I moved to a place with no uu 😭 who do I talk to to get one opened here? I miss having one. The closest is an hour away. I emailed them and they said to contact the website and I did but I haven't gotten any clear answers.

Many UUs talk about striving for multiculturalism in their Unitarian Universalist congregations. I argue that Unitarian Universalism is already multicultural. There are 3 cultures. Liberal, Protestant and White. I strongly doubt anybody is considering giving up on liberalism although we might find "conservative" people interesting, I don't have a sense we are striving to include any more than we already have. People may be flexible on Protestantism, but my belief is that many UUs don't want our congregations to be so white. - Feel free to argue with my premises!

It is admirable that we look around at our sameness and with an awareness that we might be missing out on the richer experiences that we might have if we weren't all so similar. - And so we might be interested in people who aren't necessarily protestant but we are definitely interested in people who aren't white.

Now I will land the plane. If we are interested in people who aren't white, we should go visit them, when and where appropriate, in their spaces and times. Inviting other people, people who are different than we are, to come to visit us in our spaces and at our times suggests that we know more about where they aught to be than they do!

So, if we are interested in people that aren't similar to us, we should go visit them. If we don't go visit the people in whom the have so much interest, maybe we really aren't that interested. - What do we have to offer to people who have their own full, rich lives filled with their own friends, families and cultures?

I know it's not in the nicest of contexts, but I live for it. Shhhhh....don't hate me.

Here's one: there is a UU musician who travels the country doing worship services and has never, ever, ever, ever, ever washed their hair. I have receipts!

I am a practicing Muslim seeking a home faith community that aligns with my faith practice, my politics, and my perspective on the world... unfortunately as a woman who is vocal about those politics & perspectives I am not entirely welcome at any otherwise-accessible mosques, so I'm forced to get a little more creative in my search. Via many years of interfaith community organizing beside Unitarians I know that our politics & perspectives often align, and based on the tenets and UU lit I've examined so far it seems like at the very least I can hang out on Sundays without committing shirk... then when I was chatting with a colleague who is a Unitarian minister, she mentioned that there are indeed Unitarian Muslims out there. Is that true?

Any Unitarian Muslims out there who would be willing to chat about it?

I am a practicing Muslim seeking a home faith community that aligns with my faith practice, my politics, and my perspective on the world... unfortunately as a woman who is vocal about those politics & perspectives I am not entirely welcome at any otherwise-accessible mosques, so I'm forced to get a little more creative in my search. Via many years of interfaith community organizing beside Unitarians I know that our politics & perspectives often align, and based on the tenets and UU lit I've examined so far it seems like at the very least I can hang out on Sundays without committing shirk... then when I was chatting with a colleague who is a Unitarian minister, she mentioned that there are indeed Unitarian Muslims out there. Is that true?

Any Unitarian Muslims out there who would be willing to chat about it?

Hello everyone. I moved to the Greater Boston area (North Shore) last year and am considering a UU church. I am a former Catholic turned evangelical turned agnostic/atheist (many, many moons ago). Since leaving church altogether I have missed having both a spiritual connection of some sort and the community connection which was found in my old church congregations. I’ve been considering UU since before moving to New England but there are far more choices here than back in my Midwestern hometown.

If you’re from the area, hello! There are probably 5 congregations that would be close enough to me to consider. I am 40s/F, single, childfree, and queer. My main objective is to find connection and while I know every congregation has something to offer, I know they can have varying demographics. I don’t really know what activities or groups are common but, as a former music major who has sadly not been in music for decades, I know I’m interested in possibly joining a choir or participating in music somehow.

I did a cursory glance at websites around me but events aren’t always posted. I also did a search of the sub and didn’t really see anything pertaining to this specific area and am wondering if anyone here is local and has insights? Thank you 😊

Hey, my name is Tim. I am a first time user of Reddit, and joined because I saw this thread. I am a member in Pasadena, Ca., and am a recovered-Christian-turned-atheist. I'm still in the proverbial closet about my faithless belief and plan to keep it this way. I am Japanese American and J.A.s tend to be loyal to something they hold dear. Sadly, Christianity is one of them. So why the sour comment? Because, the white members of my denomination felt we could not be trusted during WWII. Forget the fact that my people fought Nazis during WWII as the 442nd RCT and my uncle, a Japanese American helped defeat Japan while serving with the Military Intelligence Services. What also turned me away was that the same people who trust Jesus, did not trust us, thus made this verse. Psalm 23:4 King James Version 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. worthless. So if they don't have faith in God, then how would God help me or is racism justifiable? I left because of racism.

BTW, according to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, Japanese American Christians made up of more than 50 percent of the population before, during and after WWII. While in Japan, Christians make up about one percent of the total population. So why the vast difference? Racism. When I studied the history, it was forced assimilation in the new world that guide the immigrants and not the love of Jesus. Maybe today things have changed after being indoctrinated for generations, but that's why I'm an atheist in a U.U. congregation.

