Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalism creates change: in ourselves, and 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.

We are united in our broad and inclusive outlook, in our values and shared experience: our open and stirring worship services, religious education, and rites of passage; our work for social justice; our quest to include the marginalized; our expressions of love.

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:

  • Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
  • Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
  • Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.
  • Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
  • Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
  • Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.

Our faith tradition is diverse and inclusive. We grew from the union of two radical Christian groups: the Universalists, who organized in 1793, and the Unitarians, who organized in 1825. They joined to become the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in 1961. Both groups trace their roots in North America to the early Massachusetts settlers and the Framers of the Constitution. Across the globe, our legacy reaches back centuries to liberal religious pioneers in England, Poland, and Transylvania. Today, Unitarian Universalists include people of many beliefs who share UU values of peace, love, and understanding. We are creators of positive change in people and in the world.

Our Beliefs

“We Are UUs” video copyright Unitarian Universalist Association.

In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self, your full identity, your questioning mind, and your expansive heart.

Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or belief system. 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 is expressed through the inseparable and deeply interdependent shared values of interdependence, pluralism, justice, transformation, generosity, and equity – all centered around love. Although Unitarianism and Universalism both have origins as liberal Christian traditions, today we embrace diverse teachings from many different global religions and philosophies.

Unitarian Universalists believe more than one thing. We think for ourselves, and reflect together, about important questions:

Learn more about Unitarian Universalists from a variety of beliefs and backgrounds: Atheist/Agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and more.