Chapter 16: every tradition · Christianity

Unitarian Universalist Association

A Unitarian Universalist congregation: a covenantal, non-creedal community whose members hold many beliefs, with Love "at the center of our shared values" (Article II, 2024), and which may not "require that members adhere to a particular creed". Sunday worship opens with the lighting of the flaming chalice and holds a story for all ages, joys and concerns, readings from many sources, and a sermon by the minister, a guest, or a member; children have religious education during the service. There are no sacraments: child dedications, the Water Communion at the September ingathering, and the Flower ceremony in spring. The congregation owns its property and calls its minister by a large majority, often after an interim ministry of two years; the UUA admits ministers to fellowship and asks each congregation for 6.75% of its operating expenses, on an honor system. Some small fellowships have never had a minister.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

FaithChristianity
Its wordscongregation, meeting house, sanctuary; the minister leads the service; the sermon; Sunday; sacred texts
Worshipword focus, reserved, low formality (0.33 of 1); seated on chairs
Musicpiano expected
The room's soundno strong preference
Its yearunitarian universalist; minimal observance; fasts none
Leansliberal on moral questions, liberal on economic ones
Politycongregational; leaders come by call; property local
Leadersone leader, full time, trained by seminary; marriage any
Belongingmoderate commitment, none discipline, admitted by clergy
Givingtithing not emphasised; collected by pledges, plate, online; also rentals, share plate
Way of lifealcohol permitted, dress casual, sabbath relaxed

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The week's services

DayTimeServiceLed byPeople look for it
Sunday10:30 amUnitarian Universalist servicethe ministerexpected

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Rites

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Joining

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Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

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The minister, the staff, and who decides

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Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

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What the building needs

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What people here feel

How each sermon lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

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Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

ItemFitRule
Seating
Box pew-0.333
Choir stalls-0.167
Meeting benchno fit
Oak pewno fit
Row of chairs+0.333
Liturgical furniture
Altar-0.333
Baptismal font-0.333
Baptistryno fit
Bishop's chair-0.333
Brass eagle lectern-0.333
Columbarium niches-0.333
Communion rail-0.333
Communion stationno fit
Communion tableno fit
Communion traysno fit
Confessional screenno fit
Coptic cross-1
Epitaphios-1
Flaming chalice+1required The service begins by lighting the flaming chalice.
Foot-washing basinsno fit
Haikal screen-1
Iconostasis-1
Immersion font-0.333
Lecternno fit
Litany desk-0.333
Mercy seatno fit
Octagonal stone font-0.333
Paramentsno fit
Pulpitno fitrequired Preaching is the center of worship, so the pulpit stands at the center of the platform.
Readers' desksno fit
Rood screen-1
Sanctuary lamp-0.333
Tabernacle-0.333
Three-bar cross-1
Thurible and standno fit
Music
Brass band stands0
Chanter's stand-0.167
Drum kit+0.167
Electronic organ0
Grand piano+1
Hammond organ0
Handbell table0
Pipe organ-0.167
Sound system+0.167
Upright piano+1expected The congregation expects singing led from a piano.
Decor
Advent wreathno fit
Banner0
Christmas Eve candlesno fit
Cross-1discouraged Crosses and other symbols are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Crucifix-1discouraged This tradition doesn't set a crucifix, or any cross, before its people.
Easter liliesno fit
Eternal flameno fit
Flag of the church0
Great dome-0.333
Icon-1discouraged Icons are not part of this tradition's worship.
Memorial plaqueno fit
National flag-1discouraged This tradition keeps the nation's symbols out of worship.
Painting of Christ-1discouraged Pictures of Christ are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Paschal candleno fit
Plain spireno fit
Small domeno fit
Stained glass window-0.333
Statue0
Steeple and bells-0.333
Votive candle standno fit
Furnishings
Alms boxno fit
Coffee potno fit
Commercial coffee potno fit
Computerno fit
Cribno fit
Deskno fit
Desk chairno fit
Folding tableno fit
Full-length mirrorno fit
Pillar-0.333
Prie-dieu-0.333
Projection screen+0.333
Vestment cabinet-0.333
Wooden tableno fit
Utility
A/V rackno fit
Camerano fit
Cast-iron boilerno fit
Central air conditionerno fit
Commercial HVAC plantno fit
Commercial stoveno fit
Congregation vanno fit
Ductless heat pumpno fit
Electric wall heaterno fit
Gas furnaceno fit
Hearing loopno fit
Liftno fit
Packaged heat pumpno fit
Plumbing stackno fit
Rampno fit
Shuttle busno fit
Sinkno fit
Solar panelsno fit
Stairsno fit
Toiletno fit
Used school busno fit
Wall camerano fit
Window air conditionerno fit
Grounds
Evergreen treeno fit
Flower bedno fit
Fountainno fit
Garden benchno fit
Hedgeno fit
Lychgate-0.333
Playgroundno fit
Shade treeno fit
Standing crossno fit

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Variants

Chosen when you found the congregation:

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Sources

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