Whether this is your first visit, or you've been here before, we're very happy that you've decided to join us today! Please take a moment to sign our guest book located on the Welcome Table upon entering the main entrance.
Our Vision
We strive to embrace every mind, body and spirit ━ without exception.
Our Mission
We covenant to practice compassion, forge connections, and pursue justice.
What is Unitarian Universalism?
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion characterized by a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning”. Unitarian Universalists assert no creed, but instead are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth, guided by a dynamic, “living tradition”. (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe)
Instead of a creed, we are united by a covenant, which is a statement of values and promises to each other and the world. In a sense, you can think of the difference between creedal and covenant religions like this. Creedal religions identify beliefs about God, spirituality, and religion. From those creedal beliefs, a system of values emerges for how to live in this world. A covenant religion instead identifies the system of shared values and promises to abide by. From those covenantal values and promises, we each develop our own creedal beliefs about religion and our spirituality.
History
Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalism was formed from the consolidation of two liberal religions: Unitarianism and Universalism. In America, the Universalist Church of America was founded in 1793 and the American Unitarian Association in 1825. After consolidating in 1961, these faiths became the new religion of Unitarian Universalism. (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/who-we-are/history)
Instead of a creed, we are united by a covenant, which is a statement of values and promises to each other and the world. In a sense, you can think of the difference between creedal and covenant religions like this. Creedal religions identify beliefs about God, spirituality, and religion. From those creedal beliefs, a system of values emerges for how to live in this world. A covenant religion instead identifies the system of shared values and promises to abide by. From those covenantal values and promises, we each develop our own creedal beliefs about religion and our spirituality.
MVUUF
Unitarianism has been a strong liberal voice in the Dayton community since the founding of First Unitarian Church of Dayton in 1910.
Miami Valley Unitarian Fellowship (MVUF) was founded when several members of First Unitarian Church of Dayton became dissatisfied with the church and decided to build a Unitarian congregation south of town in 1958. In 1959, MVUF purchased a former Lutheran church at 2001 Far Hills Avenue in Oakwood.
In 1997, the membership of the First Unitarian Church of Dayton voted to merge with MVUF. In early 1998, MVUF members voted to accept the merger and change their name to Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (MVUUF). After merging with First Unitarian Church, MVUUF took a momentous step and voted to move to a new location, which was built in 2003 and is where we are located today.
Our Covenant Principles
Our Unitarian Universalist congregation covenants to affirm and promote eight Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. We live out these Principles within a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience. (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles)
These Principle are:
- The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
- The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
- Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
Who We Are
We are brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers. We are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, but aligned in our desire to make a difference for the good. We have a track record of standing on the side of love, justice, and peace.
We have radical roots and a history as self-motivated spiritual people: we think for ourselves and recognize that life experience influences our beliefs more than anything.
We need not think alike to love alike. We are people of many beliefs and backgrounds: people with a religious background, people with none, people who believe in a God, people who don’t, and people who let the mystery be.
On the forefront of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer inclusion for more than 40 years, we are people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
We seek to welcome you: your whole self, with all your truths and your doubts, your worries and your hopes. Join us on this extraordinary adventure of faith. (https://www.uua.org/beliefs/who-we-are)
“A welcoming, supportive community dedicated to spiritual growth and healing in the world.”
Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship