The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations is the result of a merger in 1961, in which the Universalist Church of America and the American Unitarian Association joined.
Separately, they were among the most liberal Christian bodies, and together they grew more liberal and less theologically Christian. The chief values of the Unitarian Universalist Association flexibility, freedom of conscience, and local autonomy. Local congregations are free to adopt whatever beliefs and practices they wish, or to hold to no religious beliefs at all.
No congregation, minister, or member of the UUA is required to subscribe to any particular interpretation of religion, or to any particular religious belief or creed.
Under this arrangement, congregations that were historically Unitarian are free to differ from those that come from a Universalist background, and new congregations may be accepted that hold to neither of these.
Following the merger, it soon became clear that the arrangement strongly favored the Unitarians. The last president of the American Unitarian Association was elected president of the newly formed Unitarian Universalist Association, and some long-standing Universalist seminaries were closed. Another sensitive point came about when members became popularly known simply as the "Unitarians."
Increasingly, the UUA has grown to embrace Eastern as well as Western religions, traditions, practices, and beliefs, while other UUA congregations have become atheistic.
The Unitarian Universalists include self-identified pagans, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, and atheists.
Over the past few decades, the UUA has become heavily involved in various social justice causes and concerns, such as racial and cultural diversity, women's rights issues, and the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. Dozens of affiliated organizations advocate and provide resources for various causes.
The head of the Unitarian Universalist Association is the General Assembly, which is made up of elected clergy and lay representatives, who serve along with other elected members as a Board of Trustees that appoints executive and administrative officers.
The UUA is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Congregations are organized into several district offices, while its foreign missions are conducted largely through the International Association for Religious Freedom. Its official publishing arm is Beacon Press.
Its two remaining seminaries are Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and Starr King School for Ministry in Berkeley.
Most member congregations are in the United States and Canada, but the UUA also has congregations in Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the Philippines, although its current policies are to encourage the formation of national bodies rather than to admit any new foreign congregations. Since 2002, several of its Canadian congregations no longer hold membership in the UUA, choosing to join only the Canadian Unitarian Council.
The Church of the Larger Fellowship is an affiliated body within the Unitarian Universalist Association that provides denominational services to members who are unable to attend a local congregation due to distance of disability, or who choose not to join a local congregation for one reason or another.
The focus of this category is on the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Its associations, ministries, social justice advocacy programs, corporations, and affiliated organizations are appropriate for this category, as are informational sites focused on the UUA, whether complimentary, oppositional, or neutral in scope. Sites representing local congregations should be submitted to the Local & Global category that corresponds to its geographical location, however.
Recommended Resources
Founded in 1854, Beacon Press is a department of the Unitarian Universalist Association and an independent publisher of non-fiction, with an emphasis on promoting freedom of speech and thought, diversity, religious pluralism, and anti-racism. Its history and a profile of the company today is set forth, along with a blog, resources for educators and UU members and staff. A calendar of author events and a catalog of available titles are featured, and purchases may be made online.
http://www.beacon.org/
In Spirit UU Book and Gift Shop
Offering new books from Skinner House and Beacon Press, the bookstore is located within the Unitarian Universalist Association headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Its hours of operation and contacts are posted here, along with a catalog of products, which may be purchased online. Special offers for Christian bookstores, other retail outlets, and church book tables are discussed, along with customer service policies and resources.
https://www.uuabookstore.org/
Unitarian Universalist Association
Representing the central organization for the UU movement in the United States, the site offers a profile and history of the UUA, its General Assembly, governance and management, international missions, staff, offices, and a directory of programs and personnel. Also included is an introductory video, and sub-sites for several of its social justice and inclusion programs, and a directory of member churches and regions.
https://www.uua.org/
Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship
Operating within the auspices of the UUA, the UU Christian Fellowship is made up of non-creedal followers of Jesus in the tradition of Unitarian Universalism, and particularly of those ministers who consider themselves to be too Unitarian Universalist to be Christian, yet too Christian to be Unitarian Universalist. Membership and seeker policies are defined, along with online prayer groups, prayer requests, small groups, Bible study resources, liturgies, a calendar of events and an online store.
http://uuchristian.org/
Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network
Formed in 1982, the organization is governed by an elected Board of Trustees, whose members are taken from across the country, each serving staggered three-year terms. Its history, mission and purposes, as well as a memorial page and volunteer hall of fame are presented, along with membership information, its policies and procedures, annual meeting minutes, an an organizational chart. A calendar of events, online surveys, news, and announcements are included.
https://www.uumn.org/
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
The UUSC is charged with advancing human rights through grassroots collaborations. Its approach, which includes its grassroots partnerships, justice education and leadership development, advocacy and mobilization, are outlined, along with its current initiatives, strategic priorities, and reports on its projects and programs. Contributions may be made to the organization through the site.
https://www.uusc.org/
An official publication of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the quarterly print magazine comes out in March, July, September, and November, but its online edition also publishes news and original content each week, as well as an email newsletter and audio recordings of various stories. Readers may browse the magazine by department or author, view past issues, or search by keyword. Advertising and subscription opportunities are defined, and its submission policies are posted to the site.
https://www.uuworld.org/
The MidAmerica Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association covers member congregations in portions or all of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and South Dakota. Member churches are highlighted, along with regional news, congregational leadership updates, staff contacts, office hours, and a calendar of events.
https://www.midamericauua.org/
