As individuals, we come from many backgrounds - Unitarian Universalist, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, Pagan, and other traditions. We take pride in our differences, and from this diversity comes our strength. We welcome new members without regard to race, gender or affectional orientation, and are pleased to note our continuing growth in membership, in pledging, and in the capacity to serve the needs of our congregation and the community at large. Everyone who seeks a church affiliation comes looking for something important, valuable and spiritually meaningful.
As a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we 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 of 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 society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all; and
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
What We Believe
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion born of the Jewish and Christian traditions. We keep our minds open to the religious questions people have struggled with in all times and places. We believe that personal experience, conscience, and reason should be the final authorities in religion. In the end, religious authority lies not in a book, person, or institution, but in ourselves. We put religious insights to the test of our hearts and minds.
We uphold the free search for truth. We are not bound by a statement of belief. We do not ask anyone to subscribe to a creed. We say ours is a noncreedal religion. Ours is a free faith. We believe that religious wisdom is ever changing. Human understanding of life and death, the world and its mysteries, is never final. Revelation is continuous. We celebrate unfolding truths known to teachers, prophets, and sages throughout the ages.
We affirm the worth of all people. We believe people should be encouraged to think for themselves. We know people differ in their opinions and lifestyles, and we believe these differences generally should be honored. We seek to act as a moral force in the world, believing that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion. The here and now and the effects our actions will have on future generations deeply concern us. We know that our relationships with each other, with diverse peoples, races, and nations, should be governed by justice, equity, and compassion.
The Chalice
At the opening of Unitarian Universalist worship services, many congregations light a flame inside a chalice. This flaming chalice has become a well-known symbol of our denomination.
Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love. Unitarian Universalists today have many different interpretations of the image. To many, the cup represents religious community, while the flame represents ideas including the sacrificial flame, the flame of the spirit, and more. Modern chalice designs often incorporate two overlapping circles, which for many people also represent our Unitarian and Universalist heritages.
Adapted from the UUA publication The Flaming Chalice by Daniel D. Hotchkiss.