"The breaking point came for me about 12 years ago when a minister assured me that, because of original sin, our two miscarried children were burning in hell. Another church we attended showed my 5-year-old son a picture of a man engulfed in flames and told him that this is what Jesus would do to him if he didn't accept Jesus as his savior."
Wow. That's incredible. How sad that people can be so irrational, and in turn, so insensitive. Welcome to the AUC forum, I hope you find your spiritual home here!
Hi Bill,
Welcome to the AUC.
With love,
Rev Dorris
Glad you found this site!
I found this church affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship:
http://www.uuchristian.org/
http://www.uuchristian.org/uucf-groups/
http://www.firstjefferson.org/
Fort Worth, TX
First Jefferson UU Church
1959 Sandy Lane
Fort Worth TX 76112
tel: (817) 451-1505
fax: (817) 451-2939
email: fjuuc@usa.net
web:
http://fjuuc.org
UUCF Contact: Rev. Craig Roshaven croshaven@uuma.org
Hopefully, this congregation emphasizes a Unitarian Christian perspective versus the usual UUA variety of Unitarianism. If it is close enough to you to visit ...at least once in a while...it may or may not be what you are looking for in a progressive church.
I attended a UUCF gathering at First Jefferson in Fort Worth in 2005 and enjoyed the church a lot and savored its Sunday service. As a small crowed of UUCF people had settled in for the weekend, I suppose the church might have catered especially to believers that weekend. I also had some fun dialoging with some neopagans (members of CUUPS) at the church there.
A bit of unintentional satire: I'm out in New Hampshire for a conference (nothing religious). I attended a UU church here Sunday. The title of the sermon was THE UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY, referring to Conrad Wright's book by that title. The minister stated that it is important that members of the congregation familiarize themselves with U and U history and perhaps read some of Conrad Wright and also some of W.E. Channing and Hosea Ballous, and explained who they were(!). Then, with a completely straight face, he reassured us by saying that there is of course no such thing as Unitarian or Universalist today. I did not detect any laughter, but am quite hard of hearing.
John
Imagine you were a first time visitor to a "Unitarian" church and heard that....no wonder so many visit and never return.
My approach to a church like this..or UCC, DOC etc. would be to remain a "friend of the church" but not a member....if it provided some value.
Bill,
I've a similar road raised Baptist, went through Pentecostal churches and currently in a Holiness church. Hope you the best on your quest for God and truth.
Bill, do you plan on returning to that church? It might be interesting to see if that congregation has any element of "UU Christianity" in it for fellowship.
So far, I am in a Unitarian waste land....none of my local choices fit right...without sacraficing what I believe. I may have to tolerate it soon as my 8yr old daughter really wants to go....as some of her friends do....pick and choose carefully.
Too bad none of our affiliated ministers offer a virtual service...live with internet camera or podcast etc. A RE curriculum would be terrific...but putting it together is a big effort requiring multiple talented and wise people.
I would suggest that if you are in a Unitarian wasteland (or if your local UU option lacks too much Christian or even theistic content for you) that you look at other possibilities out there. Disciples of Christ (DoC) churches do not require Trinitarian beliefs or adherence to historical creeds to be members so they could be a good fit for those unitarians comfortable with more Christian content. Some United Church of Christ congregations may also be a good fit. As you may know not all congregations in mainline churches are progressive (there is a spectrum) so you have to go and see on each one. There are also Unity churches which are metaphysical Christian and very friendly to classical unitarian and universalist thought - it is similar with Religious Science (Centers for Spiritual Living) except Religious Science/Science of Mind is more general metaphysical theistic universalist and Unity is more Christian Universalist specific (in general).
Thanks...been there and done all that. Some are tolerable...but do I want to get up and go to Sunday service for a tolerable experience? Maybe for my daughter with plenty of parental input on what she is taught or how it is understood....arrrgggrhh.
We used to attent the local UUA but just could not stomach the focus on politics...as many former UUA members can sympathize with....the feeling you are just barely tolerated as long as you keep paying your pledge. I tried to have the church accept Open Door status with the AUC.....but it kept getting put off or barriers created....meanwhile, every loon group seemed to get immediate acceptance and support. Same old same old.