UUCF F.A.Q.s

[RevRonRobinson at aol.com]

A belated response to an earlier request. Please feel free to reformat and 
print for your areas, and/or pass along to any you think might be interested. 
blessings, Ron.

The Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship
A Few FAQs

Who are you?
We are people seeking to freely follow the spirit of Jesus and to share this 
spirit within and without our Association. From our bylaws: We "serve 
Christian Unitarians and Universalists according to their expressed religious needs; 
uphold and promote the Christian witness within the Unitarian Universalist 
Association; and uphold and promote the historic Unitarian and Universalist 
witness and conscience within the church universal." Another way to put this is: We 
witness for the power and story of Christianity to free religion, and witness 
for  the power and story of free religion to Christianity. We are an 
independent affiliate of the UUA with members from throughout the continent and world. 

Are you a new group?
We organized in 1945. In many ways our history began and is continuous with 
the organizing of the Universalist movement in America in 1793 and later with 
the organizing of the American Unitarian Association in 1825, an organization 
of individuals whose aims were to promote "pure Christianity."

Do you believe in the same doctrines and practices as other Christians?
There has always been a great diversity in beliefs within the Christian 
tradition. The UUCF does not require common theological beliefs or spiritual 
practices. We welcome all who seek to be partners and participants in our 
tradition's "Great Conversation" about God, Jesus, the Bible, and spiritual disciplines.

But how can you be Christian and Unitarian Universalist?
While some within Christianity would exclude us now as before because of our 
non-creedal basis, the term "Unitarian/Universalist Christian" would once have 
been considered a redundancy, the same for example as "Methodist Christian." 
Unitarians and Universalists have roots in the liberalizing movements within 
the Protestant Christian Radical Reformation, and in many places Christianity 
continues to be the common way to be Unitarian Universalist. UU Christians feel 
they can best follow in the spirit of Jesus and best deepen their spiritual 
lives wilthin the freedom of UU congregations, whether or not those 
congregations are expressly Christian-oriented. See in particular the brochure, Who Are 
the UU Christians by the Rev. Tom Wintle, available on the UUCF website.

Do you have to call yourself a Christian, or a UU, to be a part of the UUCF?
No. Many among us express themselves as "Jesus followers" or as just 
"Unitarian Universalists" or as "liberal religionists" or some other term, and many 
shy away from adopting any identifying label. We simply have a central response 
to Jesus as a "song in our heart" that stirs us to service in the world and to 
growing our minds and souls. Our fellowship is also open to seekers and to 
those who are not Unitarian Universalist, but may be Christians in other 
traditions, or followers of other spiritual traditions. We welcome people regardless 
of religious affiliation, who find value and meaning among us and in 
supporting our values and purposes. We don't think Jesus would have it any other way. 

What do you do?
We have an active publication ministry. We produce the "Good News" periodical 
six times a year full of essays and meditations and reviews and liturgies and 
interpretation of biblical passages. We produce the annual UU Christian 
Journal, a premier theological publication which has recently completed its 58th 
volume. We also produce several pamphlets and other materials. We sponsor an 
annual history and biblical scholarship prize contest. We hold annual Revivals, 
multiple day events for a variety of worship, workshops, youth programs, and 
service and social opportunities. We sponsor major programs at General Assembly 
each year. We are a presence at ecumenical and interfaith events. We help 
create and nurture local UUCF groups or Christian spirituality covenant groups in 
cities or within local churches. We offer several online discussion groups via 
email. We have an emerging and growing new website (www.uua.org/uucf) for 
access to upcoming programs, commentary on recent events, historical documents,  
essays about UU Christianity, and links to other websites of related 
interests.

What online groups do you have?
We currently operate the general UUCF email list, UUCF-L at home.ease.lsoft.com, 
for all who wish to learn more about us and support one another on our 
spiritual paths; also the UUCF-min at uua.org list for ministers and seminarians (a 
confidential covenantal chatlist); UUCF-Chapters at home.ease.lsoft.com for people 
in small groups or interested in beginning one; and UUCF-Revival at uua.org for 
continuing conversations stemming from our annual Revivals, or in promoting 
upcoming Revivals. 

What kind of Revivals do you have and where do you have them?
Revival 1: Creating an Inclusive Unitarian Universalist Christianity for the 
Next Century was held in 1999 at First UU Church of New Orleans featuring 
talks by then UUCF President Russ Savage and UU theologian Paul Rasor. Revival 2: 
Telling the Story was held at First Unitarian Church of St. Louis in 2001 with 
keynote speeches by the Rev. Carl Scovel, minister emeritus of King's Chapel 
in Boston and receipient of the UUA's Distinguished Service Award. Revival 3: 
Where Faith, Hope, and Love Abide was held at the Universalist National 
Memorial Church in Washington, D.C. in 2003 with keynote speakers past UUA President 
Rev. John Buehrens and his wife the Rev. Gwen Buehrens, an Episcopalian 
priest. Revival 4: The Spirit That Moves Us will be held Nov. 4-7, 2004, at First 
Unitarian Church of Worcester, MA and feature keynote addresses by UUA 
President Rev. Bill Sinkford and the Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom, UU author of a recent 
book on Jesus published by Skinner House Books. Revival 5 will be held Nov. 
2-5, 2005 at First Jefferson UU Church in Fort Worth, TX. Revivals also include 
at least two worship services a day, a communion service, a healing and prayer 
service, rousing music and spirituals, workshops on theology, the Bible, 
history, spiritual practices, social action and other tracks, youth programs, 
social events, and small group gatherings throughout the event. 

Are there other UU Christian groups?
There is a Council of Christian Churches within the UUA, and also the Magi 
Network, whose websites are linked through our website. 

How can I support you?
For only $40 a year (or $15 for students) you will receive the Good News and 
UU Christian Journal, and discounts on other materials and registrations. 
Forms are available online or contact us at UUCF P.O. Box 629, Lancaster MA 
01523-0629. Back issues of our publications are also available.  To become a part of 
one of our various ministry teams (such as Small Groups, Editorial Team, Web 
Team, Seminarians, Religious Education, Music, etc.) supporting and carrying 
out our mission, contact the Executive Director at RevRonRobinson at aol.com or 
other contact information below. We also encourage and receive financial 
contributions above and beyond the basic level in order to fulfill our mission, and 
encourage and receive bequeaths and major donations to our Endowment and 
Operating Funds. For how you can make a major difference in the world through the 
mission, vision, and values of the UUCF, please contact the Rev. Ron Robinson.

Where are you located?
Our Administrative Office, and Administrator Kris Cummings, is located at 
First Church of Christ--Unitarian of Lancaster, MA. Our Executive Director, the 
Rev. Ron Robinson, can be reached at 9901 E. 100th Pl. N. Owasso, OK  74055 or 
on phone at 918-274-0105 or RevRonRobinson at aol.com.

How are you governed?
We have an annual meeting of members held each year during General Assembly 
and have an elected Board of Trustees to govern the organization in between 
Annual Meetings. An Executive Committee of officers on the Board also meets to 
coordinate the business of the Board. Bylaws are available through the website. 
Minutes of Board meetings can be received by contacting the Recording 
Secretary or Executive Director. The Leadership Roster is also posted on the Website 
and in the annual Journal. 

How can I learn more and carry on this conversation?
Visit our website. Join an email list. Contact one of the UUCF Board members 
or Executive Director or write to us at our Administrative Office. Also 
contact us if you would like a speaker for your group about the UUCF or our 
tradition of free, vibrant, inclusive, progressive Christianity.