With no dogma, Unitarian Universalists draw on diversity

| The New Mexican

4/19/2008 - 4/19/08

Inside Santa Fe's Faith Communties:


Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion. It values religious pluralism, and respects diverse traditions within the denomination and often within the same congregation. The personal beliefs of Unitarian Universalists and their religious services draw from different faith traditions, including the humanist tradition. Unitarian Universalists believe in the complete and responsible freedom of speech, thought, belief and faith. Each individual is encouraged to search for his or her own personal truth on issues such as existence, nature, meaning of life, deities, creation and the afterlife. Some believe that there is no God and others believe that God is a metaphor for the spirit that creates and upholds life.

Although lacking an official creed or dogma, Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote the following seven principles:

• 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 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.

The UU religion takes its name from two theological ideas — Unitarianism and Universalism.


Unitarianism began in opposition to trinitarianism — believing the doctrine of the Trinity was without scriptural basis.

Early Unitarians emphasized God or reality's primary unity. Formal, institutional Unitarianism began in 16th-century Poland and Transylvania and then took root in England.
The American Revolution, fostering a new era of reason and democracy, opened the door to new creative, religious thoughts. One such movement was American Unitarianism, an outgrowth of New England Congregationalism and the Unitarian traditions in England, Hungary and elsewhere in Europe. The American Unitarian Association was created in 1825.

Since its founding, however, American Unitarianism continued to transform and grow in response to the changing times. The transcendentalism of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott and others in the years before the Civil War began a transformation of the faith from a sect of Christianity into a religion integrating the insights of men and women of insight across the globe.
The 20th century saw the influx of humanist who also contributed to making Unitarianism a broader and more flexible faith.


Universalism had a different, distinctly American origin — also in the years immediately after the founding of the republic. Universalism differed from orthodox Christianity in its belief in universal salvation.

Essentially, Universalists did not believe that a loving God — as exemplified in the life and teachings of Jesus — would punish anyone to eternal torment. God's love was so great, they believed, that eventually everyone would be reconciled. The Universalist denomination, called the Universalist Church of America, was founded in 1873.

Universalists were pioneers in supporting the abolition of slavery, universal compulsory education and nonsectarian schools. They also worked on social issues including the separation of church and state, prison reform, the abolition of capital punishment and equal rights for women.

Universalists were the first denomination in the United States to ordain a woman minister — the Rev. Olympia Brown in 1863.


Always theologically and ethically like-minded, the Unitarian and Universalist denominations consolidated in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. Despite its origins within Protestant Christianity, Unitarian Universalism no longer identifies itself as being solely a Christian denomination. The present membership variously consider themselves liberal Christians — what they called "small- 'c' Christians" — humanists, agnostics, natural theists, Buddhists and even within their number a good many atheists. Many members have an eclectic mix of beliefs and most agree that their religious journey continues day by day — which their church encourages and strongly supports.

Historically, the Unitarian Universalist faith has identified with many progressive political causes. Throughout the 19th century, they were active in abolitionism, fair labor practices, and women suffrage.

Susan B. Anthony, a member of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, N.Y., was the foremost leader of the women's suffrage movement. The second woman's rights convention in the United States was held at her church.

Today, UUs actively carry on their tradition of involvement in social issues, notably to end racism and discrimination in the United States.

In 1909, John Haynes Holmes, a minister at the Community (Unitarian) Church of New York, was among the founders, in 1909, of both the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union, where he served a term as chairman.

The Rev. James A. Reeb, the Unitarian minister at All Saints Souls Church in Washington D.C.and a white member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was attacked and clubbed during the civil rights
demonstrations in Selma on March 8, 1965. He died two days later of massive head trauma.

Two weeks later Viola Liuzzo, a white Unitarian Universalist and civil rights activist, was murdered by white supremacists after her participation in the protest marches from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.

The current head of the Unitarian Universalist Association is the Rev. William Sinkford, an African-American.

In recent years, the Unitarian Universalists have become very active in the struggle against homophobia and discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons — all of whom are warmly welcomed in their congregations.

UU ministers have been performing same-sex services of unions since the late 1960s, and where it is legal, same-sex marriages. Since the mid 1970s, a number of gay and lesbian Unitarian Universalists have been ordained and called as ministers.


The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe was first organized in 1952 and has been meeting continuously ever since. Sunday services are held at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Religious Education classes for children and youth run concurrently with the 11:30 a.m. Sunday service. Nursery care is available during both services.

A monthly adult forum is held, featuring a broad range of topics and guest presenters. The forums are free and open to the public.

The church is at 107 W. Barcelona Road. For more information, visit the Web site at uucsfnm.org or call 982-9674.

Inside Santa Fe's Faith Communities is compiled by the individual faith community and edited by the religion editor. All faith communities are welcome to submit an article — send an e-mail to service@sfnewmexican.com or send fax to 986-9147. For more information, call 986-3049.