Unitarian Universalists are seekers who are committed not only to spiritual growth and transformation but also to involvement in the world. Ours is a living faith that acknowledges that truth is not sealed and that the journey is more important than the answers. While we uphold shared values and covenant, we hold varied beliefs and therefore do not have a creed. We draw wisdom and inspiration from all of the world’s great religions and prophetic men and women.
A flame within a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot) is a primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice in gatherings and worships and feature the chalice symbol prominently.
Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love. UUs today have many different interpretations of the flaming chalice, including the light of reason, the warmth of community, and the flame of hope.
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500 years ago the first Unitarian churches emerged in Eastern Europe. They proclaimed that God is one, and honored the humanity of Jesus. Over the next several hundred years, Unitarian churches emerged in all parts of continental Europe as well as in England.
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Universalist beliefs of universal salvation and a loving God that could not punish anyone to hell for eternity have been proclaimed for thousands of years. The loving and inclusive faith formed into a widespread religious movement when English Universalists came to America in the late 1700s to escape religious persecution.
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In 1961 the Unitarian and Universalist churches merged into a single body called the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). While we no longer solely hold our historical Unitarian or Universalist beliefs, we draw directly from our roots for much of our inspiration and grounding. Today, Second Unitarian Church is a member congregation of the UUA.
As Unitarian Universalists at Second Unitarian Church of Chicago, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.
Inseparable from one another, these shared values are:
Interdependence
We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it. We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Pluralism
We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology. We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Justice
We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.
Transformation
We adapt to the changing world. We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Generosity
We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Equity
We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion. We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive community.