Hi everyone! I really resonate with Unitarian Universalism and have been attending a congregation for a few months. I have always felt a calling to ministry that I have avoided for multiple reasons. I feel I am in a place to pursue this calling now, but I'm afraid my financial situation could be a blockage. I am a teacher making decent money and I am paying off debt for a bachelors degree and 2 masters degrees. I know going into ministry requires a Mdiv. which would require more debt. I'm wondering if there is a path forward for me to leave teaching and pursue the ministry without going into more debt (hopefully) and still being able to pay my other student loans while supporting myself with normal life costs.

1) Is there a path to ministry that doesn't require further student loans?

2) Any advice from folks who changed careers to ministry from something else and how you managed that financially?

3) Do you know of any grants or other ways of paying for an Mdiv?

Any advice would help, thanks!

I'm curious what the data is on whether the UU has been growing, shrinking, or holding steady over the last few decades. I'm also curious what the people of this sub predict the future will be for Universal Unitarianism. Do you suspect it'll grow a little? A lot? Shrink? Collapse? Why?

In particular, I think it's useful to consider that it's not just that our present environment is different than the social/political/technological environment of say the 1990's, but that the environment we'll be in 5, 10, or 20 years down the road will also be different- it might even be easy to predict that it'll be radically different from today. How well do you think UU will hold up to that pressure?

Obviously there have been some dramatic (by UU standards) reforms in the last few years. Do you think these reforms will help the UU survive or even thrive? What do you think the passing of these reforms (and the difficulties associated with doing so) says about the UU institutionally, in terms of it's capacity to keep up with changing times?

If you think the future of UU is fairly different from where it is presently, where do you see yourself in that mix? Do you see yourself getting more involved in a stronger UU, or do you imagine that realistically your local congregation will have to shut its doors one day and that you'll need to find a new home? What do you think the consequences on the larger world will be of whatever you imagine the UU's future to be?

I'm curious to hear what people involved with Universal Unitarianism have to say on these topics! Thanks in advance for taking the time to read and respond thoughtfully!

I am considering joining and would like to know if there is any official stance on ethical nonmonogamy. Obviously I wouldn’t be trying to promote it while I’m at church, more curious about whether to keep conversations about my relationships limited to about my primary partner or if I can speak freely.

We have a lay-led congregation, and I am going to be the worship coordinator for the first time in about a month. I have been the worship associate (just reading the script provided to me) once before. It will be a blessing of the animals service, held outside. I have a basic script that we follow every week, but as WC, I'll be in charge of coordinating with our guest speaker and customizing the script for this particular type of service. I'm excited but nervous. Any resources you could point me to would be much appreciated!

Why should I be UU? What can you say to convince me, UU fascinates me.

Hello everybody, I am both a newcomer to this site and the Unitarian Universalist community. The fact that I am a transgender man has always been the deciding factor in my decision to not practice religion. I've dabbled in a lot of different faiths and spiritual practices, but nothing has ever truly resonated with me until last night, when I did what I always do, fall down a rabbit hole and discovered this religion. It appears foolish that I haven't found this sooner after reading and understanding more about it. For some reason, I can't help but worry about what other people will think of me and say about me behind my back whenever I attempt anything new or even just try to progress in my personal life. (for the background narrative, check CPTSD traumatic life events 😂).

Since I completely lost touch with who I am and what I stand for five years ago, I have been on a quest of self-discovery. I've been so focused on staying alive that I haven't been able to relax enough to meditate for fear of losing control of my body. I needed a defining feature before I could possibly go headfirst into that religion.

Could someone perhaps shed some light on this for a beginner, explain Unitarian a little more, and tell me what I should and should not do?

I am grateful. 🙏

Hello, I am asking for prayers for my life. It is a mess. I am in my 20's and feel like I am going nowhere. I have no job, car or family. Also besides that I have crippling OCD and anxiety that leaves me bedridden some days.

I used to work a nice blue collar job but my mental health and physical health have gotten so bad I cannot perform anymore and have had to apply for disability and food stamps and that could take months or literally years.

I know there’s a lot of other people out there with it worse than me but this is bad.

I have been reading the book of Job and I do not understand how he did it. He stayed strong though and he came through it just like I’m going to. Just please pray and send good vibes for me.

I am gay also and my speakable family disowned me for that. I have been to several churches to no avail. I was able to apply for disability but was told it could take months to years upon years to get it. I just need help right now, I am experiencing hunger, and I need some help. I am ebarrased to do this but I have nowhere else to turn. I have tried to get help from churches and other organizations, but to no surprise I was turned away and told they didnt have anything. But I know there are people who have it worse than me, but I am scared I cannot make it. I dont have a car or anything and live in a rural area. I am so scared. Please, even if you cant send me money please send me good vibes and thoughts.

