The New UU

1. The New UU An introduction to Unitarianism and Universalism and the Unitarian Church of Edmonton

2. The New UU- Overview • Session 1: • Sessions will end by 2 p.m. or sooner • The Personal: sharing names and stories of why we came to this church • The Past: A quick and entertaining tour through five centuries of Unitarian and Universalist history

3. The New UU- Overview • Session 2- Next week: • The Principles: A look at the Principles and Sources of Unitarianism • The Present: A look at this congregation, how it works and who the leaders are.

4. The Personal • Please tell us your name, • A little about your religious/spiritual background, and • Why you are continuing to visit this congregation.

5. The Past • Core ideas of Unitarianism and Universalism date to earliest days of Christianity • Unitarian: belief in the oneness of God instead of a trinity. Jesus may be special, but is not God – Arianus • Universalist: belief that all will be saved; that a loving God cannot damn his creation to eternal punishment- Origen

6. Early Christians pretty loose with beliefs Church Fathers ranged all over the map Constantine calls Council of Nicea in 325 CE to settle fixed doctrine Early Christian Belief

7. 325 CE Adopted Creed by narrow margin Belief in divine Jesus Belief in resurrection Belief in divine judgement Belief in Holy Spirit (Trinity) Council of Nicea

8. 1519 Luther nails 95 Theses to church door Religious revolution as church corruption spread through Europe But how much change is okay? The Reformation

9. Radical Reformation • Luther wanted to end corruption and limit power of priests: “Priesthood of all believers” • All authority came only from reading the Bible ‘Sola Scriptura’. Thanks to Guttenberg printed Bibles were increasingly available. • Calvin wanted to reform church structures • More radical reformers wanted FREEDOM for open discussions of basic doctrine

10. Spanish lawyer, physician, theologian Applied REASON to theology Wrote “On the Errors of the Trinity” (1519): The Trinity is not Biblical Arrested by French Inquisition, sentenced to death- escapes Michael Servetus

11. Flees to Geneva thinking John Calvin will see the light. Immediately arrested by Calvin who guides his prosecution Burned at the stake, 1553 Sets off Toleration Debate Michael Servetus John Calvin

12. Italy gets too warm for Giorgio Biandrata who travels to Poland in 1558. Meets other Unitarian thinkers and becomes first leader of Minor Reform Church Leaves for Transylvania in 1563 Unitarianism Spreads

13. Faustus Socinus follows Biandrata. Movement often called Socinianism or Polish Bretheren Rakow community builds, first Unitarian printing press and catechism Counter reformation kills Polish church by 1660 Poland

14. Transylvania • Biandrata at Transylvanian court by 1563. • Influences queen mother and priest named Francis David. David became court preacher to young King John Sigismund. • King supports idea of religious toleration- land caught between Islam and Christianity! • Summons Diet of Torda – a great debate

15. Diet of Torda

16. Edict of Toleration • “in every place the preachers shall preach and explain the Gospel each according to his understanding of it, and if the congregation like, well; if not, no one shall compel them, but they shall keep the preachers whose doctrine they approve… faith is the gift of God, this comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

17. Freedom, Reason, Tolerance • Reformation opened doors for quest for religious FREEDOM • Debate began with execution of Servetus in 1553 for his use of REASON • Transylvanian Edict of Toleration 1568. • Battle for TOLERANCE in Europe would last well into 18th century. • Freedom, reason and tolerance were and are keys to Unitarianism and Universalism

18. Spread of ideas • Unitarianism did not grow as ‘church’ but as ideas or as an approach to religion, doctrine and Scripture. • Freedom, reason and tolerance were the common links. • Next appearance was in England via teachings of Dutchman James Arminuis (Refugee Poles had carried ideas to Sweden and Holland)

19. Anglican priest Could not sign the required 39 articles Set up Unitarian Chapel in London---over Feathers Tavern in 1764! Great friend of Charles Dickens Influenced Joseph Priestly Theophilus Lindsey

20. Joseph Priestly, minister and scientist Discovered Oxygen Chased from Birmingham Church by angry mob Moved to Philadelphia in 1794 Founded first US church Joseph Priestly

21. Belief that God will save all from Hell Idea dates to Origen in 3rd century Resurfaced again in England in 1780’s with James Relly What’s Universalism?

22. John Murray • Follower of Relly in England • Failed at getting movement started • Debtor’s Prison, wife and daughter die • Gives up religion and England, sails for America • Miracle at Thomas Potter’s farm!

