Hello! I'm a Neo-Pagan who worships the Canaanite deities. Mainly Ugarit deities such as Ba'al Hadad and Asherah. Currently I give offerings of insence in my own room with my alter. However, in the past it was common to give offerings in a grove. I would be doing these offerings in a grove, however, I don't think people would be very kind to a stranger praying and burning insence in the middle of the woods. From what research I have done it says that the UU is accomadating of many different kinds of religions.

Basically would be be appropriate and ok for me to. Bring my alter/shrine to do a quick offering and prayer outside? Would y'all find that as something weird? Like I just need a quick space that isn't my room

Thank you so much!

Hello Friends, I'm not sure what I am asking in this post. Maybe just some encouragement, maybe some venting, but also ideas and perspective. I went to a small Christian high school, and have never been to a reunion. But for some reason, I said yes to the 40th anniversary class reunion. I now live a lot closer to the school than previous years, maybe that is why. Why I have avoided it is complex. I didn't feel like I fit in with the other students, and don't have a lot of positive memories from the place. I can tell from social media that many of the people I went to school with have become more politically conservative, and I have become more progressive. And last, but not least, I have some pretty terrible family of origin dynamics, and don't want to field questions about my estrangement from family. So, why am I going? A big part of me does want to go. I wonder if I can connect with anyone else who didn't feel like they fit in. I am curious if there are any other fellow de-converts. Also, I want to be more open to connecting with people I am politically at odds with if it is possible. (?!). And the perspective of seeing other age mates...ageing, marking time together feels like it could be meaningful. I kind of hope that I am pleasantly surprised. Anyway, I'm a little worried about how to field any questions about my state of non-Christian. I do feel so much better having the community and path of Unitarian Universalism as my steadiness. I would have been taught growing up that UU is a cult. From my experiences and knowledge, I know many people I will encounter would be so sad to know I am no longer Christian. I wouldn't be surprised if there is actually worship singing and prayer at the class reunion. I'm sort of afraid that will make me feel very emotional and uncomfortable. So any pointers on navigating this event? Any experience like this?

My mom and I attended our local UU church when I was preschool age, and occasionally when I was in elementary. In the years since, I went through a big spiritual deconstruction, and am now converting to Buddhism, but I've started volunteering at the UU because the community aspect is important to me.

There's a strange discomfort and uncertainty I feel being there. Like I'm an intruder or imposter. Everyone there knows the protocol and expectations that I don't. Has anyone else left the church and then returned after a long time? How do you get back into the flow?

Unity In Difference

The first quality we need to develop is tolerance, built on a basis of mutual respect. A mind that lacks this type of tolerance is openly antagonistic toward people who hold different views. It is a mind that clings very strongly to one’s own beliefs and feels threatened by the mere presence of other viewpoints. We need to loosen this grip in order to be able to communicate in a meaningful way.

There's a UU church a few blocks away from me, and I've been wanting to go. Their website has info about becoming a member, and it's a process, but can I just like attend a service?

Also, do UU's receive communion?

When I was in college, maybe around 2017, a classmate invited me to the UU church down the block from our school. I'm not particularly religious and don't believe in god, but they wanted to show me a little more about spirituality and also help me make friends. I remember it being a very refreshing experience. I liked particularly that it wasn't forcing G-d down your throat and introduced other perspectives of spirituality, in all different cultures. Unfortunately, I have a hard time connecting with others, so I didn't end up making close friends. Maybe follow one or two on instagram. I stopped going because school got more demanding. Anyways, present day I'm 29 years old and going through a life crisis. I don't know who I am anymore, I don't what I love. Work a boring and stressful desk job. I have mental health issues I'm battling (yes I go to therapy and take meds). Right now I'm dealing with terrible insomnia that is plaguing my life/relationships. Nothing seems to be helping and I've tried loads of things. The church popped in my head. I know a lot of people find peace in spirituality and also helping others (which the church tends to do). The closest church to me is 20 minutes, not great but not awful. Could this help? Anyone have any experience or thoughts?

Michael Servetus, influencer of Unitarianism, burned to death by Calvinists for heresy

Norbert Čapek, Unitarian church founder in Europe, tortured and gassed by the Gestapo for opposing Hitler

Viola Liuzzo, Unitarian Universalist civil rights activist, shot by members of the KKK after marching in Selma

James Reeb, Unitarian Universalist minister and activist, beaten and murdered by white supremacists while participating in marches at Selma

John 14:6 (NIV11)

⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

https://www.uua.org/beliefs/shared-values

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014%3A6&version=NIV

I don't believe everything Jesus says personally - and sadly, many people have died for Christianity, which is a topic for another time (and I'm glad for the blessing of religious freedom) - however, what is the common UU perspective on John 14:6? Are there multiple interpretations that reconcile with the value of pluralism (diverse community in theology, culture, and experience)? I have made other posts about the Bible here, but do most UUs reject many Bible verses, including words of Jesus like these? How do they interpret verses like John 14:6, and others, and reconcile them with pluralism? I grew up evangelical, but I now identify as post-evangelical. I believe some things in the Bible, but not everything. For example, I don't believe end times scripture - I don't believe Matthew 24 (which are also the words of Jesus) or Revelation, and I don't believe Jesus is returning. I guess I'm simply trying to sift out what I believe in the Bible and reconcile my beliefs, including with the UU faith (which I feel aligns well with post-evangelicalism). I haven't made up my mind about what John 14:6 means yet, and I also haven't made up my mind if Christ actually rose from the dead, along with other miracles mentioned in the Bible. I do believe Jesus died, and I believe many disciples died for their faith. I do believe in Proverbs 3:5-6:

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) ⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

I believe that acknowledging God means acknowledging someone who knows what the truth is, beyond what the Bible says, or what is attributed to Jesus. That might be a different perspective than the author of Proverbs 3:5-6 intended, but it makes most sense to me. What do you think? How do many UU members interpret John 14:6? Are there perspectives in UU that agree with my interpretation of Proverbs 3:5-6, and perspectives that disagree with it? I'm not intending to preach here, and I'm not expecting to convert anyone or be converted. I'm sorry if this is the wrong space for discussion like this - I'm simply wondering what you think :) I don't think this discussion fits well in either strictly atheist or strictly Christian subreddits... if there is a better subreddit, please let me know! I welcome all perspectives and I'm attempting to be as respectful as possible. Hopefully I have phrased my post well enough to do that and to clarify my question. I suppose a true UU would also focus on other religions as well, and not just Christianity, Jesus, and the Bible :)

Our UU is Lay-led, and I absolutely love it. The variety of services, the way everyone chips in to do things, the way that that no one is in charge or seen as the leader. We have our board and we have elders and respected community members, but those folks are seen as beloved resources, and folks doing helpful work, rather than people “over” the rest of everyone.

What do y’all like about being lay-led? Are there any things you miss about having a minister? What do you prefer about not having a minister?

I’ve heard good things about quarter time ministers, which seems balanced. And have even thought about going to seminary myself. But the dynamic at our fellowship is so perfect, and I think a minister would disrupt that too much. Still, it would be nice to have someone trained in grief chaplaincy, and designing wedding services, and generally just be a resource for the community who’s trained in many things.

Is there a way to get the best of both worlds? How does your congregation do it?

If you could choose the most crucial knowledge/courses/certifications for an admin, what would they be?

I started working as the admin at the local uu church at the beginning of the year. I LOVE the job. I'm in charge of accounting, email campaigns and newsletters, building and grounds, contractors, assisting with grant management, rentals, etc.,

However, I came into this job pretty light on professional experience. I have learned SO MUCH on the go and through pure problem solving.

In the next year, I will be offered some staff development opportunities. I think it's most important to do a basic bookkeeping course of some kind just to reaffirm everything I've learned and fill in any blind spots. What else should be on my radar? What would help me most in my job and to fill out my knowledge/skillset?

I want to make the most of this opportunity, both so I can be a great asset to the church and for my own professional development.

And if you can think of a better place to ask, lemme know! I couldn't find an active nonprofit admin reddit.