I have no family I can borrow off of and my credit is trash, so I can't borrow money. I have PayPal if anyone can help. My name on there is @tinysky1237 If anyone could help I would greatly pay you back when I get on my feet. I also have cashapp $crawfishpie32 if not please send me good vibes as I have never felt this low in my life. I literally have no food, rent is 2 months behind, getting evicted at the end of the month, health is hot, no family, sometimes I just feel like I should not be here anymore.

I never thought I’d have to do this with my anxiety being so bad like I never thought I’d get to the point I couldn’t function. And I’d have to resort to doing this but it’s my last hope literally.

I know this looks very suspicious, and I do not blame you for thinking that, but I swear I am not lying and am at the end of my rope, I really think I can't go on. Sorry, I hope I didn't make you depressed by reading this. I miss my family, but i am still weirdly mad at them? Is this normal? I have applied for medicaid and am going to try and get mental help when it gets approved it just takes forever. I would just like to ask everyone again, to send good vibes, I really feel like I cant go on and if you can send anything please do anything will help. This is very embarrasing to do, but I have no other options.

Just please I’m so sorry and embarrassed to do this but it’s really the only option I have. Please send good vibes for me.

Please pray for me for healing of my mental health. I don't even feel like a person anymore.

Hello, I am asking for prayers for my life. It is a mess. I am in my 20's and feel like I am going nowhere. I have no job, car or family. Also besides that I have crippling OCD and anxiety that leaves me bedridden some days.

I used to work a nice blue collar job but my mental health and physical health have gotten so bad I cannot perform anymore and have had to apply for disability and food stamps and that could take months or literally years.

I know there’s a lot of other people out there with it worse than me but this is bad.

I have been reading the book of Job and I do not understand how he did it. He stayed strong though and he came through it just like I’m going to. Just please pray for me.

It really gets dark some days but I try to grit and bare through it. Some days I live minute to minute literally. Like I said I know there are people who have it far worse than me in the world but this is bad. It's the hardest and worst thingive ever been through in my life.

I am gay also and my speakable family disowned me for that. I have been to several churches to no avail. Like I said before I was able to apply for disability but was told it could take months to years upon years to get it. I just need help right now, I am experiencing hunger, and I need some help. I am embarrased to do this but I have nowhere else to turn. I have tried to get help from churches and other organizations, but to no surprise I was turned away and told they didnt have anything. But I know there are people who have it worse than me, but I am scared I cannot make it. I dont have a car or anything and live in a rural area. I am so scared. Please, even if you cant send me money please send me good vibes and thoughts.

I have no family I can borrow off of and my credit is trash, so I can't borrow money. I have PayPal if anyone can help. My name on there is @tinysky1237 I also have cash app it is $crawfishpie32. If anyone could help I would greatly pay you back when I get on my feet, if not please send me good vibes as I have never felt this low in my life. I literally have no food, rent is 2 months behind, getting evicted at the end of the month, health is hot, no family, sometimes I just feel like I should not be here anymore.

I never thought I’d have to do this with my anxiety being so bad like I never thought I’d get to the point I couldn’t function. And I’d have to resort to doing this but it’s my last hope literally.

I know this looks very suspicious, and I do not blame you for thinking that, but I swear I am not lying and am at the end of my rope, I really think I can't go on. Sorry, I hope I didn't make you depressed by reading this. I miss my family, but i am still weirdly mad at them? Is this normal? I have applied for medicaid and am going to try and get mental help when it gets approved it just takes forever. I would just like to ask everyone again, to send good vibes, I really feel like I cant go on and if you can send anything please do anything will help. This is very embarrasing to do, but I have no other options. I'm about to get evicted, I have no money for bills or food. Oh Lord help me to please have the strength to get through this time because I know there will be better times one day, I just wish they'd hurry up.

Just please I’m so sorry and embarrassed to do this but it’s really the only option I have. Please send good vibes for me.

I've been thinking of becoming a UU for a while now, and I understand it well enough (well enough to know that a question like this will garner many answers, because every congregation is different).

I'd like to hear more about what the purpose/point of being UU is, according to some of you kind folk.

Is the point of the UU tradition mostly an embodiment of humanism, liberal values and diversity? Is it more so about trying to make the world a better place, and fighting against oppression or cruelty? Does the tradition noticeably help you be a better person, and is that it? Is it just about wanting community? What keeps you going as an active Unitarian Universalist?

What does the UU tradition offer that keeps you involved (and hopefully passionate)?

Yes this is a broad question and I have effectively listed what are probably the main motives, but I thought I'd hear what people have to say.

Hi everyone. What are your daily practices for spiritual development? Do you have any specific resources that you use? For parents, do you follow any practices/rituals with your children? Thanks in advance.

