Unitarian Universalism offers spirituality and community without a creed, with congregants who work for justice, peace and more love in our own lives and in the world. Services often begin with a greeting that welcomes everyone, regardless of race, age, creed, socio-economic status, gender or sexual orientation.
One of the six member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Council of Greater Cincinnati is close to where you live. Each of these vibrant, liberal religious communities is made up of individuals with open minds and hearts, brought together by shared interests and concerns, guided by the principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Background
In 1961, the American Unitarian Association and Universalist Church of America consolidated into one organization, the Unitarian Universalist Association. While the Unitarian and Universalist faiths are both hundreds of years old, what is informally called ‘UU-ism’ has only been around since 1961.
Our religion is called liberal because it is a faith built on covenants and democratic polity. No one is automatically a Unitarian Universalist by birth. Ministers are not arbiters of congregants’ spiritual lives. There are no creedal tests. Members covenant with individual congregations that in turn covenant with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) to act on shared values as well as affirm and promote the principles of our denomination. These active, living guides can be revised and expanded to reflect wider areas of concern, subject to the approval of congregations and their members.
Shared Unitarian Universalist Values
These values were adopted at the 2024 General Assembly of the UUA. From the UUA Bylaws:
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.
Inseparable from one another, these shared values are:
Interdependence
We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.
We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Pluralism
We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Justice
We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.
We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.
Transformation
We adapt to the changing world.
We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Generosity
We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Equity
We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love and compassion.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.
The Seven Principles
These principles were adopted at the 1985 General Assembly of the UUA.
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Organization
The UUA itself is divided into regions. The member congregations of the UU Council are part of the MidAmerica Region that serves congregations in 13 states and western Ohio.
More information about our denomination, including history, news and denominational events can be found at the Unitarian Universalist Association website, http://www.uua.org
Top image: Background sunrise colors courtesy of Alexander Kovalev via Pexels.
