Welcome to Unitarian Universalism
Who We Are
We are people of all ages, people of many backgrounds, and people of many beliefs. We create spirituality and community beyond boundaries, working for more justice and more love in our own lives and in the world.
Unitarian Universalism draws from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. We covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries.
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. The values we share include all the following, which we hold as inseparable and deeply interconnected:
- Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
- Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
- Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
- Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
- Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.
- Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
What We Believe
In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.
When we say we welcome everyone, we mean it. We ordain LGBTQ+ ministers. We joyfully marry members of the LGBTQ+ community, dedicate their children, and honor them with memorial services.
Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey that honors everywhere we’ve been before.
Our beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no shared creed. Our shared covenant supports “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” Though Unitarianism and Universalism were both liberal Christian traditions, this responsible search has led us to embrace diverse teachings from Eastern and Western religions and philosophies.
Unitarian Universalists believe more than one thing. We think for ourselves, and reflect together, about important questions:
- The existence of a Higher Power
- Life and Death
- Sacred Texts
- Inspiration and Guidance
- Prayer and Spiritual Practices
What We Do
We create change: in ourselves, in the world.
Seven days a week, UUs live their faith by doing. Whether in community with others or as an individual, we know that active, tangible expressions of love, justice, and peace are what make a difference. Embracing peace, love, and understanding that goes beyond individual belief systems, we are creators of positive change in people and in the world.
The ways we do it:
- Worship & inspiration — Sunday mornings and beyond.
- Learning & growth — spiritual and educational programs for all ages.
- Action & service — volunteering and work for justice.
- Connection & care — caring outreach, mutual support, and small groups for adults, youth, families, and children.
Celebrations & rites of passage — weddings, memorials/funerals, baby blessings, coming-of-age, and child dedications.
The Flaming Chalice
Many visitors ask about the significance of the flaming 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. It unites our members in worship and symbolizes the spirit of our work.
During World War II, the Boston-based Unitarian Service Committee (USC) was founded to help Unitarians, Jews, and other religious liberal refugees escape Nazi persecution and needed a symbol to identify itself as it worked its way through the Allied underground in Nazi Germany. The flaming chalice became the Allied underground symbol by which those needing rescue identified themselves to the Unitarian Service Committee in occupied Europe for assistance in escaping Nazi persecution.
Our Mission Covenant
We, the members of First Unitarian, agree to:
• Promote the spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth of each member
• Minister to each other in an atmosphere of welcome, acceptance, and caring
• Be a positive force for social, environmental, and economic action
• Promote the wider understanding of our purposes and principles in the larger community
• Provide a dynamic religious education program for all ages
To these ends, we declare our commitment to the health and vitality of this liberal religious community.
Our Denomination