What are some examples where God has given specific rules of how to/how not to get into the Kingdom of Heaven?

From what I understand, removing Jesus and the apostles from the equation, God sent down the Commandments and it was the only "real" example of when God said "do not do this...." and laid it out.

That means, at the very least, following God's commandments is a great way of getting through the Pearly Gates. And they're pretty easy to follow.

Am I interpreting something wrong? Thanks!

Edit: I’d like to write this one all over! Lol. I was meaning to say “from the Unitarian perspective.” Like empathizing with an individual who believes this, what is the discussion to have?

I have been poking around learning about UUs, and I'm very interested in RE and OWL classes for my children. The problem is the local UU dosen't have any children's programs, the second closest is over an hour away. I can't afford the gas or time commitment to attend the children's program, 2 hour round trip plus service(s) and the 2pm owl program. I would have to leave before 9 am and come home after 4pm. Those of you who have experience with OWL, do you feel it is a curriculum I can just purchase and teach my children, or do I really need a trained instructor for it to be properly taught? With the grade levels( K-1, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12) do you use the K-1 for 2nd grade and the 4-6 for 3rd grade? I'm sorry I have so many questions, but any insight would be helpful. Thank you!

I have been poking around learning about UUs, and I'm very interested in RE and OWL classes for my children. The problem is the local UU dosen't have any children's programs, the second closest is over an hour away. I can't afford the gas or time commitment to attend the children's program, 2 hour round trip plus service(s) and the 2pm owl program. I would have to leave before 9 am and come home after 4pm. Those of you who have experience with OWL, do you feel it is a curriculum I can just purchase and teach my children, or do I really need a trained instructor for it to be properly taught? With the grade levels( K-1, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12) do you use the K-1 for 2nd grade and the 4-6 for 3rd grade? I'm sorry I have so many questions, but any insight would be helpful. Thank you!

I'm new to UU. Any kids picture books with UU philosophy?

I know many UU churches sing hymns, but I've never seen or heard of one using a pipe organ. I'm biased, as an (aspiring) organist myself, but I really think organs are the best at backing up congregational singing, as opposed to pianos or guitars. Digital organs these days sound extremely realistic and can be bought for less than a grand piano as well, so I don't imagine cost being an issue, at least if a church has the money for a piano. So why don't UUs use organs? Anyone have any clue?

Unitarian Universalism’s Fad-Hopping Problem (substack.com)

After Hamas attack, a successful minister becomes a rabbi – The Forward

Hello!

I've been interested in attending services at a local UU church for a little while now. I have a lot of hang-ups with churches in general. I grew up in a Southern Baptist family that went to church frequently. As I got older, I started to form my own identity and beliefs that did not align with the church. While not as explicitly political as some, the church did champion conservative causes especially in terms of anti-choice rhetoric and opposition to LGBTQ persons. I felt I had to hide my true beliefs for much of my teenage years and was largely agnostic by the time I moved out on my own at 18. I'm 34 now and have not gone attended a church on my own accord since then, and it is still somewhat frightening thinking of going back to one based on my past experiences.

I still struggle with a belief in a higher power but have opened up myself more to the idea of spirituality in general. Based on what I've read about the UU church, this in itself would not be an issue. However, in the past couple years, I've come out as a MTF transperson. I'm scared of how I will be received at a church because of this. In the past few months I've been in recovery for a drinking problem and I've attended a few LGBTQ centered AA meetings that have been held at the UU church. I noticed that they prominently display the LGTBQ pride flag and have signage indicating that they are welcoming to all. This has made me more comfortable with the idea of attending a service there, but I want to be sure this is something that is actually true in practice and not just in theory.

I know I'm probably way overthinking this, but as I said, I have a lot of trauma associated with churches in general and want to make absolute sure that I'll be entering into a welcoming environment, as I've been really struggling to find a community of people to connect with beyond AA. Any experience, advice, or reassurances would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I grew up in India in a traditional Hindu family. I'm so glad to learn about Unitarian Universalist religion as it is accepting of all people no matter their sexual orientations or belief structures. The fact that you guys have managed to establish a progressive community of rational, sane and open minded people who support progressive social policies is so incredible to me.

I wanna learn more about this. Can anyone enlighten me on your religion. Please note I'm a person who has a very basic knowledge of Christianity growing up in this part of the world so I need to learn more and more things about this incredible religion, its beliefs and the practices it preaches. Can anyone enlighten me on this? Also do you guys have presence here in India or anywhere outside the US as of now?

I grew up in India in a traditional Hindu family. I'm so glad to learn about Unitarian Universalist religion as it is accepting of all people no matter their sexual orientations or belief structures. The fact that you guys have managed to establish a progressive community of rational, sane and open minded people who support progressive social policies is so incredible to me.

