A uniquely Unitarian guide to achieving spiritual health has been published by The Lindsey Press. Twelve Steps to Spiritual Health is by Unitarian Minister Rev David Usher.

Whilst the book has much to offer people of any religion (and, indeed, none) its descriptions of spiritual health and its concern with doing something for the improvement of the world and giving something to the future, reflect Unitarian traditions and values, as does the assertion that keeping in touch with the natural world strengthens the spirit in reminding that human beings are not the masters of nature but simply have their modest place within time and space. The steps include the conventional ones (approached unconventionally) of being a member of a religious community and of observin ...

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The Unitarian General Assembly in Nottingham last weekend voted with a two thirds majority to become the first faith group to openly say that people should have the right to end their lives.

It was not a decision taken lightly. 2012/13 President of the Unitarians, Lis Dyson–Jones, said at the Meetings, “No motion has ever so fully engaged the General Assembly and thanks must go to Fulwood Old Chapel in Sheffield for all their work in promoting this issue.”

The motion was originally put forward last year but was deferred to enable congregations throughout Britain time to understand and discuss this extremely delicate subject. To assist this yearlong debate, a discussion pack was produced and sent out to all congregations and made available on the web. ...

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Unitarians at their annual meetings at Nottingham University on Saturday 13 April 2013 voted to support four Resolutions on issues of concern.

Two of the Resolutions were radical social proposals - the legalisation of assisted suicide, and the appointment of a Royal Commission to look into the appropriateness of changing the current criminal-justice-based approach to drug substances. in favour of decriminalisation, medicalisation and t he treatment of addictions.

The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the first British faith group to come out in favour of either of these steps. ...

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Unitarians welcome the announcement of legislation to permit same sex marriage in religious premises. Having carried out same sex blessings for over thirty years, we look forward to being free to perform legally valid same sex marriages in our places of worship in the same way as we do with opposit e sex couples.

As a faith group the Unitarian support for same sex marriage arises out of our deep spiritual values. We believe that everyone has the right to seek truth and meaning for themselves. This commitment to private judgment in spiritual matters has of course implications for how we see people and regard ...

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The Electoral Panel has received the following declaration from Popularis of the results of the Election for five members of the Executive Committee:

At the close of the election, votes were counted and the following candidates were elected:

Ballot papers and election statements were sent to the person nominated by each Congregation for distribution to valid members. Ballot papers were returned direct to Popularis Ltd in pre paid envelopes. Individual ballot papers and election statements were sent to each Minister, together with a d ...

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Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches has joined with thirteen other leaders of national organisations to write to Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove to object to the ongoing practice of state-funded schools religiously selecting pu pils in admissions.

The letter, which has been organised by the Accord Coalition and the British Humanist Association, is also signed by Professor Ted Cantle CBE's Institute of Community Cohesion Foundation, the National Union of Teachers, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and race equality think tank the Runn ...

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Statement by Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches

I welcome the statement today by David Cameron supporting the holding of same sex weddings in churches

The Prime Minister, speaking after an event in Redditch today, said: ‘I’m a massive supporter of marriage and I don’t want gay people to be excluded from a great institution.

‘But let me be absolutely 100% clear, if there is any church or any synagogue or any mosque that doesn’t want to have a gay marriage it will not, absolutely must not, be forced to hold it. ...

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SimpleGifts: Unitarian Centre for Social Action to Host First “Social Action Lab” Sat. Nov. 10.

As part of its mission to foster and support Unitarian social witness in the LDPA and beyond, SimpleGifts: Unitarian Centre for Social Action is hosting what it hopes will become an annual “Social Action Lab” on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at their office at Mansford St. Chapel in East London.

The programme includes a 3 part series hosted by SimpleGifts Director, Rev. Rob Gregson and SG Programme Coordinator, Ann Howell, with special guest speaker and discussion leader, Doug Fraley. Doug co–founded ...

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Unitarians raise concerns about growing threats to religious freedom with UK Government.

Derek McAuley. Chief Office of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches in Great Britain, has raised his concerns about the growing threats to religious freedom in many parts of the world with new Government International Development Junior Minister, Lynne Featherstone MP. He h as been assured by Ms Featherstone that “the persecution of individuals of all faiths, anywhere in the world, is of profound concern to the UK Government”. ...

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Well known actor and celebrity, Stephen Fry , has highlighted Unitarian support for Equal Marriage in an Out4Gaymariage video.

The message has also been featured in an article “ Stephen Fry accuses Church of ‘caving in to extremists over gay marriage’ ” in The London Evening Standard online. .....

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Unitarian Chief Officer Derek McAuley took the opportunity to highlight the case for equal religious marriage with Prime Minister David Cameron when he attended the annual reception for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in the garden of 10 Downing Street on Tuesday 24 July 2012

Speaking afterwards Derek said:

“I took the opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister when he spoke with small groups after his short speech. I welcomed his commitment to civil marriage but explained that the ...

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Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches , has been invited by the Prime Minister to a reception at 10 Downing Street for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

Speaking before the event Derek said:

“This invitation is recognition of the work of Unitarians to build a more inclusive community in which everyone is accepted for who they are regardless of sex, race, colour or sexual orientation. Equality has always been a fundamental ...

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Scottish Unitarians have expressed their disappointment at the failure of the Scottish Government to make an announcement on equal marriage.

“Scottish Unitarians share the disappointment of the Equality Network , and partner organisations that no announcement was made regarding Marriage Equality yesterday.

Unitarians remain supportive of Equality in Marriage, and look forward to hearing that Scotland will lead the way in this issue, when the Scottish Government delivers its announcement at the end of the month.” ...

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British Unitarians and Free Christians have welcomed athletes, officials and all spectators and visitors to the United Kingdom for the Olympics and Paralympics for coming months.

Derek McAuley , Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches said, “The Olympics and Paralympics will be a memorable occasion and we will not see the like again in our lifetimes in this country.

We welcome athletes, officials and all spectators and visitors to our country and hope they will have an enjoyable experience. We particularly greet Unitarians and Unitarian-Universalists who will be coming to the United Kingdom, perhaps for the first time. Everyone is most welcome to join us for w ...

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The Unitarians have added their support to a Wales-wide campaign to end the right of the Armed Forces to recruit inside schools.

On June 1 st , Cardiff Unitarians attended a meeting of several NGOs including Cymdeithas y Cymod (The Fellowship of Reconciliation in Wales), the United Nations Association (UNA Wales) CND Cymru . At the meeting, the following, formal petition to the National Assembly for Wales was launched:

“We call on the National Assembly of Wales to urge the Welsh Government to legislate to stop the armed forces from going into schools in Wales to recruit children to join.” ...

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Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, joined the Roundtable on equal marriage, convened by Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper MP at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 4 July 2012.

Speaking after the meeting Derek said:

"Unitarians welcome the support of Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary for religious marriage for same sex couples to be available to those faith groups who wish to perform them. The Round Table meeting today was an excellent springboard for further joint work. ...

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The General Assembly has joined Quakers in Britain and Liberal Judaism in urging the prime minister to stand firm on his commitment to change marriage laws to enable same-sex couples to marry.

Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, Paul Parker, Quaker Recording Clerk and Rabbi Danny Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism have written a joint letter to the prime minister.

The joint letter reads:

Derek McAuley, Chief Officer, said : "We have welcomed the public support for equal civil marriage in England and Wales from senior politicians in all main political parties. The recent Unitarian and Free Christian General Assembly affirmed its support for equal access to civil and religious m ...

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A gay couple from the city had already booked a blessing for the bank holiday weekend, so when the registrars gave the go-ahead, they were able to sign the legal documents recognising their partnership after the service.

