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Unitarianism Today: Values, Principles and Sources Part 1 Presentation and Discussion Kelvin Auld 2019 Intended for Discussion & Consideration

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Unitarianism Today: Values, Principles and Sources Part 1 Presentation and Discussion Kelvin Auld 2019 Intended for Discussion & Consideration Sydney Unitarian Church Unitarianism Today: Values, Principles and Sources Part 1 Presentation and Discussion Kelvin Auld 2019 Intended for discussion & consideration. 1 Unitarianism Today: Values, Principles and Sources Seven UU Principles Source of Graphic: Designed by the Rev. Ian Riddell with graphic interpretation by Kimberley Debus 2 Unitarianism Today: Values, Principles and Sources Aims of Presentations (Parts 1, 2 and 3) This brief, three part series of presentations will explore Unitarianism today by way of an overview of the faith’s broad contemporary values, principles and sources. Part 1. The Sydney Unitarian Church Today: Values, Principles and Sources An overview of the Sydney Unitarian Church outlining its broad values, principles and sources as communicated by the formal constitution of the church, religious material published on the church website, church practices (including choice of music e.g. “Spirit of Life” and Candle Lighting ritual etc) and the church’s wider participation in affiliated religious organizations (I.e. ANZUUA etc) and civic society. Part 2. Unitarianism and Unitarian Universalism (UU) Today: Examine these overlapping modern faiths in terms of similarities and differences. Part 3. Unitarian Christianity Today: Continuation of Classical Unitarianism “Unitarian Christianity” as it is practiced today in the UK, Europe and the US. The “Unitarian Church” Today: Not an Heretical Free-for-All Debating Society The “Unitarian Church” is a religious group which follows Unitarianism, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarian Christianity (Biblical Theology) & Free Christianity (UK). The Middle Path: Bridging the Main Contemporary Approaches The Sydney Unitarian Church seeks to bridge these approaches by application of its values, principles and sources, as communicated in its formal constitution, published religious material, established practices and the church’s participation in affiliated groups (ANZUUA) and civil society as a registered charity under Federal legislation.3 Unitarianism Today: General Observations • Unitarian beliefs were developed by numerous individuals, groups, traditions, practices and historical events starting from the 3rd Century. • Christianity, the Enlightenment and the radical wing of the Protestant Reformation provided the spiritual and intellectual basis of classical Unitarianism i.e. Liberal Christianity, freedom, rationality and tolerance. • Unitarianism continues as formal Unitarian Christianity, informal Free Christianity and churches operating in the orbit of Liberal Christianity. • Unitarian Universalism today, as a broader liberal faith, affirms the freedom of every person to investigate and decide upon their own faith, spiritual beliefs and practices, applying humanistic values of freedom, rationality and tolerance. Post-Christian, drawing from diverse sources. • Unitarian Universalism considers that no religion or belief system has a monopoly over spiritual Truth and understanding. Concepts such as the Universe, God or a higher power and the human spirit of life itself, cannot be reduced to an official creed that is either blindly accepted or mediated by a religious authority or institution. 4 The Sydney Unitarian Church: Values, Principles and Sources Source: Official Website of the Sydney Unitarian Church 2019 • The 2000 edition of the Chambers Dictionary defines a Unitarian as "a member of a religious group originally comprising Christians who believed God to be a single entity rather than a trinity, [but] now including members holding a broad spectrum of beliefs", • Contemporary Unitarianism is a religiously liberal, non-dogmatic and creedless faith that draws on the wisdom of all world religions, as well as the insights of science, philosophy and literature. • Today’s Unitarian Church is perhaps best described as a post- Christian church for those who believe that Truth, properly understood, transcends national, cultural, racial and even faith boundaries. Source: Official Website of the Sydney Unitarian Church 2019 5 The Sydney Unitarian Church: Values, Principles and Sources Source: Official Website of the Sydney Unitarian Church 2019 • The Sydney Unitarian Church motto is THINK TRULY - SPEAK BRAVELY - ACT JUSTLY • The Sydney Unitarian Church, which was founded in 1850, is a welcoming, non-judgmental spiritual community without dogma, doctrine or creeds – that is, a “free church” based on the principles of reason, freedom, and tolerance. ( i.e. in a liberal religious sense) • We choose to meet together in a friendly way on a regular basis in order to: - show reverence for the Spirit of Life present in all creation, - work towards a regeneration in our world that will allow the Earth to heal and to sustain life for all, through the implementation of rational policies designed to address and redress global warming by, among other things, curbing population growth and placing sensible limits on growth economics, - build up one another in faith, hope and love, - inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals, and develop our own individual theology or spirituality without the dogma and doctrine of traditional mainstream organised religion. Source: Official Website of the Sydney Unitarian Church 2019 6 Sydney Unitarian Church Constitution: Statement of Purpose The Sydney Unitarian Church is a free church based on reason, freedom and tolerance. Its members and adherents, in the best traditions and practices of Unitarianism, choose to meet together in a friendly way on a regular basis for church with one another in order to: • build one another up in faith, hope and love. • show reverence to the spirit of life, • inspire aspirations to the higher ethical ideals, • work towards a regeneration in society, and • develop their own individual theology or spirituality, without the dogma and doctrine of traditional mainstream religion. Moving generally, but not exclusively, within the orbit of Liberal Christianity and regarding itself as a distinctive free church of the Enlightenment in the best Unitarian tradition, we have a broad and liberal spiritual focus, affirming as we do, the underlying truth of open and tolerant religion, sensibly interpreted. Note: Continued on the next page Source: The constitution of the Sydney Unitarian Church, Statement of Purpose. 7 Sydney Unitarian Church Constitution: Statement of Purpose (continued from previous page) • We believe that the sacred or divine is ordinarily made manifest, not in the miraculous or supernatural but in the enchantment of everyday life and embraces all persons and things as part of an interdependent web of life. • We seek to impose no particular creed, article of profession of faith upon our members and adherents. • We seek to live together in peace and promote the highest good for all, relying upon the authority of reason, conscience and experience in order to arrive at solutions to problems in a spirit of rational humaneness. • Our church as an organization exists to ennoble all who share these ideas and values and seek to reinforce and develop them in worship and fellowship. Source: The constitution of the Sydney Unitarian Church, Statement of Purpose (page 5). 8 Sydney Unitarian Church Constitution: Statement of Purpose (Page 5.of Constitution) 9 Sydney Unitarian Church Constitution: The Objects of the Church (Page 6. of the constitution) • To teach and put into practice the principles of the Unitarian religion in all its diversity including a broad liberal Christian orientation without dogmatism, authoritarianism, creedalism and claims said to be based on revelations fixed for all time, in order to inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals and point to a life of practical altruism. • To seek and serve the truth in the spirit of reason and free inquiry. • To teach and heal one another, and minister to one another in accordance with the teachings and practices of the great spiritual teachers, mystics and cultural figures of the past with a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. • To promote tolerance whilst rejecting fundamentalism in all of its forms and manifestations as well as faddism and irrational political correctness. • To diffuse the knowledge of and promote the interests of liberal religion and an ethical life stance. • To study and try to understand other religions and all sincere inquiries of the human mind. • To work with rational humanness towards a regeneration in society for the betterment of the general human condition through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free enquiries through human capabilities. • To cause to be celebrated in the church premises and elsewhere on Sundays and other appropriate days and occasions services of worship and other ceremonies as decided by members of the church for the time being in order that the congregation can grow in love and respect for the sacred or divine in a spirit of enlightened good will. 10 The Sydney Unitarian Church Constitution Objects of the Church (Page 6. of the Constitution) 11 “Code Of Conduct” of the Sydney Church Church Source: The constitution of the Sydney Unitarian Church “It is self evident that the mileu of a church should be tranquil and spiritual, that both members and visitors should be well behaved, and that the adage of “Do unto others as you have them do unto you” should be observed. - The Sydney Unitarian Church is not fettered by any narrow creed but is united by spiritual and humanitarian sentiment, and any person whether member of visitor who develops a pattern
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