I wanna learn more about this. Can anyone enlighten me on your religion. Please note I'm a person who has a very basic knowledge of Christianity growing up in this part of the world so I need to learn more and more things about this incredible religion, its beliefs and the practices it preaches. Can anyone enlighten me on this? Also do you guys have presence here in India or anywhere outside the US as of now?

Are there any UUA clergy here who could give insight into transferring denominational standing/ordination? I’ve read through various resources on becoming a UU minister; transfer seems like a different process with similar and different emphases.

Thanks!

I just moved to a new area and I don’t know anyone, but I really want to be a part of a community and it seems like the UU’s beliefs more or less match up with my own. I’m not really religious or anything but from what I can tell that’s not an issue at all. I’m thinking of just going on Sunday and showing up early so I can talk to people and get to know the space or maybe I will just sit in my car and hype myself up to go in (social anxiety lol, I’m working on it). I’m really not sure how it works, I’ve never signed up for church before. Anyway, as the title said, please say literally anything you feel the need/want to say to someone who has never gone to church before that’s going to start soon.

I've been a UU for about 20 years, but haven't been actively attending service for the last five or so because I work night shift and work weekends and am usually asleep during service hours. So I'm pretty out of the loop here. I've tried reading Article 2, but found the wording too formal to understand much of it. I've seen that some people are considering disassociating from the UUA over the changes, but I don't understand why.

Could someone explain in simple terms how Article 2 changes things? I'd also be interested to hear your opinions on the changes.

Is anyone else in a congregation that is thinking about severing their relationship with UUA over the changes to article 2? Our board hasn’t said so publicly yet, but I think they went to align with the North American Unitarian Association.

We're currently looking for a new RE director and I was wondering what the ranges were. Our fellowship is in a low cost of living area, and I am just wondering if $450, which boils down to ~10-22 / hour is reasonable. I know a lot of congregations have members that do it for free as their contribution.

I’m new to Unitarian universalism I found it on my search for a religion and was curious about it. I thought there is no better way to learn about a religion than to ask its members ( if you guys considered yourself as such). I know that it’s not necessarily focused on prayer and god, but focused on the search for self improvement on a spiritual level. Is there anything by I’m missing, something you’d like to add? Also what practices do you guys perform? I researched and found you guys do Yom Kippur dinners and Buddhist meditation groups but what else? And what is the purpose for doing things like Yom Kippur dinners?

Hi,

This could be a sensitive topic for people here. I don't know. The title asks it all. There is /r/UUreddit, and there is r/UnitarianUniversalist.

What is the difference between the two?

It just seems like the work that gets put into some discussions and resources would get duplicated, which is a bit of a waste of time. Plus it's confusing.

I wonder if there could be a brief explanation on the sidebar maybe?

There has been a trend in Christianity towards a renewed interest in intentional community. I'm thinking of 'new monastic' groups like the Iona Community and Taize.

Here is a link for an example of what I'm thinking of. These guys are liberal Christians: https://www.abbeychurch.ca/pages/the-emmaus-community.

Are there any groups like this among Unitarians? Anything come to mind that involves people choosing to live together and engaging in shared spiritual practices and meals, etc.?

Our congregation used to have a very popular broadly themed discussion group before service every Sunday. But when Covid came, it went on-line via Zoom, like everything else. However, it never "came back." Its leader(s) merged it with two other groups that were not associated with our church (both sophisticated philosophy discussion groups). Now, it is nothing at all like what it used to be. It has many more members, including many from all over the world, but it is no longer a UU group and very few of our members still attend. The group seems to have left us, in all but name.

In a couple of days, I will be pitching an idea for a Forum/Discussion group to our church's council. The idea is that this group is going to be what the above-mentioned discussion group used to be before Covid. I know that there is a pretty significant demand for a group like this and I am almost positive the idea will be approved by our council.

The only point I am concerned about is its in-person status. The point of the group I feel is not learning things per se (we have community college and on-line courses for that). It is learning things in community. It is about building community by learning together, by sharing knowledge and experience and by being with each other, in the same room, smilling at each other, furrowing our brows at each other, cocking our heads inquisitively at each other, looking each other in the eye. And basically you cannot do that on Zoom. You cannot really *feel* a connection with others on Zoom. So, I definitely want this group to be in-person.

I actually don't think I will have any problem pitching an in-person discussion group. However, I would like an exclusively in-person discussion group. I have been in so many meetings over the past two years or so that are hybrid ... and it just never works well. It is difficult for moderators. It makes things awkward for the rest of the group. You have to have a microphone and wait for the microphone to be passed and speak into the microphone. And, you know, there is just something intimacy-destroying about that.

Or, you have everyone huddled around one computer and someone always trying to relay information or checking in with the people on-line to make sure they are following. And repeating things for those on-line. And .. there is something intimacy-destroying about that.

