Our Principles and Purpose

Unitarian Church of Calgary Purpose Statement

We come together in beloved community, guided by our Unitarian Universalist principles and sources, to grow in wisdom, welcome and deepen relationships, and act for a just and sustainable world. Adopted December 2012

As Canadian Unitarian Universalists:

We envision a world in which our interdependence calls us to love and justice.

Eight principles guide our choices:

Canadian Unitarian Council Approved #8 on Nov. 27, 2021

We the members of the Canadian Unitarian Council covenant to affirm and promote:

  1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
  2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
  3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
  4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
  5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and within society at large.
  6. The goal of world community, with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
  7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
  8. Individual and communal action that accountably dismantles racism and other structural barriers to full inclusion in ourselves and our institutions.

Six sources nourish our spirits:

  1. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life
  2. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love
  3. Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life
  4. Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbours as ourselves
  5. Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against the idolatries of mind and spirit
  6. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature

Five aspirations help us grow:

  1. Deeply Connected : We strive to foster healthy relationships amongst and within UU communities, with the broader world and with all life.
  2. Radically Inclusive : We strive to create hospitable, diverse, multi- generational communities.
  3. Actively Engaged : We strive to work joyfully for a just and compassionate society,
    experimenting with new forms of community.
  4. Theologically Alive : We seek to be ever-evolving in our understanding, open to new knowledge.
  5. Spiritually Grounded : We seek transformation through personal spiritual experiences and shared ritual.