We, the members of First Unitarian Church promise one another to work to together to celebrate our beloved community, seek our spiritual and ethical paths, and work for justice.

Our Mission

Our urban community welcomes all with love, supports learning and spiritual growth, serves our wider community, and works for justice, equity, and inclusion. (Adopted in 2019)

Our Vision

We are a liberal religious haven. Sustained by tradition, boldly seeking justice, gently transforming lives through deeds great and small. (Adopted in 2019)​

Objectives

​Celebrate Our Community
  • Nurture a caring and welcoming community.
  • Seek more diversity and expect every church committee to promote inclusion.
  • Empower congregants to make a difference in the life of the church.
  • Explore weeknight activities that build community and facilitate committee work.
  • Encourage all congregants to participate actively in membership growth.
  • Put into place an ongoing communications strategy for membership growth.
  • Build and maintain warm cooperative relationships with Unitarian Universalist churches locally, regionally, and continentally.

Seek Our Spiritual and Ethical Paths
  • Reach out to persons looking for a religious community like ours.
  • Encourage congregants to be open to ideas and philosophies different from their own.
  • Provide high-quality religious/ethical education for children, youth and adults in the congregation and the community.
  • Maintain our building so that it enhances our worship, honors our history, and welcomes all.
  • Enrich our own spiritual experience with a diverse visual and performative arts programs.

Work for Justice
  • Explore the responsibilities of being an urban Unitarian Universalist church in the 21st century.
  • Focus on social justice programs where we can be most effective.
  • Live in harmony with nature, recognizing the interconnectedness of all life.​

Our Covenant on Right Relations

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As a self-governed congregation, our membership works among ourselves to create the community to which we aspire, and have agreed to the following covenant, or promise, to each other.  (Adopted in 2023)

I commit to build our Beloved Community:
  • To hold myself accountable to the values of Unitarian Universalism,
  • To love and respect all creation,
  • To listen with an open mind, and work for justice and inclusion,
  • To have courage to change,
  • To accept the rights and responsibilities of myself and others,
  • I humbly covenant with you so that together we can do what I cannot do alone.
Living our Covenant
  • Be courteous and respectful to all—those in leadership positions, fellow members, visitors, and staff.
  • Participate in the life of the church where and when possible.
  • Seek accurate information.
  • Listen to and acknowledge all perspectives with the goal of understanding.
  • Resolve conflicts at the lowest level.
  • Make room for “oopses” and “ouches.” (“Ouch, you’ve said/done something hurtful although you might not have realized it.” “Oops, I want to repair something I said/did that I’ve realized might have a hurtful impact even though I never intended that.”)
  • Forgive yourself and others. Make amends.
  • Accept and follow church Bylaws created by Congregational vote and policies and procedures established by the Board.
This congregational agreement was developed by our Committee on Right Relations—a team that vigilantly works to help members address conflict in productive ways. The covenant respects the individual while also being responsible for the good of the whole. We believe that conflict can be educational and lead to transformative relationships.

​You can sign up for many events through links in our calendar. For others, please email the team sponsoring the event.
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First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati  | 536 Linton Street (at Reading Road) | South Avondale | Cincinnati, OH 45219 | 513-281-1564 | ​[email protected]