We are a Welcoming Congregation

Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater
2470 Nursery Rd., Clearwater, FL 33764
727-531-7704

We Welcome Consulting Minister Reverend Bill Welch We are pleased to announce that the Interim Consulting Minister contract with Bill Welch was approved by a nearly unanimous vote of the members present. Rev. Welch has served the UU Congregation of Fairfax, VA since 1997 and is currently its Minister for Programs. He began his ministry in 1990 at the First UU Church of Nashville, where he had served prior to ordination as Director of Religious Education. A native of Tennessee, Bill began his career as a city planner and later worked as a photojournalist before finding his true vocation of ministry at the Nashville church. He is a 1968 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt Divinity School, where he completed his Master of Divinity degree in 1990. He is single and has a major hobby interest in trains. He's even working on a book about them. He will be joining us in late August.

	Service Hours
	Sunday Services at 10:30 a.m. (Child & Nursery Care Provided during the Service) Open Issues Forum 9:30 a.m. Religious Education for Children and Youth 10:30 a.m. Upcoming Sermons   July 5, 2009   Perspectives on Paganism - Tom Cook (details) July 12, 2009    UU Buddhism - Frank Tedesco (details) July 19, 2009    The Ethics of Humanism - Mark Brandt (details) July 26, 2009    Thoreau and Transcendentalism - Bill Norsworthy (details)

WHO WE ARE

Unitarian Universalism is a progressive religion that emerged from the Jewish and Christian traditions. Unitarians affirmed the just and loving character of God, the moral and reasoning capacity of people, working out one's salvation with diligence, and above all, one God. They believed in the humanity of Jesus and looked upon him as a morally perfect being whose life and teachings were sources of inspiration and illumination for humanity. Universalists believed in God's universal love, the inclusiveness of Jesus's message, and in universal salvation. Both religions developed in the United States along tolerant and humanist lines. The two denominations merged in 1961.

Unitarian Universalism is a practical, covenantal, and prophetic religion. Unitarian Universalism is practical because it is a religion of deeds, not creeds. By our actions and our behaviors shall people know us. It is practical in that our religious practice grows as we grow in understanding and in our taking responsibility for where our religion takes us. Unitarian Universalism is covenantal as it built on relationships where we ask each other, 'What are we willing to promise to one another and to the world? Together, what shall we do?' It is this promise we make and remake with each other that allows the institution to abide even as we, its supporters, search and grow and change. Our promise to each other, to our forebears, and to our children is to do together now what is ours to do. And finally, ours is a prophetic faith as it enjoins us not to be self-satisfied with ourselves and the way things are in the world. Our religious approach puts special emphasis on speaking out about the inequities of human existence.

Within this general approach to theological and ethical inquiry, our members and friends reflect a variety of religious, political, and social backgrounds, and beliefs. We are a Welcoming Congregation of the UUA.

For more information about Unitarian Universalism, please check out our denominational website at www.uua.org.

	Unitarian Universalists
	So what do Unitarian Universalists Believe? The inherent worth and dignity of every person. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Acceptance of one another and encouragement of 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 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.