I left our Mother's Day service today feeling frustrated and disheartened. The whole theme of the service was about the “crisis of masculinity”—how many men today feel lonely, lack close friendships, toxic masculinity, and how that isolation may lead to extremism. While I don’t deny the importance of these issues, I was shocked that this was the sole focus on a day meant to honor mothers and the caregiving labor so many people (not only women, but especially women) carry in our communities.

Mother's Day can be emotionally complex, joyful, painful, or all of the above. It deserves space that centers that experience. Instead, it felt like mothers were asked to step aside so we could center men’s pain.

I’d love to hear how other congregations marked Mother's Day — what were your services like in terms of theme and tone?

And if anyone has advice on how to raise this concern thoughtfully within my own congregation, I’d really appreciate it.

I'm looking for someone to point me in the right direction. I have witnessed terrible hypocrisy as a staff person at my Unitarian Universalist church. There's so much to say, but first I will say that the minister calls the UUA too "woke", and has discussed wanting to break away from the UUA. I actually found information too that back before they became a minister, they ran for office as a Republican candidate. I honestly don't understand what "called them to ministry", as they have had multiple complaints made against how rude they are, and I even heard that some liken them to Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series.

What's so disorienting is that it is blatantly obvious that the minister is just in this for their benefit, their sermons are purchased templates and trite, and I've witnessed them talk poorly about church members. The thing is, yes, there's a chunk of people who don't like the minister, but they don't openly express it. And as for the rest, they worship the ground the minister walks on. For example, the minister is able to spend without discretion and is putting this church in a financial crisis. All this being said, the church unfortunately is probably going in a direction from which it will not be able to recover, it is just a slow burn at this point. But I am a person who is passionate about justice for justice's sake, and would appreciate being pointed in the right direction so that this church doesn't turn into a cult with a narcissistic leader. I mean, there's no checks and balances. They have full power. Anyways, I'd appreciate any help or guidance. Thank you!

Hi, all! I’m a UU moving to the Bay Area in July and am not leaving any stones unturned when it comes to finding a rental. I have short list of apartment complexes and am monitoring all the rental websites daily. City preferences: San Mateo, Burlingame, San Carlos. Budget: $4,300 with 2 beds preferred. Dog friendly a must. Know anyone? Thank you!!!

I grew up in a Lutheran household. I think I lean a bit more agnostic/secular humanist now, and pretty much quit attending church after being confirmed at 15. None of my family attends church anymore.

Sometimes I miss going to church, but there are many aspects I do not miss nor would want to be involved with. I was trying to find a church for agnostics, and UU popped up!

I’d really like to attend a service to see what you all are about. I’m guessing my local congregation is fairly small.

Is it fine to pop in and sit by myself? Am I going to get people confused about who I am and why I’m there? The thought of going alone feels kind of intimidating, and I know my church growing up would have had some people act icy to an unannounced newcomer. I guess I’m hoping to hear that these churches are generally friendly to strangers :)

Any UUs here in Canada? Ontario would be a bonus

Dear UU's:

Please help us get out the word to other UU Churches.

National Webinar Thurs. 15 May 2025, 1:30 pm pt. Free but pre-registration required. Access successes & challenges at UU Churches. All welcome from anywhere, any faith. Your participation encouraged! ASL interpreted. Hosted by Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene. More info:

https://aciu.info/2025/05/03/access-uu-free-webinar-2025/

Does anyone else attend their regional Summer Institute? I’m only aware of the one in my region, but I assume there are others. I’ve been going for the last few years and it’s been a welcome break from an often hostile world.

Unfortunately, this year my SI will be held in a state that’s passed anti-trans laws with anonymous reporting of trans people in the bathroom. Being trans myself, this makes it a no-go. I will not sacrifice my dignity on the alter of “lawfulness”. [I hope I didn’t just break rule 6.]

I emailed the planning committee months ago when the bill was about to be signed into law, and got no response. I checked the website recently and the only thing they mention is that bathrooms/shower facilitues are sex-segregated (it’s a college dorm) and there would be a map of family bathrooms, not showers.

Call me crazy, but I expected more. I expected some kind of heartfelt commentary about how unjust this was and how SI was holding all affected persons in their hearts. Some kind of recognition that this is a devastating blow for trans attendees, who already exist in a hostile world and look forward to a week of peace and goodwill.

I am so disappointed. I know cis people don't truly “get it”, but I thought if any group would empathize it would be UU’ers. Now I’m screaming into the void with this post because I don’t know what else to do. I guess there’s nothing else to say. The intent of these anti trans laws is to remove us from public life, and in this instance, they’ve won.

i don't know if i'm a real pagan but it makes me happy whenever i see non-abrahamic spirituality like someone wearing a pentacle on the bus or referring to the godS as in more than one existing or owning lots of gems that aren't jewelry. but i'm not ready for others to hear through the grapevine that i'm into that or even that i view the return of polytheism positively.

I work in the activities department at a long term care facility. I'm the only one in my department there on Sundays and would like to create some kind of "church" activity for the christian residents, which is most of them.

I am not a religious person, but the branch of christianity that is UU connects with me and my sense of spirituality the most. I'm hoping it can act as a bridge for me and the residents.

Could anyone recommend some bible study or church adjacent suggestions? The more creative the better :)

p.s. We already have hymn CD's and read along hymn books.

I looked on Google images, and I don't see any. Just art of it. I would love to see pictures of one of it exists. I love our symbol, and I love neon lights even more.

I think it would be cool if there was one with a white chalice, reddish-orange rings, and a flame made up of three different tubes. A yellow one, a slightly bigger reddish-orange one around it, and a bigger red one around that. If I made neon signs, I'd make one.

While it's good to honor our Judeo-Christian heritage, having a symbol tied to one religion doesn't feel very inclusive. I experienced this at two UU churches, and the justifications have been "Well, someone prominent gifted this to us some time ago," or "a Buddhist suggested that we needed a central meditative symbol." I have no problem with a Sermon that refers to the teaching of Christ, but a fixed Christian symbol being the first thing you see when you sit down at this particular Church feels short-sighted.

Hi! I'm new here and honestly, im really excited to learn more. I love asking questions and exploring ideas instead of just accepting whatever I was taught, so finding out about Unitarian Universalism really caught my interest. I don't know a lot yet about UU beyond the basic ideas, but it sounds like a path that's open, thoughtful, and accepting, which feels like something I've been searching for. I’d love if anyone could share what UU means to them personally, what your experience has been like, and maybe any advice for someone who's just starting to explore. Thank you! I’m really happy to know!

Hi folks —

I work part-time (16 hours a week) as an Office Administrator for a small Unitarian Universalist church, and I’m starting to feel like the job description is asking for a lot. I’m hoping to get a sanity check here — is this just how it is at small churches, or am I right to think it’s a bit much?

I burnt myself out in a little under a year and have now quit this role, and I guess I'm looking for a touch of validation, or if it's just a -me- thing?

Here’s a quick rundown of what the role includes:

Communications duties:

• Design, print, and archive the Sunday Order of Service each week
• Respond to church email, voicemail, physical mail
• Compile and send a weekly email newsletter
• Maintain Google Calendar, Breeze member database, and website updates
• Upload Sunday worship links and documents for virtual access

Clerical/records stuff:

• Manage digital and physical files
• Order supplies
• Archive newsletters and documents
• Track insurance paperwork from contractors

Financial duties:

• Pay bills and manage bank deposits
• Enter everything into QuickBooks and pledge spreadsheets
• Reconcile bank statements
• Handle payroll submission, guest preacher payments, utility bills, software renewals, workman's comp, etc.
• Pledges and Campaigns in Breeze Church Management Software

Parking lot duties (yep, really):

• sell semester-long parking passes
• Maintain payment records
• Coordinate towing for violators

All of this is supposed to fit into 16 hours/week.

Some weeks I can almost make it work by racing through everything, but when it gets busy (pledge season, Annual Meeting, tech issues), it’s like stuffing a turkey into a teacup.

When I've said hey this is overwhelming, the answer I tend to get is "well I've done it, why can't you?".

My real goal is to make things smoother for the next person in this role. I care about this community and the work theydo, and I want to leave behind something helpful — whether that’s clearer expectations, or just a better understanding of how much time certain tasks actually take.

