About Unitarian Universalism

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in the Assabet Valley is a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Assocation.

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion with Jewish-Christian roots that encompasses many faith traditions and accommodates a wide range of beliefs. Unitarian Universalism and UUCAV include people who identify as Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Taoists, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and others. Unitarian Universalism has no creed. Although we uphold shared Values and Principles, individual Unitarian Universalists have varied beliefs about everything from scripture, to rituals, to God.  We affirm the worth of human beings, support freedom of belief and the search for advancing truth, advocate for justice, and provide a warm, open, supportive community for people who share these values.

Unitarian Universalism emerged from two different Christian heresies: Unitarianism, the belief that there is one God and no trity, and Universalism, the belief that there is no hell and everybody is saved. Both schools of thoughts can be traced back for hundreds of years to early Chrstian thinkers.  In the U.S. and in some other countries, denominations organized around these beliefs were created. In the U.S., both groups trace their roots in North America to the early Massachusetts settlers and to the founders of the Republic. Overseas, their heritages reach back over centuries to pioneers in England, Poland, and Transylvania in particular.  In 1961, the American Unitarian Assocation and the Universalist Church of Americ consolidated to form the new denomianation, which we now understand to be its own religion distinct but connect to our Christian history, of Unitarian Universalism.  The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) is a religious organization that over 1000 individual churches, mostly in the U.S., freely join, but is more Association than Denomination, in that it does not have an ecclesiastical body and individual churches choose their own minister, own their own building, and govern themselves. 

Watch this video to learn more about Unitarian Universalism:

 

UU Values and Principles

Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition that has changed in many ways from the original Christian roots of its Universalist and Unitarian heritages, and it continues to evolve today. While we're a non-creedal faith, meaning that there's no statement of beliefs you must adhere to, there are Values and Principles we've voted on as an association.  The most recent Values statement was voted on in June 2024, when UUs voted to to describe Unitarian Universalism through these shared values, all centered around LOVE:

  • 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.

Our Principles were adopted in the 1980s and replaced in the UUA Bylaws by the above Values, but you'll still hear them referred to today.  Indeed, the core of each Principle is woven into the full statements of the Purposes and Covenant, which contains the above Values in the UUA bylaws.  Unitarian Universalists hold the Principles as strong values and moral teachings.  They are not statements of belief, but rather principles that form an arch from individualism to community that we as congregations "covenant to affirm and promote."

  • 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 the 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.

Are We Different from Other UU Churches?

While each UU church shares elements with others, each is unique. Whether you find more similarities or differences is up to you: what you see depends mainly on what you look for!

We take pride in a few aspects of our community, which may not be unique, but seem to describe us well: 

  • We care for each other, especially when someone is going through troubled times.
  • We love music, as an expression of the joy and beauty of life, and we have a strong music program.
  • We are pretty down-to-earth, and while we value each other’s talents and achievements, generally don’t strongly categorize you based on “what do you do for a living?”