Also, I get the strong impression that members who do attend meetings or services via Zoom are, how shall I say this? um well, either not quite as much into making an effort to physically get themselves to our buidling, trying to save time or money. Which is fine for a service ... but for meetings where we would like to have a natural back-and-forth, it just doesn't work. I can't think of anyone in our congregation who couldn't actually come in person ... if they really wanted to. Ok, I just got that out there.

Yes, I realize that sometimes some people might be ill, or want to isolate, but in that case, they could just skip a week of the discussion group.

So, has anyone here successfully gone back to entirely in-person groups? And if so, how did you deal with members who now assume that a virtual option will be available for everything, even if it isn't truly needed. In other words, people who now assume that everything will be made as easy as possible for them.

I hope this hasn't turned into too much of a rant. I'm just anticipating feel frustrated with this and am looking for ways of heading the problem off at the pass, as it were.

Hi! I am someone who describes myself as a Unitarian Universalist - I don't have a UU church in my town, but I share a lot of the same values/beliefs. That said, something I think I'd get value from would be a daily devotion - something I could read while sipping my coffee in the mornings at work and meditate on/pray about. I was raised (fundie/evangelical) Christian, and I know a lot of Christian traditions have these, but I actually am hoping to find some devotionals that dive into more than just one faith, and bring nuggets of wisdom from different faiths every day.

I also prefer a physical book for this. I am very 'out of sight, out of mind' and will forget it and have a hard time forming a habit of reading it if it's tucked away in an app somewhere. I'd prefer to keep it right next to my coffee setup on my desk at work.

Is there anything y'all would recommend?

It seems like there is no recourse for when a UU church has a "bad" minister. Our church minister recently became contracted. Just to add, this church seems to have a history of not so great ministers. The previous minister before this recently contracted one was asked to leave due to someone warning to take legal action against them.

This current minister is disorganized but worst of all, extremely rude. There was even been a whole committee created to manage complaints against the minister. This minister even went as far as firing one of the Church's staff after they asked about a raise. They have even spoken of breaking away from the UUA for being too "woke."

They are barely in office during the week. They've pushed to get lots of amenities for their office, even going as far as saying they want a bathroom and bed in their office... after being contracted they purchased a nice house and honestly... it just seems like they are in the ministry for all the ways the church takes care of them. Sermons aren't even organized until sometimes Friday, which is frustrating for everyone else involved with Sunday services... I just don't know. It's very discouraging to see how this minister can get away with so much... I suppose this congregation really is just desperate to keep a minister, even if they are border-line narcissistic.

Any insight regarding this situation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

It seems like there is no recourse for when a UU church has a "bad" minister. Our church minister recently became contracted. Just to add, this church seems to have a history of not so great ministers. The previous minister before this recently contracted one was asked to leave due to someone warning to take legal action against them.

This current minister is disorganized but worst of all, extremely rude. There was even been a whole committee created to manage complaints against the minister. This minister even went as far as firing one of the Church's staff after they asked about a raise. They have even spoken of breaking away from the UUA for being too "woke."

They are barely in office during the week. They've pushed to get lots of amenities for their office, even going as far as saying they want a bathroom and bed in their office... after being contracted they purchased a nice house and honestly... it just seems like they are in the ministry for all the ways the church takes care of them. Sermons aren't even organized until sometimes Friday, which is frustrating for everyone else involved with Sunday services... I just don't know. It's very discouraging to see how this minister can get away with so much... I suppose this congregation really is just desperate to keep a minister, even if they are border-line narcissistic.

Any insight regarding this situation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I practice witchcraft and would love to hear about UU perspectives on witchcraft and magic. I know that there's the CUUP, but I wanna know-- are there any witches at your UU congregation? I know there's lots of diversity among the beliefs of UUs, but can you speak to any general attitudes about witchcraft and magic?

I'm a witch and sorta a Pagan, but I often feel like the odd one out in neopagan spaces because my spiritual practice is more rooted in Judeochristian mysticism and animism than in Wicca. I've been interested in going to my local UU services for a while now, but I feel intimidated that I won't fit in there either-- even though UU congregations claim to be a place where anyone can belong. I'd love to hear your thoughts, especially if there's any Pagan or witchcraft-practicing UUs in this subreddit!

Edit 8/11: Thank you so much to everyone for your responses!! You really helped ease some of my fears. I'm gonna be attending my first service at my local UU congregation today and while I'm pretty nervous, I feel very encouraged by your responses. Thanks again <3

So I'll be heading up North for college and Michigan and Minnesota seem to be where most of my schools are. I'm very active in my local congregation but I don't know anything about the churches up there.

So what are they like? Do they have queer groups? Anything I should know ahead of time?

Does a devotional that fits with UU exist? I want to grow my spirituality but know that I can likely only handle small doses at a time making something like a devotional great but I cannot find anything that feels like it is within UU. I would prefer something tangible like a book vs visiting a website daily.

