Copyright Unitarian Universalist Association

Our Mission Statement

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville,
an inclusive community of faith for all ages,
gathers in covenant to:

Celebrate life in all its joy and mystery.
Inspire journeys of truth and meaning
Engage in practice and service
for love, justice and peace.

The Seven Principles

We, the Member Congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, Covenant to Affirm and Promote:

  • 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.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville is proud to have achieved the distinction among UU congregations of being a Welcoming Congregation.  What Does it Mean to be a Welcoming Congregation?

A Welcoming Congregation is one whose members publicly and successfully welcome bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people and which has the following qualities:

  • Includes and addresses the needs of B/G/L/T persons at every level of congregational life – in worship, in programs, in social occasions, and in rites of passage – welcoming not only their presence, but the gifts and particularities of their lives as well.
  • Assumes the presence of B/G/L/T people and celebrates this diversity by having inclusive language and content in their worship.
  • Fully incorporates the experiences of B/G/L/T persons throughout all programs, including religious education.
  • Includes an affirmation and nondiscrimination clause in our bylaws and other official documents affecting all dimensions of congregational life, including membership, hiring practices, and the calling of religious professionals.
  • Engages in outreach into the B/G/L/T community in its advertising and by actively supporting B/G/L/T affirmative groups.
  • Offers congregational and ministerial support for union and memorial services for B/G/L/T persons, and for celebrations of . . . family definitions.
  • Celebrates the lives of all people and welcomes same-sex couples, recognizing their committed relationships, and equally affirms displays of caring and affections without regard to sexual orientation.
  • Seeks to nurture ongoing dialogue between bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and heterosexual persons and to create deeper trust and sharing.
  • Encourages the presence of a chapter of Interweave.
  • Affirms and celebrates B/G/L/T issues and history during the church year.
  • Attends to legislative developments and works to promote justice, freedom, and equality in the larger society.
  • Speaks out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people are at stake.
  • Celebrates the lives of all people and their ways of expressing their love for each other.

Source:  www.uua.org/obgltc/wc1expln.html