the church, but don't remember much more than that.

I'm revisiting books of my late adolescent and young adult life. I stepped away about a decade ago from the UU church after attending a few years and then going off to college. Then work kept me from attending due to the hours I had been delt, then COVID hit, but recently I felt something come over me, and I'm wanting to reflect on things in my life.

I'll be elated if anyone knows what I'm talking about and I plan on attending my first UU service again very soon.

Im asking this in good faith but as a Jew I do not trust UU and dont really understand it. From my perspective, like Jews for Jesus, its essentially a Christian org that pretends its not despite having ministers, churches, celebrating Jesus, ect. I like all the left-wing aspects of UU but I have a hard time not seeing it as another way for Christians to destroy minority religions by assimilating them. I also find the using of our and others religious ceremonies and symbols and stripping them of their religious significance, presenting them as set dressing for a mostly Christian audience is offensive. Please correct me.

I especially want to hear from latecomers to UU: what was the moment you realized UU wasn't just something you do on Sunday, but had become an integral part of your life, your relationship/marriage, your family?

I think it hit me when I quoted a hymn to comfort my partner. She was feeling guilty about a struggle we'd had the night before. I had already forgiven her, but she was having trouble letting go. So I quoted #637, A Litany of Atonement: "We forgive ourselves and each other; we begin again in love."

It clicked for her, and I realized I was using words of comfort in much the same way I saw other religious traditions doing.

I get the impression Unitarians are more liberal, but do you tend to affiliate with a political party, or is it more about just accepting people?

I’ve been attending UU lately, and I’ve enjoyed it, so I feel it’s important to start contributing financially because I’m getting something out of it, but I want to find some financial transparency before I do.

September 15, 2022

The Article II Study Commission is excited to share a full draft of Article II (PDF, 3 Pages) for feedback. The Study Commission's outreach team will be hosting Zoom feedback sessions in the first half of November, along with gathering feedback through a forthcoming online form for individual comments.

The Study Commission will present its final draft to the Board in January for inclusion on the agenda for General Assembly 2023. It will then be the subject of mini-Assemblies before the initial vote at GA 2023. If it passes that delegate vote by a majority, it will require a 2/3 majority vote at GA 2024 to become the new Article II of the Bylaws.

This draft makes significant changes to Article II. We invite you to read it using one of the practices we have started following in our work:

1. Read it the first time to observe how it makes you feel.
2. Read a second time, observe what it makes you think.
3. Finally read it a third time before thinking about any suggestions.

It will be ideal if you can hold suggestions until the online form is available so that they can be more easily gathered and read. But do feel free to direct questions to [changemanager@uua.org](mailto:changemanager@uua.org)

Zoom Feedback Session Registration

• Saturday, 11/05 at 3 p.m. Eastern
• Sunday, 11/06 at 2 p.m. Eastern
• Tuesday, 11/08 at 10 p.m. Eastern
• Wednesday, 11/09 at 8 p.m. Eastern
• Thursday, 11/10 at 7 p.m. Eastern
• Saturday, 11/12 at 3 p.m. Eastern
• Sunday, 11/13 at 2 p.m. Eastern
• Monday, 11/14 at 9 p.m Eastern

Can Atheist, Agnostics & Pagans be members of the unitarians, do they have to renounce their old position and embrace the new position or do they retain their own position and identity in the group?

I am a former Baptist pastor who “left the faith” and now hold to beliefs that are most similar to UU. I currently work as a Hospice Chaplain, but would like to become ordained so I can work in a hospital setting. I have my Master’s from a Southern Baptist seminary, but wasn’t sure how this translate over to UU ordination. Also, I have not yet settled into a UU congregation as my family is still processing my change and I’m taking things slowly. I’ve visited a few, but haven’t been consistent in one. Is there a minimum amount of time in a church that is needed before ordination?

All UUs are invited to post as comments various stories about UU churches, UU Ministers, and sermons by them.

So, I'm one of the many people out there who lives too far from a congregation to attend in person services (something like an hour and twenty to reach the closest one). For me, a congregation is meant to be a community, and how much can I really be a member of that community living so far away? Plus I really do use Sunday as a day of rest and I'd feel horribly guilty about using that much gas. Anyway, I've made my peace with this and just listen to a streamed service when I can, but I've always wondered what the limits for other people would be. I would say, personally, I'd be willing to drive something like 45 minutes, but not much further.

I believe Covid is real, but do not support the vaxxes as I have friends who have gotten blood clots and other adverse reactions. I think Fauci and rest have lied. I wear N95. The fact that no one cares about freedom, and accepts all this, and questions nothing really bothers me. I went with an agree to disagree stance but it's been hard, I don't feel safe, because I do question the Covid narrative and the failures of public health and believe the vaxxes have been harmful. The left's focus on censorship, failed public health and more has brought me to a level of disgust. My UU pastor is a nice guy but praises Bill Gates every minute from the pulpit. Every church member bought into the mainstream narrative, and I feel SO ALONE.

I waited things out but now it's been three years, turning people into pincushions for the biosecurity fascist state seems to be permanent for now, I can't go with it. That's what the left now supports and I am done. I supported all other vaccines but not these vaxxes. Friends of mine have DIED and have had blood clots and other bad things happen.

With politics, I'm done, the left left me. Supports megacorporations, tyranny, and now horribly of most, war where full war mongering where we are risking nuclear war with Russia is now in vogue. I feel too afraid to share my real political opinions and I guess I don't fit anymore. My church has gone extreme "woke" and even though Covid has destroyed our lives and is now endemic, no one is allowed to talk about it and has to follow the "official narrative" like a robot.

I used to be part of the antiwar movement, what happened with that as they all seem to want nuclear war with Russia and forget part of the lessons learned from Bush and the Middle East?

I used to like my UU church A LOT but since Covid now I feel lonely there and like I don't fit in. I am still technically a Universalist.