And before I say this is all objectively too much for a single person, I figured I'd see what you kind folks have to say.

Appreciate any thoughts — especially if you’ve done church admin work yourself.

I've also attached the official job description.

TL;DR

This seems like a tremendous amount of work to put on one person, but maybe it's not and I'm just the wrong -kind- of person to do all this?

Just want to be able to provide actionable feedback, and folks outside the church seem to agree with me, but I'd be curious everyone elses' experiences.

Office Administrator Job Description

Communication duties include:

1. Assemble, design, and print the Order of Service for each Sunday (except summer lay-led services) and special services. An extra copy will be retained for inclusion in the archive
2. Check and promptly respond to phone calls and church email
3. Answer the office phone and respond promptly to voicemail
4. Check, send, forward and/or promptly respond to physical mail
5. Compile, design, and disburse a weekly email to the congregation
6. Update member information in Breeze in collaboration with Membership Committee Chair/Registrar when appropriate (including addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and membership status)
7. Compile, design, and disburse annual meeting packet to congregants and church leadership
8. Regularly update website in collaboration with technology team
9. Regularly update Google Calendar
10. Email worship links for Sundays mornings and upload orders of service to website for virtual use

Clerical duties include:

1. Manage physical (monthly financial activities, payroll records, bank statements, etc.) and digital files (photos, contracts, orders of service, etc.)
2. Keep records of insurance binders (including workman’s compensation) from all contractors
3. Order office supplies
4. Add orders of service and monthly newsletter to archive in collaboration with archive manager

Financial duties include:

1. Pay bills as they come in
2. Make bank deposits at least once every two weeks
3. Record expenses and income in Quickbooks
4. Record donations, share-the-plate checks, and pledges in corresponding pledge spreadsheet and Breeze software
5. Print monthly bank statement and reconcile in collaboration with Treasurer
6. Pay guest preachers the guest preacher fee outlined by the UUA, and mileage when appropriate per IRS mileage percentage
7. Manage utility accounts, including phone, internet, gas, oil, electricity, and community solar association
8. Renew and manage subscriptions and memberships, including Microsoft 365, Breeze, Go Daddy, QuickBooks, Christian Copyright Solutions, and UUA annual program fund contribution
9. Keep records of insurance binders
10. Complete yearly workman’s compensation audit for insurance company

Parking attendant duties include:

1. Sell parking passes in collaboration with parking team
2. Order material for and design passes per semester
3. Print data forms and regulations for distribution
4. Maintain a list of of pass holders
5. Record and deposit payments

That sometimes I go to UU church and poop myself.

Does anyone here believe in a personal God (one you can talk to)? And if so, why?

Edit: Thank you for the responses! My experience and understanding of God has always been different from the mainstream, and it has never really included a 'personal God'. I am just curious to hear more about it!

So, I became a Unitarian Universalist as an adult, but I'm interested in learning more about OWL. I grew up non-religious and atheist, became UU at 21, and am 30 years old now. Looking into it, the program is aimed at young people, but there are textbooks for adults also, so I'm assuming that there are courses too. I would take a course, but I'm in Japan and attend services with The Church of the Larger Fellowship. As far as I can tell, The CLF doesn't offer OWL courses, which I guess makes sense since it's an online congregation. Unfortunately, there are no in-person congregations in literally the entire country.

I want to know more about what UU's beliefs around sexuality are partially just from curiosity but also see if I can change some of my thinking around it. I thankfully wasn't taught that sex is anything to be ashamed of growing up, but I also did a lot of my own research online, so to speak, and I think that it left me with some unhealthy attitudes towards sex. I'd like to try approaching the subject from a more spiritual standpoint that focuses more on connection than just the physical side of things.

The textbooks are available to buy online from the UU website, but is it worth just getting a textbook and reading it on my own, or is it one of those textbooks that isn't very useful without a teacher? I'm both an English teacher and a Japanese language student, so I know that there are many textbooks that are good for independent study while others are not at all. Also, if anyone knows how to get an ebook instead, or if one even exists, that information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi all!

Looking for a space to be among UUs and those aligned with UU principles? SUUSI (Southeastern Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute) is the largest gathering of UUs outside of GA, and it has been going on for over 50 years!

SUUSI is a week long intentional community for all ages and abilities, held at Radford University, Radford, VA,July 20-26, 2025.

We sleep in the dorms and have workshops, worship services, nature trips, music and nightlife, board gaming, and a whole lotta welcoming community. There are age appropriate programs for kids, tweens, teens, young adults and those who are still young at heart. A place where we take our coffee as seriously as our time together. Come alone and make new friends or bring the entire family - we have something for everyone!

We also offer work opportunities and SUUSIships to make SUUSI affordable.

Happy to answer questions!

https://suusi.org/index

Any other luciferians / luciferian witches. I know it's a very diverse religion. I'm pretty sure other individuals practice this as well.

I’ve been considering attending a UU church in my area but I want to read some books or are there any apps anyone would recommend. I grew up catholic have not practiced Catholicism for years. However I want to reconnect with my faith or trying to find my faith.

Hi everyone, full disclosure I'm a Friend, sometimes UU, and an ally to nontheist or non-religious people. I'm curious if anyone here can recommend resources for humanist development, education, or formation? Resources for all ages are appreciated. It can be UU or from any source. Thanks.

The following is a presentation of my faith journey, doing my very best to be chronological and fair to my influences. If you feel compelled to comment, please be respectful and ask thoughtful and feel questions. Without further ado…

I. Preface

In writing this, I am fully aware of the deep connection I once had with Catholicism, a faith tradition that has shaped much of my life. Yet, through careful thought and reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to part ways with Catholicism. This is not a decision I take lightly. I am not writing to criticize or condemn the Church; rather, I am seeking to explain, in an honest and thoughtful way, how my faith has evolved and why I believe it is necessary to move in a new direction. As I take this step, I do so with the desire to continue living a faith rooted in reason, morality, and an understanding of the divine that respects the natural world.

II. The Role of Reason in Faith

Reason has always been a guiding principle in my spiritual journey. It was through reason that I was able to embrace a form of faith that is more aligned with natural religion and rational thought. Over time, I found my beliefs being influenced by thinkers who questioned traditional doctrines and sought a faith that was grounded in the reality of the natural world.

For much of my journey, I have been shaped by the ideas of early thinkers who emphasized the oneness of God and questioned the complicated doctrines of the Trinity. The works of Socinus, Theophilus Lindsey, and James Freeman have been particularly important in helping me understand a faith that remains deeply connected to the teachings of Jesus but is also grounded in reason and moral law.

I also acknowledge the influence of Thomas Aquinas. Though I have moved away from some of his conclusions, I still find his intellectual framework helpful when discussing the nature of God and the teachings of Jesus. The language he used to describe divine matters has shaped the way I think, even if I no longer fully agree with his theological conclusions.

III. Points of Divergence

The primary reason I can no longer continue within Catholicism lies in certain doctrines that I cannot accept. For me, the concept of infallibility, especially as it pertains to the Pope, stands at odds with reason and Scripture. More significantly, I can no longer accept the doctrine of the Trinity. The idea that God exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—does not resonate with my understanding of God as one singular being.

In rejecting the Trinity, I also find myself at odds with traditional Christian views of Christology. I no longer view Jesus as divine in the traditional sense. Rather, I believe that Jesus was a human being chosen by God to embody His moral teachings. While I still hold that Jesus is the Son of God, I do not believe that He is equal with the Father, as traditional Christian doctrine suggests.

This view extends to other Catholic teachings as well, including the Virgin Birth, original sin, and traditional understandings of Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell. For me, these concepts are more symbolic than literal. Heaven and Hell represent the outcomes of moral choices, while Purgatory is a process of spiritual refinement rather than a place of suffering.

IV. What I Affirm

What I do affirm is a faith that is grounded in reason, natural law, and the teachings of Jesus. I affirm the oneness of God and the idea that Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God’s will. I do not see Jesus as God in a literal sense, but as a human being chosen by God to show us how to live.

I also affirm the moral law, which I believe reflects the divine will and is accessible through human reason. This moral law calls us to live lives of love, justice, mercy, and compassion—values that were central to Jesus’ teaching. I believe that by following Jesus’ example, we can come closer to fulfilling God’s plan for humanity.