23. John starts church in Gloucester MA in 1771 Marries Judith Sargent who becomes a prominent writer John preaches Universalism all over eastern seaboard John and Judith Sargent Murray

24. Vermont born son and brother of Baptist preachers, self-taught Ballou preaches Universalism in 1791 Becomes key leader of church Universalism spreads like wildfire Hosea Ballou

25. Universalism • Belief that all will be saved a nice antidote to contemporary ‘Hell and Damnation’ preaching • Appealed mostly to rural folk, members of small churches over 200,000 by 1830 • Weak central organization • Established St. Lawrence University seminary in upstate New York • Leaders in anti-slavery and women’s movements • Established many churches in Canada: 3 remain

26. After much struggle, Olympia gains admittance to St. Lawrence First women ordained to Universalist ministry 1863 Suffragette leader who died just before U.S. women won the vote Olympia Brown

27. Universalist activist Founded forerunner of of Red Cross during Civil War Clara Barton

28. Universalist abolitionist Penned ‘Battle Hymn of Republic’ Credited with founding Mother’s Day as day for mothers to march for peace Julia Ward Howe

29. Though Priestly began Unitarianism in Philadelphia in 1795, Boston would soon be its center and still is today. Unitarianism in America

30. 1825 respected Congregationalist minister preaches ‘Unitarian Christianity’ Calls for use of reason with Bible Discounts miracles Trusts human character Starts American Unitarian Association William Ellery Channing

31. Boston Unitarianism • Religion appeals to elite and Harvard educated • Though rational approach to Christianity is foremost, most early Unitarians also accept universal salvation • Leaders in public education, abolition, suffrage and temperance movements

32. Great philosopher began his career as Unitarian minister Promoted transcendentalism: belief in oversoul and direct spiritual link to God Great friend of Henry David Thoreau Ralph Waldo Emerson

33. Radical preacher even by Unitarian standards Abolitionist leader jailed for harbouring fugitive slaves Preached to 3,000 at a time in a Boston theatre Theodore Parker

35. Leading literary figure in Emerson and Parker’s Boston Edited noted literary journal ‘Dial’ Married an Italian count. Family was lost at sea while returning to US Margaret Fuller

36. Unitarianism in 19th century US • Seen to be faith of reasoned intellectuals • Thomas Jefferson “content to be a Unitarian on my own” thought it would become national religion of Enlightenment America • Leaders in many social justice causes • Believed they could perfect the world • Strong in New England, Illinois and California, but weak elsewhere

37. Unitarianism in the 20th Century • World War I was a blow to the dream of a perfected world. ‘God is dead’ movement drains faith. Religion loses members. • 1930’s rationalists compose Humanist Manifesto pushing Unitarianism further away from Christian roots. Services become very austere • Strong central organization at ’25’ keeps church alive.

38. Universalism in the 20th Century • WWI hurts Universalism, more than Unitarianism. Strong faith in the Golden City shattered by war and depression. • Weak central church unable to give financial help. • Churches close by the score and denominational finances erode.

39. Universalism in Canada • Several Universalist congregations were founded in Canada in 19th century, mostly by Americans near the border • Today only three remain: Halifax, Olinda, ON and North Hatley, PQ

40. Merging Denominations • Unitarianism and Universalism had long recognized similar approaches to faith, reason and scripture. Merger negotiations begin. • 1960 American Unitarian Association and Universalist Church of America decide to merge into Unitarian Universalist Association

41. Unitarianism brought rational humanism Universalism brought heart and a sense of spirituality. Merged denomination now has 260,000 members in over 1000 congregations Unitarian Universalist Association

42. 1832 British and US Unitarians finally establish Montreal congregation. John Molson was a key founder…yes, that John Molson British didn’t want an American minister. Yanks didn’t want a Brit. Called John Cordner – from Belfast. Unitarianism comes to Canada

43. Toronto Church founded in 1843 by Workman brothers from Montreal. Founding member was Emily Jennings Stowe who would become first woman physician in Canada Unitarianism in Canada

44. One of the founders of the Toronto Church Father of modern psychiatry in Canada Pioneered humane treatment of inmates at Queen Street Asylum Joseph Workman

45. Montreal, 1832 Toronto, 1845 Ottawa, 1898 Hamilton, 1899 Vancouver, 1909 Edmonton, 1911-1954 Calgary, 1904-1957 1950’s start of Fellowship movement: Victoria, Waterloo, Saskatoon, Regina, Toronto, Pointe Claire, etc 1980’s more spin off starts: Westwood, Coquitlam, West Vancouver etc. Spreading Unitarianism

46. Founded by Romanian refugee Lotta Hitschmanova during WWII Relief agency in Europe, later in Third World Made ‘56 Sparks Street’ one of the most famous addresses in Canada Our best ambassador in 50’s and 60’s Ties still close with USC Canada Unitarian Service Committee

47. Congregation founded in 1911 by liberal Edmontonians Charles Francis Potter was the first minister 1914-1916 Anti-war views got him into trouble with W.H. Alexander Unitarianism in Edmonton

48. Unitarianism in Edmonton • Alexander fights Potter over prayers for soldiers, Potter resigns • Alexander takes on major load of leadership duties including Sunday worship and preaching at Garneau Community Hall • Alexander retires to U.S. Following a brief ministry (Carl Storm, 1934-36) congregation disbands

49. IN 1950 Dick Morton tries to restart congregation BY 1954 AUA helps bring Edmonton born Charles Eddis back to become first minister. First years again in basement of Garneau United Community Hall Members financed own building in 1964 Unitarianism in Edmonton Charles Eddis in 2001

50. Unitarianism in Edmonton 110 Avenue Church