I left Christianity a year ago and never looked back. I've gone through so many different beliefs/disbeliefs since I've left my religion that its crazy. I basically just consider myself an agnostic now with a humanistic attitude regarding a lot of things. I sometimes have a slight leaning towards what I would kind of consider "lite Deism," in of the fact that I'm not a believer in any kind of personal god. My view is somewhat complicated, as some might call me an atheist, but I refute this claim on the basis that I don't necessarily believe that any god or higher power doesn't exist, I just simply don't believe it is possible to know for sure, but I highly believe most religions are made up, even if a god does exist in some form or capacity. That said, that is my own personal thought process and "belief." I guess you could kinda call me an agnostic, a humanist and sort of a deist all at the same time. I'm also highly interested in different forms of Pantheism, and Panentheism. I find them fascinating.

That said, I've found embracing different beliefs of Humanism has given me more purpose after leaving my religion. My family and I live our lives secular, but... That doesn't mean I think people of organized religion are stupid or delusional. I really only have a problem other people's beliefs when someone starts proselytizing. This includes other non-believers as well. Some people can be just as unpleasant with their unbelief as some people can be with their religious beliefs, and this I have certainly seen from some people I've seen claiming to be a "Humanist."

I agree that respecting others and showing others acceptance, compassion, kindness, love and respect, regardless of their race, sex, gender, sexuality or religion is something that I fundamentally believe. I am wondering if my attitude might be closer more towards a form of Unitarian Universalism though? Learning to respect and care about others, regardless of who they are or where they come from, and discovering your own truths for me is why I am thinking I may potentially align more with UU. For example, one truth I have discovered for myself is I don't worry about what happens after I die, since I really don't believe it can be known what happens after death, if anything even happens at all. So for me, why worry about it? This is my truth however. My truth may not be the same as your truth or someone else.

Any thoughts? Also, do you have to attend church services to be considered a UU?

I posted looking for advice on the atheism subreddit yesterday. I now want another perspective. You can see my post in my profile. The gist of it is that my conservative Catholic mother has been visiting for several days and she has been taking my 7 year old to church with her in the mornings. He has been very eager to go because she talked it up to him so much. I feel she manipulated him to want to go. I have allowed it because I worry about resisting too much and it creating an issue where he wants to go even more and begins to resent me. He really likes her and I think he wants her approval. She leaves tomorrow, thankfully. She only sees him a couple times a year usually. She has also been trying to coax my older son into going with her to church when I’m not around. He told me that she says it’s no different than trying a new food. She won’t let up. She knows I’m an atheist and that I’ve chosen to raise my children without religious beliefs. I feel she is undermining my place as their parent. Their father is also very upset by what she is doing. We are avoiding a confrontation until she leaves because she’s a highly reactive person and will paint herself as the victim in front of my children. After she leaves tomorrow, I am going to let her know that I do not want him going to the Catholic church anymore.

Now, to where I need the help of Unitarians…I live in very liberal Massachusetts and we have a lot of Unitarian Universalist churches around here. They all seem very welcoming and accepting. They are far more in line with what I teach my children than Catholicism. If my son wants to explore religion, I would feel more comfortable with him doing it around kind and tolerant people who believe in the rights and dignity of all persons. What do you guys think about my predicament? If I brought my son to a Unitarian church would he be pushed into believing in God? What do your church services look like? Is it something that could be compatible with my atheist parenting? I really need help with this because it took me years to get over the trauma of being brought up Catholic. I don’t want my child exposed to that. I also want to give him the freedom to explore other beliefs though. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi! So, I am an atheist (have been for 4 years now), and stumbled upon UU when researching Scouts BSA’s position on atheism. After a bit of research, I decided that a lot of the things in UU are things I support and that I might be interested in joining someday. Are there any good websites, documents, or books I can check out to learn more about UU? Especially history, wikipedia is very barebones on everything that happened after the merger between the AUA and UCA and it just seems like an interesting historical tale.

My partner and I joined a local UU recently. How much should we donate/month?

I have anxiety and depression issues like many. I feel so numb from all the negativity in the World. I really need a place of positivity and outreach. I know the best way for me to feel better would to be around like minded individuals. No judgement, just empathy and understanding. Do you believe U.U. would be that place for me?

Hi friends! I think I mentioned in my previous post that I’m starting a new role at a Unitarian congregation, primarily as an office administrator and tech person.

Cheesy as it sounds, it’s more than just a job—it’s an opportunity to contribute to my community.

One way I find I can really connect with people is through humor and technology. I remember seeing a few amazing Unitarian-themed dad jokes here, including a great one about a Jehovah’s Witness.

I’d love to hear all of your best Unitarian dad jokes so I can spring them on my colleagues, and maybe make a video and hopefully make everyone either laugh or groan laugh!

Thanks in advance for your help!

