UUA Church Philosophy

This church is not like most other churches.  We do not come together because we all believe the same things.  We do not all have the same image of God, or even all believe in a god.  We do not all have similar religious backgrounds, nor do we all hold sacred the same objects or holidays or rituals.

Ours is a creedless faith.  This doesn’t mean we are indifferent to what individuals believe.  But rather that our personal religious convictions are far too important, far too unique, far too subtle, far too dynamic, to be confined to any historical statement of belief.  We believe that a person’s faith must be given space and nourishment in order to achieve its potential.

Nevertheless we do have in common two very important things:  1)  Respect for and encouragement of each other’s individual religious views and paths; and 2) Belief that a religious community is vitally important, and can serve to strengthen and support (and even challenge) our individual religious understandings and beliefs.

We draw upon wisdom from many religions and believe that no single religious tradition has the corner on the Truth.  We derive inspiration from many sources, including both sacred and secular texts, science and nature, philosophy and psychology, music and meditation.  We are open to many experiences and believe that revelation is not sealed, but rather that new knowledge and insights are available to everyone in every age. 

We believe that for each of us, it is our personal responsibility to broaden and deepen our spiritual selves, and to make sure that we are living out our beliefs in our daily words and actions.

In May 1999, we passed a resolution affirming our welcome to individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

Information on the Welcoming Congregation Program here.

Congregational Covenant
Unitarian-Universalist Church
Urbana, Illinois
Adopted October 2, 2005

We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana-Champaign, strive to sustain a caring community that promotes the personal and spiritual well-being of our members and of the larger world in which we live. To this end,

We promise to participate actively in the life of our church, to contribute as we are able, and to express appreciation for others’ contributions.

We promise to join in shaping congregational life through processes that are open, inclusive, and transparent, and to support the decisions made by our chosen leaders and by the congregation.

We promise to celebrate the diversity of our collective experiences and backgrounds including race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability and economic means even as we strive to understand those differences.

We promise to express our differences openly and respectfully, speaking directly with those involved, listening closely, offering real solutions in ways that are constructive and not judgmental, and accepting conflict as an inevitable aspect of healthy relationships.

We promise to provide an atmosphere for the minister to challenge us to think critically and creatively about all issues, thus carrying forward our congregations’ commitment to a free pulpit.

We promise to respect our children, to encourage their development as whole people, and to teach them the values of our religion and other religions.

We promise to welcome those who are new to our church and faith by learning about their journeys, by providing opportunities to learn more about us, and by explaining how they can become more involved in the church.

We promise to support each other through life’s ups and downs by creating a loving community in which people feel safe to share, and by responding to the needs of the members of our congregation.

We promise to encourage one another in our efforts to promote social justice and responsible stewardship in the larger community and the world.