Unitarian Universalism opens its doors to everyone

Unitarian Universalists are often misunderstood.
"Usually, when someone asks me, 'What do UUs believe?' it is a gentle way of asking, 'So who is your God, anyway?'" said junior Nick Kieper, and a Unitarian since he was 14. "Some UUs believe in God, some don't, some believe that God is more of a Buddhist/Daoist presence/force, and some say nobody can really know."
The Unitarian Universalist Association was founded in 1961, and currently has over 1,000 congregations worldwide, according to its Web site www.uua.org. Only one in every 1,300 Americans are Unitarian Universalists, according to uubloomington.org. The Web site states that its small congregation is due to its excessive freedom, or that people simply don’t know of its existence.
Unitarian Universalists believe that God is not in one person, but in everyone. Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion with a Judeo-Christian background, but no one religion is celebrated over another. Their religious authority is not in a book, person or institution, but in all people.
“The central beliefs of the Unitarian Universalist church concern the fact that all people have inherent worth and dignity and that our actions in the world should seek to preserve that,” Unitarian Campus Ministry Coordinator Susan Blake said.
“For example, from our belief in the worth and dignity of every person comes a concern for, and activism towards, democracy and
social justice.”
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, founded in 1949, has been a longtime staple in the local community. Because its main beliefs are in people, the church is very service-oriented in assisting various other organizations. It is involved with Habitat for Humanity; Children’s Task Force, which improves the lives of children in Bloomington; Green Sanctuary Task Force for Global Climate Change, which promotes sustainable living; and Rainbow Rights Task Force, which fights for rights of the Gay Bi Lesbian and Transgender community.
Many Unitarian Universalists refer to this commitment to GBLT members as extremely important, said Kieper.
Kieper said the church opens its doors to all GBLT individuals. He was raised in the Unitarian Universalist church after both his parents joined when they denounced their Catholic and
Lutheran faiths.
In addition to their open nature toward the GBLT community, Unitarians take pride in their openness to
all backgrounds.
Sophomore Drake Holston said the church welcomes
any follower.
“Unitarianism really encourages a plethora of beliefs among its members,” he said. “No matter what religious background you come from, they welcome you; there’s just not a lot of expectation.”
The belief that people universally have worth brings about the unity embedded in the church’s name.
“I believe in the equality of human beings and living things in general,” freshman Emily Mohler said. “I believe that everything is connected in some way and in the possibility of the goodness of the world as a whole.”
The church has a very active student life with the Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministry here at IU. The ministry is sponsored by the church in Bloomington and holds open events to all interested members of the campus community. The campus ministry meets at 7 p.m. every Wednesday in Ballantine Hall Room 004. It holds discussions and worship with a central focus on the social and spiritual needs of young adults.
“Basically, it’s a chance to chat with like-minded individuals and feel like I belong,” Kieper said.
Blake said the campus ministry group’s activities includes doing service projects – this past Spring Break, a few of its members went to New Orleans to help the rebuilding of a Unitarian Universalist church there – and providing fun for its members such as game nights and a monthly get-together.
The Unitarians’ main values of truth, service, holiness and love are reflected in their actions on and off campus. Many live by the covenant listed in their “What We Believe” bulletin: