Historic Universalist Declaration of Faith Revised for 21st Century
Historic Universalist Declaration of Faith Revised for 21st Century
by Sue Mosher
Can theological language rooted in the late 19th century be translated into “language of
reverence” for the 21st century? Members of Universalist National Memorial Church
in Washington, DC, would say yes, it can. In January 2008, they completed a two-year
process of revising the declaration of faith used in their worship service. Each Sunday,
members are invited to join in the free-will recitation of the new declaration, which reads:
In faith and freedom, we are called
to bring hope and healing to the world,
so that all may rejoice in God’s grace.
I believe in
the universal love of God,
the spiritual authority and
leadership of Jesus Christ,
the trustworthiness of the Bible
as a source of divine revelation,
the need for repentance
and forgiveness of sin,
and the final harmony
of all souls with God.
UNMC was established by the Universalist Church of America to represent the
denomination in the nation’s capital, building on the foundation of a local Universalist
congregation established shortly after the Civil War, where Walt Whitman occasionally
worshipped. Since 1930, when the first service was held on Palm Sunday, the
congregation had used the historic Universalist “Five Principles” declaration of 1899 in
its weekly liturgy:
We believe in the universal Fatherhood of God,
the spiritual authority and leadership of His Son, Jesus Christ,
the trustworthiness of the Bible as a revelation from God,
the certainty of just retribution for sin,
and the final harmony of all souls with God.
However, in recent years, some members had questioned whether the 1899 statement—
with its masculine, Victorian language and lack of any call to service—contained the right
words to define what UNMC currently values and aspires to. Interim minister Rev. Mary
Katherine Morn, now parish minister at the UU Congregation of Fairfax (VA), encouraged
the congregation to undertake the review. “One of UNMC's great gifts is its respect for
tradition,” Rev. Morn said. “All of our congregations have to find the right balance
between cherishing tradition and meeting the needs of today. It’s a joy to see one of our
historic congregations take this work so seriously.”
The revision process kicked off in February 2006 with a congregational brainstorming
brunch and also included small group discussions, written “homework assignments” for
members, and many hours spent weighing individual words and phrases., Guiding
members in this effort, which overlapped with the search for a new full-time minister,
were a congregational covenant adopted in May 2005 and work done previously by All
Souls Church in New York City (http://www.allsoulsnyc.org) to revise their bond of union
and bylaws. UNMC’s new pastor, Rev. Lillie Henley, began her ministry just a few weeks
before the revised declaration was put into trial use in September 2006. “This is an
historic step,” said Rev. Henley, after the final congregational vote of approval in
January 2008. “We are a living, vibrant Universalist congregation, inheritors of the free
religious faith that developed the 1899 declaration, bringing the spirit of our forebears
into the 21st century.”
Located among some of the most rapidly growing neighborhoods in Washington, DC,
UNMC attracts UUs from throughout the Washington metropolitan area who are
interested in a liberal Christian approach to worship, service, and spirituality. Members
have found two specific benefits in revising the declaration of faith. They are better
equipped to explain to newcomers how UNMC can both have a statement of faith in the
weekly liturgy and be a free church honoring the UU principle of “a free and responsible
search for truth and meaning.” Even more important, congregants have learned about
each others’ beliefs, how they are alike and how they differ, and have learned to talk
about their faith and to listen deeply to what others have to say about how spirit moves
them.
by Sue Mosher
Can theological language rooted in the late 19th century be translated into “language of
reverence” for the 21st century? Members of Universalist National Memorial Church
in Washington, DC, would say yes, it can. In January 2008, they completed a two-year
process of revising the declaration of faith used in their worship service. Each Sunday,
members are invited to join in the free-will recitation of the new declaration, which reads:
In faith and freedom, we are called
to bring hope and healing to the world,
so that all may rejoice in God’s grace.
I believe in
the universal love of God,
the spiritual authority and
leadership of Jesus Christ,
the trustworthiness of the Bible
as a source of divine revelation,
the need for repentance
and forgiveness of sin,
and the final harmony
of all souls with God.
UNMC was established by the Universalist Church of America to represent the
denomination in the nation’s capital, building on the foundation of a local Universalist
congregation established shortly after the Civil War, where Walt Whitman occasionally
worshipped. Since 1930, when the first service was held on Palm Sunday, the
congregation had used the historic Universalist “Five Principles” declaration of 1899 in
its weekly liturgy:
We believe in the universal Fatherhood of God,
the spiritual authority and leadership of His Son, Jesus Christ,
the trustworthiness of the Bible as a revelation from God,
the certainty of just retribution for sin,
and the final harmony of all souls with God.
However, in recent years, some members had questioned whether the 1899 statement—
with its masculine, Victorian language and lack of any call to service—contained the right
words to define what UNMC currently values and aspires to. Interim minister Rev. Mary
Katherine Morn, now parish minister at the UU Congregation of Fairfax (VA), encouraged
the congregation to undertake the review. “One of UNMC's great gifts is its respect for
tradition,” Rev. Morn said. “All of our congregations have to find the right balance
between cherishing tradition and meeting the needs of today. It’s a joy to see one of our
historic congregations take this work so seriously.”
The revision process kicked off in February 2006 with a congregational brainstorming
brunch and also included small group discussions, written “homework assignments” for
members, and many hours spent weighing individual words and phrases., Guiding
members in this effort, which overlapped with the search for a new full-time minister,
were a congregational covenant adopted in May 2005 and work done previously by All
Souls Church in New York City (http://www.allsoulsnyc.org) to revise their bond of union
and bylaws. UNMC’s new pastor, Rev. Lillie Henley, began her ministry just a few weeks
before the revised declaration was put into trial use in September 2006. “This is an
historic step,” said Rev. Henley, after the final congregational vote of approval in
January 2008. “We are a living, vibrant Universalist congregation, inheritors of the free
religious faith that developed the 1899 declaration, bringing the spirit of our forebears
into the 21st century.”
Located among some of the most rapidly growing neighborhoods in Washington, DC,
UNMC attracts UUs from throughout the Washington metropolitan area who are
interested in a liberal Christian approach to worship, service, and spirituality. Members
have found two specific benefits in revising the declaration of faith. They are better
equipped to explain to newcomers how UNMC can both have a statement of faith in the
weekly liturgy and be a free church honoring the UU principle of “a free and responsible
search for truth and meaning.” Even more important, congregants have learned about
each others’ beliefs, how they are alike and how they differ, and have learned to talk
about their faith and to listen deeply to what others have to say about how spirit moves
them.
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