Additionally, I affirm the ideas of Purgatory, Heaven, and Hell, though I interpret them in symbolic terms. Purgatory represents the spiritual process of growth and refinement; Heaven is the state of being in harmony with God, and Hell represents the moral consequences of rejecting the divine will.

Above all, I affirm the importance of natural religion—a faith that is based on reason and an understanding of the natural world. This is not a faith that relies on complicated theological speculation, but one that seeks to understand God through the lens of natural law and human experience.

V. Treatment of Other Nontrinitarian Beliefs – A Respectful Acknowledgment

As I continue on my journey, I have encountered a range of nontrinitarian beliefs. While I personally identify as Unitarian, I recognize the value in many of these other positions, each of which offers a unique perspective on the relationship between God and Jesus. I believe that it is important to engage with these diverse views with respect and an open mind, as they all seek to honor the oneness of God and the significance of Jesus Christ.

Modalism – The Unitary God in Temporal Manifestations

Modalism proposes that God is a single person who reveals Himself in different ways throughout history. While I do not fully embrace this view, I appreciate its emphasis on the oneness of God. The idea that God’s different manifestations in Scripture—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are simply different expressions of the same divine being resonates with my own desire to preserve God’s unity.

However, I also find that the relationship between Jesus and the Father, as portrayed in Scripture, suggests a distinction between the two that is not fully captured by modalism. The moment when Jesus cries out to God from the cross, asking why He has been forsaken, highlights this relational distinction.

Adoptionism – The Man Jesus, Anointed by God

Adoptionism suggests that Jesus was born as a regular human being and was only later adopted by God as His Son. This is an interesting perspective and one that aligns in some ways with my own belief in Jesus’ humanity. However, I do not fully agree with the idea that Jesus was merely a human who was “adopted” by God, as I believe He was divinely appointed from the start.

While I do not adopt the adoptionist view entirely, I respect its emphasis on Jesus’ humanity and its rejection of unnecessary metaphysical claims. The belief that Jesus is the Son of God does not require Him to be equal to the Father, but rather acknowledges His unique role as God’s chosen messenger.

Arianism – The Pre-existence of the Logos

Arianism teaches that Jesus was the first and greatest creation of God, which differs from my belief that Jesus is uniquely chosen but not created. While I do not agree with Arianism’s view of Jesus as a created being, I respect its emphasis on Christ’s central role in the divine plan and His position as an intermediary between God and humanity.

Other Nontrinitarian Perspectives – A Broader Spectrum

There are many other nontrinitarian perspectives, such as Socinianism, Unitarianism, and Non-Sabellianism, which offer unique understandings of God and Christ. While I do not agree with every detail of these views, I stand in solidarity with those who seek to preserve the oneness of God and follow the moral teachings of Jesus. I believe that all these perspectives have something valuable to contribute to our understanding of the divine.

⸻

VI. Open-Ended Reflection: The Path Forward

As I move away from Catholicism, I am aware that this is not the end of my spiritual journey, but rather the beginning of a new chapter. My decision to leave Catholicism does not mean that I am rejecting Christianity altogether. Instead, it reflects my desire to continue growing in my faith—one that is rooted in reason, natural law, and the moral teachings of Jesus.

I know that this decision may be difficult for some to understand, but it is important to me that I make this transition with a sense of respect for the tradition I am leaving behind. I do not wish to reject all that I have learned within Catholicism, but instead to embrace a form of Christianity that better reflects my understanding of reason, morality, and the natural world.

My journey forward is one of exploration, not of certainty, but of the search for deeper understanding. I know that there will be challenges ahead, but I am confident that by continuing to engage with Scripture, philosophy, and the natural world, I will continue to grow in my understanding of the divine. I invite others to join me in this search for truth, and I remain open to the dialogue that will help shape my faith.

This journey is open-ended, and I trust that truth, love, and reason will continue to guide me as I walk this path.

Is there a UU take on humor? Well, obviously, we want to our funniness to build bridges and strengthen community. We want the good kind of humor! Maybe we would go with the incongruity, rather than the superiority theory of humor? We laugh at the absurd and unexpected, not at those who are different.

What is the funniest thing that has happened in your congregation?

For me, I would have to say that a recent series of Time For All Ages segments has produced a goodly amount of hilarity. Nothing like seeing adult members of your congregation get up front and pretend they are various different animals.

But also, a Joys and Concerns during which a member lamented in all apparent seriousness and at length that it was unfair women couldn't go topless in public just like men. Well, it wasn't just the concern, but also seeing our nonplussed service leader trying to figure out how to deal with the situation ... edging closer to the member at the mic, trying not to laugh ...

And, finally, a number of years ago, my congregation went through a difficult period in which no less than four people associated with our congregation -- two speakers and two members -- were arrested and subsequently imprisoned on various scandalous, but unfortunately true changes. (These incidents were all completely unrelated to each other, just bad luck and bad timing as far as I could tell.) Among other things, there were complaints the board was not communicating in an effective and timely manner about the arrests. When my husband heard this, he just said: Well, the solution is easy. All the board needs to do is to set up a Wikipedia page (Scandals and Arrests at OurUUChurch) then just update it regularly. Obviously ... LOL

The more research I do on UU the more acronyms with UU in the middle I find. But I've been wondering how these should be pronounced. Like with CUUPS, do you just say "C-U-U-P-S"? Or do you say it more like "coops"? Or maybe "cups"? But that feels like it's leaving off a u. So maybe "cuh-uh-ps". I love words and things like this fascinate me.

For those interested in what 18th century Unitarian liturgy included, here’s a prayer taken from King’s Chapel’s 1785 Book of Common Prayer: “O Lord, our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth; most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold the Congress of the American States, and to replenish them with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts, that in all their deliberations they may be enabled to promote the national prosperity of the federal union, to overcome all their enemies, and to secure the peace, liberty, and safety of the American States throughout all generations. This we humbly ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”. This is literally the only place I could post this and it make sense.

Hi there!

I am not a UU but I recently learned about OWL (which omg, so needed, yet another reason to love UU from afar).

Naturally, as a person who did not go through OWL, I am curious about what is covered in the curriculum. In particular, because I am part of the second half of the LGBT+ alphabet soup, if those identities are covered. It is easy to find info about OWL including LGBTQ & enby folk, but I could not find anything on my half of the acronym.

For reference, these identities include (but are not limited to) asexual, aromatic, agender, gender nonconforming, intersex, pansexual, omnisexual, and two spirit.

Can any OWL grads enlighten me? I'm also interested in what age-grade range they introduce the concepts of sexual and gender minorities to the mix.

Are there any classical inclined Unitarian congregations in the UUA? My faith lines up with classical Unitarianism but not to the exclusion of other religious expressions. There’s First Parish in Weston, Massachusetts and King’s Chapel (technically independent but worth a mention).

Insurance

Who Does your Fellowship or Church have property Insurance through? Ours is currently through Travelers and is about 1/3 of our annual facilities budget.

I’m an agnostic philosophy major in my early 20s who has an interest in UU. I’m curious as to how many adults in their 20s and 30s your churches have?

I’m sure it varies, and that alone is not a reason to join or not join, but I’m interested in having a community that isn’t all people 50+, or people married with children. They’re great, but I’d love to have some people that I can relate to, and the UUs that I’ve spoken to were all much older.

TIA

Edit: I’ll add that where I come from, it is common to be married with children at my age, as this is a predominantly Christian/traditionalist area. Hence the specificity of my question

Please support a seminary student seeking ordination! 🥳🥳🥳🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Hello! I’ve been a UU member for a while now and really like my church. However, I’m really burnt out and exhausted from the social justice component of our faith. It is a huge reason why identify with our faith, but it’s also exhausting going to church looking for spiritual connection, only to feel stressed out and worked up over the recent sermon. I work in non profit advocating for social justice, and so I think this is obviously increasing my burnout. But, I’m really needing some spiritual reprieve in addition to the social justice work and I’m hoping you all can help me.

I’ve read about the Soul Matters curriculum and am considering finding a way to be a part of that, however, my church does not offer this, but I’m still considering doing it independently.

