Unitarian Universalism

Unitarianism began in Transylvania in the late 1500s when Francis David affirmed that God is One and that Jesus was a great human religious leader. In the 1700s, early Universalists in England proclaimed that everyone would be saved in spite of prevalent orthodox beliefs about sin and damnation. Both denominations came to New England before the American Revolution. Their members and ministers have been leaders in social justice, the abolition of slavery, women's rights, civil liberties, and prison reform.

In the early 1800s, in many New England towns, the liberal spirit of the Unitarians divided the Puritan churches. The Unitarians usually retained the original buildings; thus many local Unitarian Universalist churches are known as First Parish. In 1961, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of North America merged to form the Unitarian Universalist Association of North America. More information on Unitarian Universalism may be found in the books Our Chosen Faith (John Buehrens & Forrester Church) and Why I Am a Unitarian Universalist (Jack Mendelsohn). Both are available in the church office.

For a more complete history of Unitarian Universalism, see "Unitarian Universalist Origins: Our Historic Faith" on the UUA website.