The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
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Although each of us seeks an individual truth,
Unitarian Universalists are bound together by the spiritual sources
and eight principles of our religious faith
Our UU Values
As Unitarian Universalists, we share the Eight Principles of our faith and draw upon a religious pluralism that helps us deepen our understanding and expand our vision. In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.
Unitarian Universalists do not have to let go of personal experiences, practices, or beliefs to be part of this community. We join together on a journey that honors all our individual backgrounds and experiences. Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system.
Unitarian Universalist beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no shared creed. Although Unitarianism and Universalism both have origins as liberal Christian traditions, today we embrace diverse teachings from many different global religions and philosophies.
Our shared covenant is expressed through the inseparable and deeply interdependent shared values:
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Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.
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Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.
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Transformation: We adapt to the changing world. We ask questions, change our minds, and are open to new ideas.
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Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
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Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.
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Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope
Our Chalice
At the opening of Sunday worship and other spiritual meetings, many UU congregations light a flame inside a chalice. This flaming chalice has become a well-known symbol of our denomination. It unites our members in worship and symbolizes the spirit of our work.
The Story of the Chalice
An Austrian artist and refugee from the Nazis, Hans Deutsch, became involved with the Unitarian Service Committee (USC) during World War II. The USC assisted people escaping from the Nazis and oversaw a secret network of couriers and agents. This group asked Deutsch to create a symbol for them. He drew a pencil-and-ink chalice with a flame. The flaming chalice design was made into a seal for papers and a badge for agents moving refugees to freedom. It is now a symbol of Unitarian Universalism all around the world.
About Unitarian Universalism
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The First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa follows the tenets of Unitarian Universalism—a liberal religion that combines two religious movements: Unitarianism and Universalism.
Unitarianism, which dates back to the 16th century in Transylvania, began as a religious movement that opposed the idea of the Holy Trinity and believed in the oneness of God, free human will, and the loving benevolence of God.
Universalism, which developed in North America in the 1800s, was a reaction against strict Calvinist doctrines of eternal punishment. Universalists believed that dignity and worth is innate to all people regardless of sex, colour, race, or class.
Both Unitarians and Universalists believed in an inclusive theology, and they often acted together in many social justice movements in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Unitarian Universalism: In 1961, the two movements merged and formed the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) in Canada and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in the United States. For 40 years, these two organizations worked closely together to provide services and programs to congregations in both countries. However, by 2000, the CUC decided that it needed to focus on specific Canadian needs. In 2002, the CUC became the main association and service provider for Unitarians and Universalists in Canada.
The Eight Principles of Unitarian Universalism
As we have no official Unitarian Universalist creed, each of us is free to search for truth on many paths. Some of us believe in a God while others do not. Some of us believe that each person houses a divine spirit while others do not believe in any sort of divinity.
Our common denominator is a belief in openness, tolerance, and compassion for others and our environment. Although each of us seeks an individual truth, Unitarian Universalists are bound together by the eight principles and spiritual sources of our religious faith.
We, the member congregations of the Canadian Unitarian Council, covenant to affirm and promote:
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the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
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justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.
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acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
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a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
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the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large.
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the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
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respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
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individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and systemic barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions.
As a free congregation, we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
Unitarian Universalist Resources
The Canadian Unitarian Council
The CUC is Canada's national organization for Unitarians, Unitarian Universalists, and Universalist Unitarians - all UUs - in Canada. They provide support for UUs and congregations across the country, fostering growth and outreach, providing resources for lifespan religious education, spiritual growth, and social responsibility, and hosting pan-Canadian workshops and events, including Unicamp for young adults, the CUC National Conference (held in Ottawa in 2023), monthly online gatherings like Connect And Deepen, and the Congregational Conversations Series of online discussion groups.
Click here to learn more.
UUA Worship Web
The Unitarian Universalist Association is the United States' answer to the CUC. Their WorshipWeb is an online compendium of liturgical resources including blessings, poetry, and other words of worship, along with sermon transcripts, service and ceremony templates, and tool kits for worship leaders. It's an excellent resource for lay chaplains, worship associates, and congregants in service leadership roles, as well as anyone looking for inspiration in the context of our faith.
Click here to access the WorshipWeb.
Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Society
The Unitarian-Universalist Hysterical Society was created in 2015 by Liz James, a UU in Saskatoon, to provide a space for sharing irreverent (and sometimes reverent) views on life and spiritual issues. It has grown to over 277K members - the largest UU organization in the world. As they say: 'You may have never even heard of Unitarian Universalism. We have no interest in converting you. If you share our goal of a world that's more just and loving, you're welcome here!'