Is there a UU journal, or UU daily devotional that anyone knows of, that they love? I’m just really lacking in the spirituality department and my church is unfortunately not fulfilling that void for me, much at all.

Any UU companion journals, books, curriculums, whatever, please suggest any and everything!

Thank you!

I am in my early 20s and I grew up in a Christian household and was taught that Jesus was the only way and whatnot. Evangelical charismatic Christian Churches. I remember thinking "how is this true? It doesn't make sense. But my parents and everyone at church says it's true and that God works in mysterious ways, so I guess it is." I had questions, but I never asked them. I was definitely afraid of hell.

Within the past couple years I started deconstructing my faith and figuring out things for myself. What feels right to me? I then believed in annihilation, which means non-christians just cease to exist rather than going to hell when they die. I'm starting to think that maybe universalism is correct. That we're all going to heaven no matter what.

Ome thing I'm even more unsure about is trinitarianism or unitarianism. I was taught that Jesus is God's son, is God, and that they're the Holy Spirit. I'm about 87% sure that I still believe that. I'm 100% sure that I still believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.

My friend told me about their UU congregation and I looked it up. What do UUs believe? Upon reading, my first thought was "I like and agree with just about all of this, except the whole Jesus is just a prophet/messenger, and isn't God". I started going to this congregation and have been 3 times now. I want to keep going.

Is it common to find trinitarian universalists attending a UU church? Am I going to be the single weird outlier that doesn't fit in at all? Is UU maybe not right for me? And before you suggest I look at The Episcopal Church, I do go to one, and still attend sometimes. I currently plan on attending both for awhile.

that stings the most. especially other millennials because we remember the bush era creationism homophobia abortion bans and purity rings. the edgelords of old used to make fun of their excesses and intolerance, now every other chad wojak or gigachad meme is glamorizing 1950s families and even medieval christianity while religious pluralism or other diversity especially lgbt gets the "soyboy" or neckbeard wojak.

I have a member of my congregation who is very inclined to believe some unhealthy conspiracy theories. Bigoted or verging on the bigoted. It's the sort of thing I have seen in more fundamentalist religions quite often, and I have always been glad that ours doesn't seem to attract this sort of thing. It would be a more minor issue if this same member didn't constantly insist on being the first person to welcome new people or speak publicly on behalf of our Fellowship. Attempt to address this from a factual point of view is met with a seemingly inexhaustable stream of misinformation. Any thoughts on how to address this?

I am not a Unitarian Universalist. I strongly believe in God but I don't identify as a Christian.

Many Unitarian Universalists consider themselves to be Christians of some kind or at least consider Christianity to be the root of their tradition and they consider the Bible to be sacred and Jesus to be a crucial figure in their spirituality.

How do these Unitarian Universalists interpret the many passages in the New Testament where Jesus and the apostles speak of him in very exclusive terms? He doesn't only speak about helping the poor etc. like some people think, but it is also said that he is the only way, nobody comes to God except through him, there is no other name in which there is salvation except his, if you are not with him you are against him, and so on.

How are these passages interpreted in Unitarian Universalism? Or are they just ignored?

Our congregation is considering Developmental Ministry, but I'm curious what are other folks' experience with this. Search process and quality of ministers?

Does anyone remember the land acknowledgment from GA in Pittsburgh? It was the story about the three rivers banjo

Hey everyone — I’m new to UU and really love how my local church supports social justice. But after my recent trip to Italy (I returned last Thursday), I’ve been feeling a pull toward something more spiritual and less focused on politics (even though I still can’t stand the current political situation). I appreciate the activism, but I’m feeling emotionally drained and need something that feeds my spirit too.

My current UU congregation has a lot of social justice groups which I totally get. But sadly, there are no pagans or women based circles. But I’ve been involved in their first Performance Troupe earlier this month which I loved. I grew out of my comfort zone.

Since my trip, I’ve been thinking about the Virgin Mary in a different way — more like a symbol of the Feminine Divine and the moon, blending my Catholic roots with a more nature-based, earth-centered spirituality. I’ve also been listening to Italian medieval music (Landini’s Ecco la primavera is on repeat!) and exploring history connected to my great-grandmother’s roots near Naples. It’s all making me feel more connected to something ancient and spiritual, but I’m not sure how to integrate that into my UU journey.

To combat political and news doomscrolling, I unsubscribed all the political independent journalist newsletters on Substack, and been focusing on swapping the negative into the positive such as subscribing to more UU and nature based newsletters. I’ve been learning Italian on Duolingo to honor my Italian heritage and for my trip - on my Day 23 streak! I’m also reading a UU book too.

Does anyone else feel this way? How do you balance staying aware of the world without getting stuck in political overwhelm? Are there UU groups (like CUUPS or similar) that explore nature spirituality, moon cycles, or the Divine Feminine? I’d love to hear how others find that balance.

P.S. I also wanted to give you more context on my spiritual journey: I’m an eclectic spiritual person drawn to nature-based, pagan, and new age spirituality, though I also have Catholic roots. My spiritual journey took a big turn during the pandemic when I began exploring pagan traditions like the Wheel of the Year and Wicca. That path really resonated with me, especially my belief in interconnectedness and peace — both internally as individuals and externally as a collective — so I suppose you could say I’m a bit of a pacifist too.

I’m also a feminist who’s not a fan of the patriarchy or conservative Christian nationalism and bigotry.

Last summer, I recently joined UU after exploring the Episcopal Church, but I found it too Jesus-centered for my path. I love the UU values and community! I’m part of the Performance Troupe at the my UU congregation — though sadly, there aren’t any pagans there.

I’ve always thought of the divine as God/the Universe and now with male and female parts like the sun and Moon and ying and yang after I dabbled into paganism and Wicca and nature spirituality.

While attending a UU fellowship I got curious, are ministers given suggested topics for all sermons by UUA or do they come up with topics on their own?

I keep up with another fellowship that I used to attend and noticed they have very similar sermons and topics to the one I attend now, a month or so apart.

I assume it’s something like a topic outline UUA provides and the minster gets to embellish and build on it however they want but I could be wrong.

It’s just interesting how “on the same page” they are on some things and I’m just wondering why. I am always curious and interested in how things happen and how much is just coincidence.

I’m also curious because I love what the UU stands for and have considered getting my own ministerial degree at various points and am interested in what sermon writing looks like for UU Ministers. That would help me decide if I am cut out for it or not.

hello, I am a 25 year old guy who was known as shugo on that discord, few years ago I got pissed at a member who used stuff for walking but said they can walk this offended me at the time cuz as a wheelchair user based on what was said its not ok to use a wheelchair or stuff like that unless a doctor says you need it cuz its a very serious thing that needs a diagnosis and the person just said they bought walking aids without even consulting a doctor, I got pissed at them in dms and got banned I still believe what I do but imo wasnt my call to just get pissed at em the reason i ve felt so strongly about it is there s countless folks for example who use handicapped spots just cuz its closer and dont even have a card which to me is morally wrong so I saw that in the same optic at the time but thinking back even tho I feel strongly about it its not my job to police people and im sad I lost such a wonderful community, i ve grown to realise UU is a good path for me as an omnist and idk who to contact to appeal said ban i ve had personal experiences of my mom not finding an handicapped parking cuz some dude with no card took it when we really needed the space im sorry I acted badly and I wanna come back

I found this article about luxury beliefs and modern Unitarian Universalism feels like a microcosm. https://substack.com/home/post/p-159531967

Hello All,

I'm reflecting on my congregations theme next month for an article in our monthly news letter. And I know that the things I enjoy are not what everyone else enjoys. So I ask, what are some of the small things you enjoy and do daily, weekly, or monthly?

Hi! My friend and I are interested in exploring Unitarian Universalism, but the biggest roadblock that we are running into is that she works on Sunday mornings. Are there churches that offer services outside of Sunday mornings? We are in Chicago

Hello, everyone. I'm trying to connect with a community I've been drawn to my entire life. My parents christened me as UU, as they believed it would allow me to explore my own spiritual path without going against either parent (mom's protestant and dad was catholic). We don't have a church close enough for me to get to easily, so I've been scouring online to find a good community and explore this path a little more. I don't know much, just what I've read on UU websites, a couple UU discord channels, and lurking in here. I've tried watching the services posted by my local church, but there's some audio issues and I miss some good chunks of audio. I'm not too sure where to start, but I'm pleased to be here.

