Who We Are

Inspire. Love. Serve.

“Inspire. Love. Serve.”

At the Unitarian Church in Charleston, we come together to do these three things.
We seek out INSPIRATION. Through meaningful worship, intimate small groups, powerful questioning, and rich dialogue, we cultivate a stimulating environment that encourages personal exploration and spiritual growth. We offer a variety of groups and programs for adults, children, and youth that support a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

With LOVE at the center of all we do, we build beloved community. In the process, we welcome and celebrate diversity… of thought, belief (and non-belief), background, identity, and life experiences. We acknowledge and respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and practice justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. We gather, not because we have found all the answers, but because we wish to question together. It’s our acceptance of difference and commitment to LOVE beyond belief that creates and sustains our vibrant community.

 We SERVE the world. We are committed to the goal of a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. This means that we get involved in social action, both locally and globally. Our respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, calls us to live in right relationship with all of humanity and creation. Together we SERVE the world as we strive to build a better one.

FAQ

We are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, but aligned in our desire to make a difference for the good. We have a track record of standing on the side of love, justice, and peace.

Unitarian Universalism draws from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love. We covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries.

Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. The values we share include all the following, which we hold as inseparable and deeply interconnected:

Interdependence: We honor the interdependent web of all existence and acknowledge our place in it.

Pluralism: We are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.

Justice: We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all feel welcome and can thrive.

Transformation: We adapt to the changing world.

Generosity: We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.

Equity: We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.

While each Sunday looks a little different, generally you can expect the following:

9:30am – Nursery Opens. Children ages 5 and under are welcome in the nursery until the end of the service. Children ages 7 and under are welcome after RE classes end and until the end of the service.

9:45am – Meditation Group Meets. This small group is lay-led and meets in our fellowship hall together, often for a guided meditation or discussion.

10:00am – Religious Education Classes Meet. Religious Education classes spark curiosity, deepen spirituality, and nurture UU values. These classes provide a joyful foundation of learning and community that will support them as they grow.

10:00am – Forum. The Sunday Forum is a weekly lecture and discussion series covering a broad range of topics, including both church-related and general interest issues.

11:00am – Sunday Service. We gather in our historic Sanctuary for an intergenerational service led by our Minister Rev. Rebecca or a guest worship leader. Busy bags are available for children to use at their seats or in the front on the Sanctuary.

12:00pm – Coffee Hour. Following the service we gather in Gage Hall to enjoy coffee and fellowship together. This is a great time to get to know members, speak with staff, and learn more about our church.

Our services are typically structured with a welcoming song, lighting the chalice, singing hymns, music from our choir, house band, or guest musicians, a story for all ages, the sermon, and closing words. Congregants sit in pews facing the pulpit where speakers are posted. All children and youth are welcome to stay for the entire service. They can sit with their grownups or they can visit the kids corner which has quiet toys, puzzles, and art supplies to keep them busy. Children under 7 may visit our nursery.

You can view past services here.

We are so happy to welcome you! There are MANY paths to membership, and yours will be unique to you. But no matter what your journey looks like, we encourage everyone to take the following steps:

Explore Your Spirituality
Practice Love
Build Community
Promote Justice

You can read more about the different paths to Membership here.

When you are ready to officially join the church, simply complete the New to UU Class and sign the Membership Book in the presence of the Minister and an officer of the church. All new members are welcomed into the congregation with a special ceremony during a Sunday service.

To learn more or get involved, we’d love to hear from you at membership@charlestonuu.org.

Unitarian Universalists believe that the search for truth and meaning is a lifelong process. We are never too young or too old to learn and grow. Our Lifespan Religious Education programs promote spiritual growth for children, youth and adults.

On Sundays, we offer a nursery for young children and religious education classes for children and youth 7 and older.

We also have monthly meetups through Family Circle where families are invited to come together for a time of community and fun. Typically gathering at a members home to share a meal, there is also childcare provided to allow adult-only discussion and gathering.

To learn more or get involved, we’d love to hear from you at dre@charlestonuu.org.

Queen Street parking garage (93 Queen St) and Majestic Square (corner of Archdale and Market streets) offer nearby parking and are free with a church bulletin. Both garages offer 3 hours of free parking with a bar code that is printed on our Order of Service. Click here for more information.

If you have mobility challenges, limited parking is available behind Gage Hall. Please reach out to office@charlestonuu.org if you have questions.

There are many events happening and groups meeting throughout the week and month in connection to the Unitarian Church in Charleston. We have women’s and men’s group, book clubs, a social justice team, gardening, a young adults group and much more. You can learn about all of our groups and teams here.

We also host regular events at the church including our Coffeehouse Concert Series, community gatherings, and seasonal receptions. You can stay up to date by visiting our church calendar.

Finally, we regularly partner with other churches and community organizations, such as the Charleston Area Justice Ministry, to advance our mission of love, inspiration and service.

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