I'm newly spiritual after being an atheist for most of my life, and I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. I want to do something that helps people. I want to be involved in community and I want to study and gain my own understanding of the divine. I'm at the time in my life where I have a well paying lay career, but it's not fulfilling for me. The only thing that worries me is if I could get burnt out in Ministerial just like I am in my current role. I suffer from mental illness but I am now well medicated and don't see why this couldn't be a fulfilling life for me, but I thought I should ask others what they think

Hello everyone!

As someone new to this vibrant community, I'm still navigating the nuances of our shared humor and what's considered tasteful. I've noticed that this community balances a deep sense of spirituality with an open-minded approach to diverse perspectives, which is refreshing!

I came across a joke that I found amusing, but I want to make sure it aligns with the general sensibilities here. I know it's folly to generalize about any group of people, but generally speaking, is 'chill' a good word to describe you kind folks?

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mfaAbsa95fk

I know they're not UU, but their spiritual pluralism makes them feel like a third U to me, historically Christian tradition but having a different understanding of the divine is met with "bruh that's sick I'll pray with you" not "bruh your soul's sick I'll pray for you". But Unity isn't very Googleable so I've had no luck finding any online communities for them and I haven't lived near a Unity Church in years.

Hello, I was wondering if there are any Filipinos, esp LGBTQIA+, here who can tell me about how the UU church is like in the Philippines. I'm gay and looking for some sort of spiritual community to seek a meaningful life with, and currently looking into UU. Is it a place where gays can truly be themselves while seeking spirtuality? I have this fear that since the Philippines is such a largely Catholic country that the environment even within Philippine UU churches might feel Catholic.

I was watching the last episode of Star Trek discovery season 4 and I got a bit emotional as beloved charachters were stepping up to sacrifice themselves to evacuate earth. And I realized that the UUA is my federation and my congregation which I joined in the late 90s is my ship and I am so greatful to be apart of their crew and I love them so much. Blessed Be everyone!

Does anyone have any good UU podcast recommendations? I grew up catholic and then came out as a trans man and well, that ended there lol. But I really love what the UU church stands for in their seven principles and just want to learn more about it and/or hear old sermons :)

Thanks!

I pray in my living room every Saturday night and I was wondering if other UU's did that

I am going to church again after a decade long absence. I deconstructed away from church of Christ to atheism. And recently began attending my local UU. I'm excited and plan to become a member.

But today I felt something I haven't felt in years: post Sunday service and lunch exhaustion. I went to the 45 minute inquirers class at 11am and had light lunch at Flower Child after. This is different in that when I attended CoC, we went to class around 9am, worship at 10am, and then had a large lunch. I remember always feels so miserably exhausted, noting under eye irritation as well. I chalked this up to me not wearing my hearing aids regularly (having to compensate and strain) and having undiagnosed insomnia.

Writing this I realize I was straining to hear in class and in the restaurant (no hearing aids) but I haven't worn the hearing aids regularly in months.

Is something that anyone else can relate to?

I’m thinking of leaving my UU church. I’ve been a member since 2012 and it’s been a huge part of my life. I’ve been a pastoral care volunteer, an RE teacher, I ran our preschool playgroup for some time, I’ve traveled to Haiti with my church. I expected to raise my kids in the church. I’m in my late 30’s and I first started going to UU churches since I was a sophomore in high school.

In 2022, after 11 years of marriage, my husband suddenly came out as a transgender woman. As a straight woman this really turned my world upside down. To be clear, I support her transition and do all the right things when it comes to affirming her gender. At the end of the day, though, I was not able to muster up attraction to another woman and my ex did not want a platonic marriage. We divorced and it wasn’t pretty. Our marriage was already struggling and my ex hates me. I think she really expected me to be excited about breasts and a vagina.

When my ex was a straight white man, they were a staunch Republican. I remember after the Dobbs decision crying and my ex defending the constitutional correctness of the decision. This was always a divide in our marriage as I was more liberal. She’s a great debater and could back me into a corner on any issue. She looked at my church with contempt and I always went alone. After coming out as a trans woman my ex has done a 180 politically and joined the UU church after it was “my thing” for our entire marriage. I’m still so salty about her hypocrisy.

Now when I go to my old church, I’m on pins and needles wondering if I’m going to run into my ex. The hate she has for me just radiates. I go to church to feel loved and accepted, not hated. I’m also fairly certain that there are a decent number of congregants who would see me as transphobic. Like “If you really loved her then her gender wouldn’t matter to you.” Additionally, when I was going through the divorce the minister personally reached out to check on me, but then ended by reminding me I hadn’t pledged for the year yet. Who hits up single moms for money?? I’m sitting here worried about making rent and my church is asking me for money!

How do I leave my church? Do I just ghost them? Do they scratch my name off the book? Should I sit down and talk to the minister about all this? Should I try to make it work?