Hi all! Today is Ash Wednesday, which traditionally starts the period of Lent. In many Christian faiths, notably Catholicism, Lent is a time of fasting, prayer and “going without” leading up to Easter.

I’m no longer Catholic but I still really connect with this time of prayer, reflection and giving up. This year I’m trying to give up unhealthy habits.

Anyone else here who is UU still observe Lent?

My wife and I grew up in a Korean Fundamental Christian group, that we were raised in, and left together.

I left for theological and perceived hypocrisy, my wife became disillusioned when our loving aunts and uncles went full MAGA.

I felt really bitter about religion, and God, for years. But I still feel.something missing. I still believe in Goodness, and the impact of love and empathy. I miss the community. I miss building relationships with like minded people, being a part of something.

We have 2 kids, and I've been raising them to be healthy skeptics. I've leaned on the side of Atheism for the past few years but without the spark of possible spirituality, life can feel dull and without magic

My question is, what kind are services in UU churches (in Philadelphia specifically) like?

Our former group was highly extraction when it came to labor and time. I'm looking for a community that is more mutual benefit minded. I used to volunteer and tithe regularly, but this type of contribution was one way as the church's goal was acquisition of wealth and members. Does UU give that kind of vibe?

Are there any young people or kids still going to this church? We're both in our 30s, with kids entering there tweens and teens

We are looking for a UU officiant for a somewhat secular wedding service. Can anyone recommend a minister that leans on the atheist side? Also hoping they will do secular premarital counseling with us. Thank you!

I’ve been looking at my local UU church, and was wondering if they use a “Bible” or if there’s any other literature?

Hello! We’re considering a move to the suburbs just north of Chicago for a number of reasons.

I see there’s a variety of UU options available to us. Can anyone recommend some that already have a vibrant YSE/YRE program?

We have a two year old, and could potentially have another kid by the time we move and would love to find a home base for them with other families

Bonus: info on co-op preschools in the area would be great too, I know this isn’t a Chicago sub but appreciate input

https://substack.com/home/post/p-157730601

The Pew Religious Landscape Study 23-24 is out. Unitarians and other liberal faiths ("Unitarians, those who volunteer their religion as “spiritual but not religious,” deists, humanists and others") are at 1.1% It was 1% ten years ago, and 0.7% in 2007.

UU was initially described to me in very humanist terms. I was told that all beliefs were accepted and that the shared beliefs were things such as the basic dignity of each person, building of community to support each other, social justice, etc.

I was particularly told that atheists were a large portion of the congregation.

This sounded great to me, so I attended a UU service today. I was a bit surprised to hear nearly every part of service containing religious elements. For example, I heard the following religious elements:

• God
• A divine spirit
• Prayer
• Sins

Given that UU is accepting of all beliefs, I of course expected religion to some degree. I guess I was surprised to hear the extent of it, particularly if Atheists make up a large portion of the congregation.

What I want to know is how other Atheists handle religious elements in service? Do you simply ignore these religious elements? Do you try to adapt the religious elements to your own beliefs? For example, I heard another UU member say to simply replace “God” with “science”, but I would honestly struggle to make that replacement and some concepts like “sins” seems hard to find a replacement for. Or do you relate to these religious elements in some other way?

Hey all. I have been UU a long while, in and out of attendance for various reasons, but I've finally found "home". This church is everything I ever wanted--people are kind, genuine, compassionate, and there are so many social opportunities for people of all ages. My partner and I are looking to membership right now but we'd like to know more about membership dues and what that looks like. I know I'll be fine to have this conversation with the minister, but I'd like to have a more candid conversation about dues and it feels disrespectful to discuss with him. Can I ask what they look like for you? What is it based on? Am i reporting my salary to the church? My partner was raised baptist and they expected 10% of your household earning--something we definitely cannot support. What happens if you want to leave?

So I consider myself UU, but also a small-u unitarian and universalist. Today I was talking to a Quaker chaplain who was raised UU and went to Starr King School for the Ministry, and I mentioned that I believe in God, and he remarked that I might be the first UU he's met who believes in God. This made me laugh, but it also got me wondering how common monotheism is within UU, so I thought I'd post an informal survey on the topic, and I'd love to hear other people's perspectives in the comments.

View Poll

I'm putting together a small group experience considering the new Values and Covenants

Do you have a link to an audio or video of a sermon on a single Value, e.g. a sermon entirely about Equity or entirely about Generosity? Please share the link

(In the context of the small group, I just want to share the link so people have a voice outside of our small congregation to print their thoughts. It would be a suggested extra, not a part of the sessions.)

Thanks for your help!

Love, justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, generosity, interdependence

Where should I go?

Hi, I believe in God and I am a universalist. Both a universalist in the sense that I believe God is hidden into all tradtions, but also in the sense that I believe in universal salvation.

I respect y'all and wish nothing but the best to y'all, but our vibes don't match (which is fine). For example I have no problem with rainbow people overall in life but I am personally very heteronormative and I also don't care for most of the liberal activism and agendas that tend to be associated with y'all. This is not criticism and I don't try to tell y'all to stop, I just personally don't care for most of the stuff in UU and my values are kinda pseudo-conservative. I don't say this to troll, but to give a background.

I love talking with Christian Universalists (not referring to Unitarian Universalists of Christian background, but to the ones that are exclusively Christians Universalists) and their vibe is the most like mine, but I am not a Christian so it doesn't work.

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendation for a "less liberal" or "more strict" tradition kinda similar to UU in the idea of universalism (both in salvation and in pluralism) and an idea of God more in the Abrahamic tradition rather than Eastern philosophies? 😁 I know it is a funny question but I have searched for a spiritual community/religious tradition for over 10 years and have not come across anything even close to my wishes.

Thanks! I thought that people here might know something. I know Quakers, but what else?

It's really weird to consider myself becoming a church person because I was not raised with religion. I went to youth groups to hang out with my friends but the religious stuff was just kind of a weird background thing I never fully bought into, and actually stopped going after one day where a woman kept telling me Jesus loves me. I thought that was creepy and lost interest. Been to church a few times if grandparents wanted to go or if there was a fun event or something but never regularly. I'm just agnostic and always have been. Some general spirituality too.

I came across a comment online where someone said if you're looking for community or a way to get involved with activism, join a Unitarian Universalist church. I looked into it and found out there's one in my city. So this is embarrassing but I didn't know people can just go to church service they're not a member of. I instead was the only attendee at an information session with the minister and one other person to discuss what it means to be a member. I was happy to see that it really is so welcoming and liberal, they have a bunch of committees focused on different social issues. I looked back at the themes of some past services and they look really...soothing? Or motivating. My boyfriend is going to attend with me too and it will be a way for us to get involved with helping community. I especially have been feeling lonely and overwhelmed by current events, and desperate for some kind of connection. Actually have been saying for a while that I wish I was religious so I could go to church. I didn't know being religious isn't a requirement 😂 the minister of mine is a gay atheist!

Do you have a lay pastoral care team? Please pass along this training opportunity and consider joining us yourself! Join us for all this Saturday's all online Pastoral Care Training, 10am-3pm ET. Our trainers will be sharing tools for grounding & presence to help care for ourselves and each other in difficult times. Get all the info and register here: Embodied Pastoral Care for a Liberated Community https://sanctuaryboston.breezechms.com/form/50e0df (via Sanctuary Boston, reposting from Facebook)

I’m curious if anyone else’s UU church has seen an uptick in aggression towards your church?

Our building was vandalized, we’ve had aggressive and threatening phone calls, and we had someone come into our church last week and start asking political questions.

