Every other Sunday morning, a small group of South County
residents gather to practice a liberal religion born of the Jewish
and Christian traditions.
Every other Sunday morning, a small group of South County residents gather to practice a liberal religion born of the Jewish and Christian traditions. It has no creed or required statement of belief because “personal experience, reason and conscience should be final authorities in religion.” Seeking to act as a moral force in the world, they believe that “ethical living is the supreme witness of religion.” They treasure a rich pluralism that includes theist and atheist, agnostic and humanist, pagan, Christian, Jew, and Buddhist.
This local expression of Unitarian-Universalism has been meeting at various locations in Morgan Hill and Gilroy for more than 10 years. They have no professional minister; members take turns facilitating the biweekly services.
Each meeting has a theme. It begins with a reading appropriate to its topic, a song and is followed by a guest speaker. Then participants take part in a spirited discussion of the week’s theme. Speakers/discussions have covered a wide range of topics during the past year: things like poetry, Dead Sea Scrolls, Croy Road Fire, laughter and the history of Afghanistan.
A recent gathering featured Ken Hulick, a natural resource consultant from Hollister, speaking on “Critters.” After reading Carl Sandburg’s poem “Wilderness,” he traced the long history of interaction between humans and other animals. Then he posed a question about the proper morality for relating to animals, provoking a lively discussion concerning both our love for animals and our willingness to sacrifice them for human purposes like food, recreation and medical research.
Gilroy resident Ed Nauss, who has attend the South Valley Unitarian Fellowship for several years, points out that each individual Unitarian Church is autonomous, and customs can differ from place to place. Having attended in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Aptos, and Los Gatos, he mentions that some have ordained ministers, more elaborate rituals and even feature candle-lighting ceremonies.
“What they all share, though, is a non-authoritarianism which encourages people to think for themselves about religious matters,” he said.
The Unitiarian-Universalist Association is a nationwide body including 1,000 churches with more than 200,000 members. The church was formed in 1961 by a merger of Unitarians – Congregational Christians who rejected the “Trinitarian” doctrine that God has three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit – with Universalists – who taught that salvation is for everyone; no one will be damned for false beliefs.
From its Boston headquarters, the UUA directs many organizations, the largest of which is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Since early work aiding victims of Nazi persecution, the UUSC has been helping people help themselves through providing services and advocating for programs around the world.
American history is full of famous Unitarians like John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Adlai Stevenson, Clara Barton and a long list of artists and literary figures like Ambrose Bierce and Louisa May Alcott.
The South Valley Unitarian Fellowship meets at the Shadowbrook Townhouse Clubhouse, 160 Warren Ave. Details: 847-3870 or 779-4999.
