General Assembly of Unitarian & Free Christian Churches welcomed as Partner Organisation of the Charter for Compassion

Sue Woolley at the Unitarian Annual Meetings

The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches has been welcomed as a Partner of the Charter for Compassion, established to support the work of the well known religious commentator Karen Armstrong, in promoting compassion, the "Golden Rule" and inter-faith dialogue.

On 24th June 2011, the General Assembly's Chief Officer Derek McAuley and Sue Woolley, Unitarian partnership link, received confirmation from the Charter for Compassion that their application had been successful saying: "The Charter for Compassion team is thrilled to welcome the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in the UK to our Partner Network."

The General Assembly voted unanimously at it's Annual Meetings in Swansea in April to seek Partnership status reflecting the longstanding Unitarian commitment to compassion and inter-faith relationships.

Initiatives currently being pursued include:

•   Establishing an Charter for Compassion Engagement Group, which will an online forum.
•   Promoting the Charter through the General Assembly's website.
•   Issuing a Worship Pack for use by Ministers and worship leaders including, opening words, chalice lighting words, prayers, reflections, meditations, children's story, a range of readings, closing words, benediction on the theme of the Charter principles entitled The Stirrings of Compassion
•   Designation of a Sunday in November as 'Charter for Compassion Sunday', on which congregations will be encouraged to either hold a service on the theme of compassion, or to go out and do something compassionate.
•   The incorporation of the Charter's principles into the Chalice Award Scheme for children.

Several congregations have already set up Reading Groups to study Karen Armstrong's Book Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, and many ministers are incorporating reflections on the Charter's values into their worship and blogs.

For further information on the Unitarian Commitment to the Charter contact: Sue Woolley - (CLICK TO SEND SUE A MESSAGE) or Derek McAuley - ( CLICK TO SEND DEREK A MESSAGE)

Links

•   Charter for Compassion

Other liberal religious organisations who are already Partner Organisations in the Charter for Compassion include:

•   Unitarian Universalist Association
•   Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
•   International Association for Religious Freedom
•   Religions for Peace