Do you have safety and security teams at your church? What steps are you taking to make sure everyone is safe during this time?

it is disappointing that almost all of my responses to your questions on my previous post - which at the moment has an 82% upvote, but was locked - have been removed.

it was and is not my intent to defame UUA, but to call for us to take action in addition - on what I see as a a crisis which is going to prevent us from doing anything substantial about human rights for many years.

there is a lot being done in the secular groups in which i am involved that i don't see here, and i think UUs have a ethical and humanitarian viewpoint which could bring a lot to the movement. i would certainly welcome support in arguing that view from my religious movement. i am in a place where i am in an overwhelming minority, in a congregation where most of our friends, neighbors, and families want something better and are blindly hoping for it while completely not seeing the destruction.

Over a decade ago, in the spring of 2013, Rev. Sofía Betancourt, who is now UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, signed the Change petition which called upon the candidates for UUA Moderator and Board of Trustees to publicly indicate their willingness to start a new national conversation on clergy misconduct in the UUA, and to ensure that survivors of misconduct have a real voice in that conversation.

Asked them to commit to using the powers of the Board to take ownership of the recommendations of the Safe Congregation Panel, to update them as needed, and to hold the staff accountable for implementing them fully.

And asked them to investigate the accountability relationship between the Board and Ministerial Fellowship Committee, with an eye toward balancing the need to protect institutional interests with a pastoral responsibility to care for victims of misconduct.

Both candidates for UUA moderator endorsed this UU Safety Net initiative to reopen the clergy misconduct conversation.

Jim Key posted this on his website and Tamara Payne-Alex has posted this on hers.

But that promised National Conversation On Unitarian Universalist Clergy Misconduct never actually took place, and UUA Moderator Jim C. Key aka Risk Management consultant James 'See No Evil' Key, and the UUA Board of Trustees, proceeded to minimize the extent and seriousness of clergy sexual misconduct, and officially deny any sexual abuse of children by UUA clergy, in a dishonest, and thus worthless, UUA Board 'official apology for clergy sexual misconduct' that Jim Key inappropriately inserted into the middle of his first Moderator's Report during the 2014 UUA GA.

In signing that petition, Rev. Sofía Betancourt wrote, 'This is part of right relationship and respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person. I am confident that we can have this challenging conversation in a loving way as a movement. It is time.'

If it was time for a National Conversation On Unitarian Universalist Clergy Misconduct in 2013, it is a dozen years overdue now. So I invite UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, the UUA as an institution, all UUA ministers and UUA congregations, indeed all Unitarian Universalists, to participate in a National Conversation On Unitarian Universalist Clergy Misconduct that begins now, continues for at least one year, and results in a new UUA official apology for all forms clergy misconduct, both sexual misconduct and non-sexual misconduct, that will be delivered jointly by both UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, and the UUA Board of Trustees, during the 2026 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association at the latest.

I’ve been going to my local congregation for a short time but I feel so strongly that I belong. Everyone has been so welcoming - so many people know my name. My church has a membership “journey” and I’ve hit all of the milestones.

Once a year, at the end of February they have a celebration and recognition of new members! I’m so happy and excited to officially be apart of my congregation.

I postes recently and had a wonderful response from y'all about fitting in with UU.
I went to a service today and oh my gods was it perfect. Our reverend gave a sermon on beauty and how important it is to recognize it, especially in times like these.
It was meaningful, productive, and exactly what I was looking for. I filled 4 pagea of my notebook with quotes and thoughts and insight! Thank you all for your advice, I'm so glad I went! 💜💜

Hi everyone! I'm planning to go to services in the Tahoma Congregation, and I was just wondering if anyone has ever been. I grew up UU but I haven't regularly attended in a while, and I was hoping to return in these trying times.

may 2012 i got this shit (paraphrased)

bikini season is coming up. you might want to wear a bikini or short skirt to fit in, with your bffs or win over a guy. but holy modesty will make you happy, not worldly peer pressure. why? leave two candies outside for an hour. one unwrapped one in the wrapper. the one in the wrapper will stay pristine and pure. the one that follows lyrics of rappers will be covered in ants and flies. yuck! (the other girls laughed) you're not increasing your value by showing off, you're cheapening yourself. let them think you're uncool or a prude by dressing modestly, their opinions don't change that they're giving themselves to flies who would gladly leave them if they smell a piece of dog doo. you staying pure, you'll be a woman happily married to a man, not a bunch of flies.

still makes me mad. not only is that saying i'm nothing but a mass produced lump of high fructose corn syrup. guys you yes YOU should be even more offended. purity cultures saying you guys have less self control than a damn bug.

and mad at the hypocrisy. this is california. guys walk down the street shirtless if it's over 60 out not even close to the beach yet no one cares.

thank goodness for owl not doing that

I’ve been reading about the group a little bit, and I’m wondering what their concept of paganism actually is.

I consider myself pagan-adjacent. I’m very pantheistic, pretty interested in Neo-Druidry, and certain pagan myths and themes are a big influence to me — but I tend to be much more naturalistic and physicalist (though non-reductive) than what I associate with paganism. I’m certainly no polytheist, and it’s questionable as to whether my idea of “God” really amounts to theism of any kind.

However, reading on the CUUPS website, it’s not really clear that polytheism is really a requisite feature of paganism in their eyes. So I was wondering what y’all’s experience with the group might be. Is it pretty exclusively polytheistic neo-paganism? Or do they include the more generally nature-centered side of things like Druidry as well?

i haven't found my pantheon, but i lament how many polytheistic and animistic religions christianity coercively wiped out (times it was non coercive are different). for some reason the idea of a pantheon just sits right with me. but honestly i really like even just the very idea of the world having one more person in modern times whos not just irreligious but actually believes in and doing rituals for many gods. is that valid reason to want to be polytheist? but right now i'm effectively irreligious going to a christian college bcoz i got my best scholarship package there. but i want to believe in a pantheon. somehow i want to believe and not be just another atheist. even if i am pretending to be christian anyway so the super christians on campus don't give me guff, i'd rather believe in a pantheon than no gods.

I've occasionally attended the UU Church in ny town. The reverend is nice, the community is welcoming, the building is beautiful, and the sermons are always meaningful.

As a queer, pagan(ish), autistic, mid 20s person, I'm used to having trouble fitting in, and usually it's obvious why. But I just can't figure out why I feel like I don't fit in here. So far it feels like a mix of being one of the youngest 10% of the congregation and being the only gender non-conforming person there. I feel like a zoo exhibit occasionally and while I appreciate the support, sometimes the extra attention to 'welcoming' me goes too far.

I also feel like my church doesn't 'big talk' enough. They talk about how everyone is and make so much small talk, even from the pulpit, but there's not enough talk about divinity, theology, self improvement, spiritual / religious growth, community support, etc. And when there is, its almost always from a christian perspective.

Am I alone in my complaints here? I feel like the odd one out every time I go.

What I believe Unitarian Universalism should be about

Making UUs better, more thoughtful, open-minded, and understanding people

Link to post online

by David Cycleback Ph.D., the British Royal Institute of Philosophy

1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person

4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning

A Unitarian Universalist congregation serves various roles for its members. Some seek community amongst like-minded people, some a Sunday morning refuge from the outside world or an education program for their kids. Others join for social justice and activism.

As a freethinking, pluralist tradition, Unitarian Universalism should, at its core, teach its members open-mindedness, curiosity, and how to engage with diverse ideas and perspectives. A church or belief system should promote spiritual and intellectual growth by broadening perspectives and deepening knowledge and understanding.

This means offering classes, sermons, discussions, and programs that explore different religious and secular belief systems, cultures, ideas, and viewpoints—including those that challenge our beliefs, assumptions, and prejudices.

The Spiritual Destructiveness of an Increasingly Politicized and Politically Narrow Church

One of the greatest intellectual and spiritual challenges to UU is the increasing politicization of the church and the narrowing of perspectives. Though founded on independent thinking, many congregations have become politically and ideologically narrow and sometimes even intolerant. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) now resembles a mirror image of a politically conservative Evangelical church. A church is not supposed to be a political party.

This makes critical thinking, open dialogue, and understanding differing viewpoints more essential than ever.

Political hyperpartisanship harms a church, creating a spiritually poisonous us versus them mentality. Many UUs who claim to value open dialogue and understanding abandon those principles when it comes to politics. People are often at their intellectual and emotional worst when engaged in partisan politics and this mindset should be discouraged in a spiritual center. I have seen otherwise thoughtful, kind, and open-minded UUs mischaracterize, defame, and make no attempt to understand people simply because of differing beliefs and backgrounds.

Echo chambers must be countered, as they promote an illiberal, close-minded mindset. A free and responsible search for truth cannot be confined to a single ideology. To claim that truth can or should only fit within one ideology—political, religious, or other—is both arrogant and obviously false.

These days, dissent and heterodoxy are critical to the health of the church and congregations and to preserving liberal religion. Those who promote groupthink and partisanship and suppress heterodoxy should not be in leadership positions.

The Importance of Critical Thinking

UU congregations should teach their members critical thinking skills. Even if most members of a congregation belong to the same political party, being able to intelligently assess diverse ideas is crucial for thoughtfully engaging with the diverse world. All UUs should learn how to recognize cognitive and cultural biases and irrational thinking, practice intellectual humility and understand the limits of our knowledge, identify logical fallacies, and impartially consider diverse perspectives.

With today’s tribalism, a common read for a UU congregation could be social psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. This book explores how and why people arrive at different moral and political perspectives.

Honoring the Worth and Dignity of Everyone Through Knowledge

One of UU’s core principles is the inherent worth and dignity of every person. To me, this is the foundational principle of the church, and why I support UU congregations working to be welcoming to people of many identities and backgrounds. However, unlike what UU does these days, truly respecting the dignity of others means listening to and learning about all people—not just those “who think like us."

Too often UUs learn about different racial, ethnic, and cultural groups through a narrow progressive lens and from just a tiny partisan subset of the groups, when the people within those groups hold a wide range of views and experiences. This does not create understanding—it reinforces existing biases and ignorance. If we only see others through our own ideological framework, we are not respecting or even trying to understand them.

A Better Vision for UU

Critical thinking, open-mindedness, curiosity, lifelong learning, and meaningful engagement with diverse and challenging perspectives are essential not only within UU congregations but in life beyond them. These skills, which UU should be taught in their congregations, transcend religious affiliation and are vital for navigating a diverse world.

UU congregations have the potential to model a more open, inclusive, and thoughtful society—one that values honest discourse, respects differing viewpoints, and seeks understanding over division.

This, to me, is what Unitarian Universalism should be about, and is the only Unitarian Universalism I am interested in.

Hello again. Thank you for all of the great suggestions for evening programming on my last post! I’ve had a couple people in my local community recommend organizing a series of talks around creating a mutual aid network of some sort. The truth is that I am very new to this concept. I am curious if any of your congregations have organized mutual aid groups or efforts in your community, and what that looked like? Just trying to brainstorm right now. Thank you!

The Self-Righteousness Problem in Unitarian Universalism

As with other religions, many UUs are self-righteous

by David Cycleback Ph.D.

Link to original post

“It's not a secret that UU is a magnet for eccentric people and also a magnet for self-righteous people.”— a Unitarian Universalist congregant

“I thought UUs were supposed to be different, but they can be as self-righteous as Mormons.”— a former Unitarian Universalist

Unitarian Universalism (UU) is a belief tradition that prides itself on inclusivity, open-mindedness, and a commitment to social justice. With its roots in classically liberal religious thought and pluralism, UUism presents itself as an alternative to dogmatic, exclusionary religious faiths.

However, despite its emphasis on tolerance and open-mindedness, Unitarian Universalism is not immune to the human tendency toward self-righteousness. In their dedication to justice and progress, some within the UU community develop a sense of moral and intellectual superiority that can alienate those with different backgrounds or who do not fully align with their perspectives. This issue, while not unique to UUs, risks undermining the very values the faith seeks to uphold.

The Nature of UU Self-Righteousness

For some Unitarian Universalists, self-righteousness manifests as a rigid adherence to progressive ideals, an intolerance of differing viewpoints, and a tendency to view ideological opponents as morally deficient. Many UUs see themselves as having transcended the narrow-mindedness of more conservative religious traditions. While their commitment to social justice is commendable, it can sometimes result in an exclusionary mindset in which those who question certain doctrines are dismissed as ignorant, regressive, or even immoral.

This tendency is evident in political and social discussions within UU congregations and forums. Because most congregations lean strongly leftward, more conservative perspectives—whether political, theological, or cultural—are often marginalized or even silenced. While UUism champions the principle of a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning,” in practice, this principle is often applied selectively. Those who express alternative opinions on complex social issues may find themselves ostracized rather than engaged in open dialogue.

Psychological and Social Factors

Several psychological and social factors contribute to this dynamic. One key factor is confirmation bias, where people seek out and reinforce information that aligns with their existing beliefs while dismissing contrary perspectives. In UU communities, this can create an echo chamber effect, where members continuously reaffirm one another’s views without exposure to meaningful dissent.

Another contributing factor is moral absolutism disguised as relativism. While UUs often claim to embrace a plurality of beliefs, there is often an implicit assumption that progressive values are unquestionably correct and morally superior to others. This can lead to virtue signaling, where people publicly express their commitment to justice and inclusivity—sometimes more to reinforce their moral standing than to foster genuine dialogue.

Additionally, tribalism and group identity play a role. Like all social groups, UU congregations foster a sense of belonging and shared identity. However, this can sometimes result in an “us versus them” mentality, where those outside the group—especially conservatives, traditionalists, or skeptics of certain social justice ideologies—are viewed with suspicion or disdain. This contradicts UUism’s commitment to radical inclusivity and respect for diverse beliefs.

In recent years, Unitarian Universalism has also become increasingly politically narrow, limiting the range of perspectives within its congregations. The influence of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and UU seminaries has further reinforced this narrowing, as many ministers are trained in a doctrinaire form of progressive activism. Ironically, some of the most rigid and dogmatic voices in UU spaces today are activist ministers who embody the very close-mindedness that UU is supposed to challenge.

The Consequences of Self-Righteousness

The self-righteousness problem in UUism has real consequences for both individual congregations and the broader movement.

• Alienation of Potential Members – People who might otherwise be drawn to UUism—such as moderate liberals, independent thinkers, or spiritual seekers—may feel unwelcome in an environment that appears ideologically and politically rigid. This dynamic can contribute to declining membership and a shrinking diversity of perspectives within UU congregations.
• Intellectual Stagnation – When dissenting voices are discouraged or suppressed, intellectual and spiritual growth suffer. UUs pride themselves on being lifelong learners, but true learning requires engaging with challenging and uncomfortable ideas. If congregations become echo chambers, they risk losing the intellectual humility necessary for real wisdom.
• Erosion of Compassion and Empathy – Self-righteousness can weaken the very compassion and empathy that UUism seeks to embody. When people become convinced of their own moral and intellectual superiority, they may struggle to extend genuine understanding to those with different beliefs. This can lead to performative activism rather than meaningful engagement with complex ethical and social issues.
• Separation from Wider Society and Communities – A culture of ideological purity can isolate UU congregations from the broader society, including communities they seek to support, such as marginalized and minority groups. Many religious, ethnic, and working-class communities hold diverse perspectives, including traditional values that may not fully align with UU progressivism. When UUism takes an approach that implicitly or explicitly dismisses these perspectives, it risks becoming disconnected from the very people it claims to stand in solidarity with. This insularity weakens UUism’s ability to build meaningful interfaith and intercultural relationships.

Overcoming the Self-Righteousness Problem

Addressing self-righteousness within Unitarian Universalism requires a conscious effort to cultivate true openness and humility.

• Encouraging Ideological Diversity – Congregations should not only tolerate more conservative or moderate viewpoints but actively seek to understand them. Spiritual and intellectual growth and understanding different peoples and cultures require engaging with differing perspectives, not just those that align with progressive ideology.
• Cultivating Intellectual Humility – Recognizing that no one has a monopoly on truth is essential. UUs should model humility by engaging in respectful debate, asking questions rather than making assumptions, and remaining open to changing their minds when presented with compelling evidence.
• Revitalizing the Free and Responsible Search for Truth – This foundational UU principle must be applied consistently across all areas of life, not just those that align with progressive activism. Congregations should create spaces where difficult conversations can happen without fear of judgment or exclusion.