Ours is free faith, and that is what makes Unitarian Universalists unique as a religious people.  No religious tradition, no book or scripture, no priest or prophet or minister, no authority is predominant over the conscience of the individual believer.  Other Protestant groups, such as the Baptists, claim "prophethood of the believer," but all Christian churches place some restrictive boundaries on belief, if nothing else than to put Jesus at the center. 

Unitarian Universalists are far more radical in our acceptance of the individual's belief, wherever he or she might be at any given time.  You can be an atheist and be a Unitarian Universalist.  Or a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist or humanist.

You may have heard people say, "You can believe anything and be a Unitarian Universalist," as if to imply that it doesn't matter.  Beliefs matter more than anything else, for they guide the way as one moves through this life. 

On the other hand, Unitarian Universalists understand that theologically no one can really be anywhere except where he or she is, existentially speaking, and we don't attempt to change another's beliefs in order to affirm our own.  This is a respectful way to be.

Every church and fellowship in our Association needs to have a clear sense of mission, grounded in its spiritual life.  As congregants develop spiritually, they will be motivated by a deepening sense of compassion, and they will want to bring healing to others and to a hurting world.  

Their faith community will give them support on their particular spiritual journey, and their spiritual grounding will give them strength and endurance as they tackle - again, in community - the more intratransigent social and political problems that plague our country and our planet.