Kieran Bohan, 41, and Warren Hartley, 36, from Princes Park, who have been together for four and a half years, have been involved in groups for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people of faith in Liverpool for several years.

Kieran is a member of Quest, the group for LGBT Catholics, and Warren co-ordinates a monthly Anglican Eucharist service for LGBT Christians.Together they coordinated Spectrum of Spirituality, the interfaith service for Liverpool Pride for the last two years.Kieran is originally from London but has ...

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The asylum campaign for Abdoulaye Diabate and Taha Ghasemi supported by members of Oldham Unitarian Chapel reached a new stage on the 20th March 2012 when both men met Oldham's MPs, Debbie Abrahams and Michael Meacher at Westminster.

The MPs took time out from an extremely busy day (before going off to deal with the Health and Social Care Bill as it went through Parliament) so that they could receive petitions containing 2000 signatures. The petitions are to be presented to the Home Office and are seeking leave for both men to remain in the ...

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The Unitarian Music Society are pleased to make available two new CDs for Hymns for Living . We have had two CDs available for a number of years giving 51 hymns. These early CDs are now rebranded as CDs 1 and 2. The new CDs (CD3 and CD4) give a further 50 hymns. This means that there are now 100 hymns available on CD for both Sing Your Faith and Hymns for Living .

The new CDs were recorded at Cross Street Chapel Manchester on February 18th 2012.

They are available now from David Dawson at £16.00 for the pair (price includes p&p) ...

click to read article (news-NewSYF-CDs.shtml)

As a child going to school in Comber, Sandra Gilpin was fascinated by a monument she passed each day on her way to primary school.

This was the Andrews Memorial Hall, built to commemorate Thomas Andrews, the Chief designer for Harland and

James Pirrie, who was chairman of Harland and Wolff from 1895 to 1921. He was prevented by illness from

background

objected to the mandatory subscription to the Westminster Confession of Faith required in the 1820s from ministers

.....

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Cross Street Unitarian Chapel, Manchester has this week been awarded a licence from Manchester City Council to hold civil partnerships on its premises.

The General Register Office believe that Cross Street Unitarian Chapel are the first religious premises in England & Wales to be licenced for CP's. This will enable gay and lesbian couples to hold a religious wedding ceremony on religious premises, with the civil ceremony taking place before or afterwards.

The Revd Jane Barraclough, minister of Cross Street Unitarian Chapel, says: ...

click to read article (news-civilpars8.shtml)

15th December 2011

Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches , has welcomed the support of the House of Lords for civil partnerships taking place in religious premises.

Derek McAuley said:

"The support in the House of Lords is great news for equality and religious freedom. Many Unitarians and Free Christian churches in England and Wales will be keen to take advantage of this opportunity and move forward on registering their premises with individual local authorities. ...

click to read article (news-civilpars7.shtml)

"I'll stop when the we run out of Unitarian publications or the internet is full!" said James Barry as he finished scanning the 200th book to go on to the Unitarian Document Library. The resource is already proving popular with many different users of the Unitarian national website. Family researchers, historians, ministerial students and those searching information on liberal religions, are all finding useful material in the new online facility.

James continued, explaining the motivation behind the project that has now seen over 10,000 pages scanned. ...

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Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, has described the Civil Partnerships in Religious Premises a step forward as a step forward for equality and religious freedom.

"The implementation of the Regulations to allow Civil Partnerships in Religious Premises a step forward for equality and religious freedom. I am confident that many Unitarian churches and chapels will be registering their premises however it  is as yet unclear how soon the legal processes to b ...

click to read article (news-civilpars6.shtml)

A new book has been published on the life of the Unitarian martyr Michael Servetus who was burned at the stake in Calvinist Geneva for heresy in 1553. "Servetus - Our 16th Century Contemporary" is a brief introduction to the life and teachings of Servetus, an early Unitarian thinker, scientist and pioneer of religious freedom. The publication has been produced by the International Association for Religious Freedom and was co-edited by Richard Boeke and Patrick Wynne Jones. Derek McAuley, Chief Officer of the Unitarian General Assembly has welcomed the publication as a contribution to ...

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Unitarians have expressed their serious concerns about the treatment of Destitute Asylum Seekers to Damian Green MP Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office The following Resolution, proposed by Oldham Unitarian Chapel, was approved by the Annual Meeting of the General Assembly in Swansea, Wales on 17 April 2011: "That this General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches: [1] applauds this statement concerning asylum seekers by Kate Wareing, Director, UK Poverty, Oxfam on February 4th, 2011: ...

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The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches has been welcomed as a Partner of the 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 ...

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The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches has submitted a response to the consultation paper issued by the Government Equalities Office on civil partnerships on religious premises in England and Wales. Derek McAuley, Chief Officer said:

"The General Assembly supported the legislative change in the Equality Act 2010 allowing registration and the subsequent publication of this consultation document. We support the principle that no faith group should be forced the permit civil partnership registration on it's premises ...

click to read article (news-civilpars4.shtml)

Lynne Featherstone MP, Minister for Equalities, has welcomed the support of the Unitarian General Assembly for the removal of the ban on civil partnerships being registered on religious premises in England and Wales. Writing in The Inquirer , the Unitarian and Free Christian fortnightly newspaper she said:

"As the Minister for Equalities I am proud that this Government is committed to ensuring fair treatment and equality of opportunity for everyone - including for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people - ...

click to read article (news-1106civilpars.shtml)

The Unitarian General Assembly Meetings in Swansea saw a celebration of Volunteers and of Welsh Unitarianism.

"Celebrating Our Volunteers" was the theme recognising that the Unitarian Movement locally and nationally depends upon the energy, enthusiasm and hard work of many individuals. To hear why three volunteers and some of our youth give so much:

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click to read article (news-GA2011.shtml)

The Unitarian London District (LDPA) have release a video following their highly succesful weekend earlier in the year.

Comments already posted to youtube include: This is terrific! Well? done - great little film... Great job Nice work, guys! Love the? squirrel :) "I always had difficulty reconciling my rational mind with my religious heart" -? and then I found Unitarianism. Yes!

For more details of the London District please go to www.ldpa.org.uk .....

click to read article (news-ldpa.shtml)

Charles Darwin described himself as an agnostic, but how far was he really a Unitarian?

That is the question that the Reverend Cliff Reed sets out to explore in the newly published 'Till the peoples all are one': Darwin 's Unitarian Connections.

The short and sharply focused biography explores Darwin 's extensive connections with members of the Unitarian faith community and the extent to which their ethos had an impact on, or at the least coincided with, his own. Cliff considers their emphasis on scientific understanding in the quest for knowledge, their belief in human advancement, ...

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Kate Middleton comes from a long line of Unitarians and English Dissent with family connections to James Martineau, the theologian and hymn writer, described as "the greatest leader of the Unitarians in Victorian England" by J. B. Schneewind, and his sister, Harriet Martineau, the journalist and campaigner for women's rights. Harriet Martineau is described as one of the leading thinkers of the 19th century and "a woman of immense strength of character".

Kate's father's roots lie in Leeds and her great grandparents Richard Noel Middleton and Olive Christiana Lupton ...

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The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the umbrella organisation for Unitarian and Free Christian congregations in the United Kingdom, has this week announced that it is joining The Accord Coalition.

The Accord Coalition, a broad campaign coalition, encompasses a wide range of different religious and non-religious groups and individuals who are concerned at the way that faith schools operate. Launched in 2008, Accord already includes among its members the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the British Humanist Association, the British Muslims for Secular Democracy, ...

click to read article (news-faithschools.shtml)

The Lindsey Press are pleased to announce a new hymn book. A celebration of hymns and songs and with chalice lightings, affirmations and benedictionsit makes Sing Your Faith an important resource for worship. Sing Your Faith is an attractive hardback publication and, thanks to much in-house processing of both music and words, is being made available at a launch price of only £10.00 (plus postage). Remarkably good value

.....

