My husband and I joined our local UU church in 2020 after attending for about a year. We had an interim minister at the time. We’ve had a full time minister now for 2.5 years, a full time music director and full time religious education leader. They each get a 3 month sabbatical. During her regular working months, the minister is responsible for church service 3/4 Sundays per month. This flabbergasts me. I’ve never know a church where the spiritual leader(s) are off so much. Is this common in UU or it is OUR church. I asked in the church discussion group we attend and the unofficial elder of the group was offended as “that’s the same the previous minister (of >30 years) got!”

Hi everyone!

I'm a 32-year-old American woman from the South. My early years were spent attending a small Methodist church in my hometown. However, due to personal reasons linked to an experience there, I distanced myself from it. Since my mid-teens, I've identified with Secular Humanism. I also identify strongly with liberalism.

I've always been intrigued by different cultures and religious beliefs, though I personally don't subscribe to supernatural notions. A few years back, I attended some UU meetings in my previous city, but I haven't explored it again since relocating.

I'm keen to hear from fellow atheists about their experiences with the UU community. I'm genuinely looking for a group of like-minded individuals, though I admit the term "church" still brings some unease.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated!

Are there any Filianyi or Deanics here? I just found out about Filianism the other day and it’s tickled my religious studies curiosity. If there are any what do you believe and where are some good communities to find more information?

I’m interested in joining a congregation. Unfortunately the closest UU church is over 50 miles away from me so I’m considering online attendance for the most part.

Would you say that UU and CUUPs are a safe-enough space for a Black female pagan/witch?

Would you say that UUers in general and even UU pagans specifically, regardless of race, are more likely to believe that Spirit has no race and thus be committed to strengthening Collective Consciousness?

I ask this as I am still debating as to whether or not I should give the seemingly nice, local pagan meetup +/- the local Unitarian Universalist congregation the “old college try.”

I am concerned I will find the same (or even worse) racist, exclusionary, and/or megalomaniac tactics I have encountered in other religious communities including Seventh-day Adventist Christian, non-denomination Christian, African/Kemetic, and eclectic pagan spaces.