First UU Church of San Antonio

1961Building starts at the proposed intersection of two major highways as a “beacon on the hill.”

1998 Sanctuary dedicated

2010420 members (~80 friends)

Serving San Antonio since 1945

UUA.ORG

Unitarian UniversalismA Proud Tradition of Liberal Religion

Liberal Religion

affirms a positive, high view of humanity is about change and reform embraces personal freedom of belief encourages applying reason and

experience to scripture, doctrine, and life! requires action and a commitment to social

justice is not the same as liberal politics

Our Seven Principles

As member congregations of the UUA, we 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.

Our Six Sources

Direct experience of wonder and awe Words and deeds of prophets who confronted

injustice with the transforming power of love Wisdom where it is found in all religious

traditions Jewish and Christian teachings Humanist teachings Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions

Values That Guide Us

Loving ACCEPTANCE of one another FREEDOM of belief informed by reason The transcendent experience of

WONDER & AWE Life-long LEARNING & GROWTH Working for JUSTICE in the world   Connection is a caring COMMUNITY

Our Mission to the World

INVITE all into caring community

INSPIRE spiritual growth

INVOLVE everyone in working for a peaceful, just and free world

Our Covenant

Love is the doctrine of this church,the quest of truth is its sacramentand service is its prayer.To dwell together in peace,to seek knowledge in freedom,to serve humanity in fellowship,to the end that all souls shall grow into harmony with the divine,thus do we covenant with each other.

Early ChristianitySeeds of reason and discontent

History Act 1

UNITARIAN

Origen 185-c.254

Universal Salvation

UNIVERSALIST

Arius 256 – 336

Rejection ofthe Trinity

If anyone does not anathematize Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, Apollinaris, Nestorius, Eutyches and Origen, as well as their impious writings … let him be anathema.

- Fifth Ecumenical Council

Eastern Europe in the 16th Century The Reformation? Not far enough.

History Act 2

The Radical Reformation & Religious Toleration

Michael Servetus martyred for writing On the Errors of the Trinity

King John Sigismund of Transylvania converts to Unitarianism and creates first society with religious tolerance.

Faustus Socinus founds Unitarian church in Poland

AmericaRich soil for the free religious search

“It had to happen here.”

History Act 3

Toward the Unitarian Controversy

Puritans founded Calvinist churches based on individual experience of scripture

1648 Cambridge Platform: “There is no greater church than a congregation which may ordinarily meet in one place.”

Freedom of the Pulpit -- Freedom of the Pew

Founding Fathers deeply influenced by Enlightenment values, a few embrace deism

During 18th century America becomes increasingly secular

By the 19th century the miracles are debated, resulting in the Unitarian Controversy

Unitarianism

Unitarian Controversy ends in William Ellery Channing’s sermon “Unitarian Christianity.”

Transcendentalists begin as Unitarian reform movement, become American Romanticism. They stress radical individualism, experiencing the Holy in nature, the exploration of Eastern traditions, and social justice and reform.

Universalism

John Murray (1741-1815): British Methodist, came to believe God’s love would save everyone. “Give them not hell but hope.”

Hosea Ballou deepens Universalist theology (1805) Murray spread Universalism in America, founded 1st Universalist church in Gloucester, MA (1779)

What happens next is up to us

History Act 4

20th century

1900-1961Moving from Christian Unitarianism and Universalism to Humanism

1961THE merger

1961-1999Post-merger identity crisis

21st Century

Our theological diversity

2006 survey data

Traditionally “spiritual” (specific) 32%

Religious humanism (specific) 40%

Seekers (comfortable with not knowing) 26%

Non-religious 2%

Returning to our values

Loving ACCEPTANCE of one another  The transcendent experience of

WONDER & AWE Working for JUSTICE in the world FREEDOM of belief informed by

reason Life-long LEARNING; life-long

GROWTH Connection to a caring COMMUNITY