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The tribute to the life of Sir Cyril Smith, former MP for Rochdale and an active Unitarian, which was published following his death, has been taken down following the statement by Greater Manchester Police on 27 November 2012. Whilst we acknowledge his contribution to public life and service to the people of Rochdale and the Unitarian Movement, it is with sadness that we consider that the tribute is no longer appropriate in light of these allegations.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims at this time. We also think of all those affected by these events including Sir Cyril’s family and members of the Rochdale Unitarian Church and the wider community in the town. ...

click to read article (news-cyrilsmith.shtml)

The floods that have devastated Pakistan in recent days have been described by the UN as the world's 'worst' current disaster. Oxfam has warned that the international community is faced by a 'mega disaster' demanding a 'mega response' to ensure the almost 14 million people, including six million children, immediately affected get the urgent humanitarian help they desperately need.

Dr Muhammad Rafiq, a UNICEF representative in Pakistan, has warned of the terrible threat to millions of lives from hunger ...

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The number of candidates (3) does not exceed the number of vacancies (4), and an election is not therefore required.

The Electoral Panel agreed that the three candidates above are therefore deemed ELECTED UNOPPOSED to the Executive Committee.

There is therefore one vacancy remaining for a member of the Executive Committee.

.....

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2010 marks the bicentenary of the birth of Elizabeth Gaskell, the accomplished writer of novels and short stories. She also wrote the remarkable biography of her friend Charlotte Bronte and has become familiar to many through BBC adaptations of her works: Wives and Daughters , North and most recently Cranford. She was raised as a Unitarian and was married to Revd William Gaskell, Minister of the historic Cross Street Chapel in Manchester.

Unitarians are pleased to be associated with the extensive bicentennial celebrations, both in the Cheshire market town of ...

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Derek McAuley, Chief Officer said "Both David Cameron and Nick Clegg replied to supporters of the Robin Hood tax on the eve of the election, saying they both would support some form of tax on banks. But so far both have fallen far short of a true Robin Hood Tax. They both agreed the UK should press ahead with a bank tax or taxes without waiting for the rest of the world. I understand that the Liberal Democrats believe a financial transaction tax should help the poorest in the world.

With these parties government they have the chance to act on these commitments, and indeed to go further and deliver a ...

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Newly published from The Lindsey Press is Gathering in Prayer by a Northern Ireland Unitarian, Roger Courtney. Songwriter Roger Courtney is probably most widely known for 'The Pollen of Peace' , the song he composed for the Corrymeela Centre and which is included in the BBC Hymn Book. It has been translated into six languages and is sung regularly in many countries. Dr Courtney, who lives in Bangor, is also the author of The Northern Ireland Fundraising Handbook and Fundraising Through Trusts. After sixteen years as the Chief Officer of the Simon Community in Belfast, focusing on work with the homeless, ...

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Criticised by his teachers when he was an A-level student for 'having facial hair', our independent minded IT consultant and professional photographer, James Barry, has continued to allow his beard to grow for thirty-three years.

Now James has sacrificed the splendid 15-inch feature to raise funds for the Unitarian movement.

At the Annual Meetings (called the GA in Unitarian circles) in Nottingham in early April he agreed to the beard's being shortened by an inch for every £50 donated. An announcement was made by Lorna Hill with the firm advice that contributions of £10 and over were expected! ...

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Haiti Earthquake

Sexual violence in the Congo

Remember world's poorest in climate change decisions

New Book: The Good Ground

The Executive Committee is pleased to announce that Derek McAuley has been appointed to the post of Chief Officer of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. It is anticipated that he will take up the position in December 2009. Derek, aged 50, has been active within the Unitarian movement at congregational, district and national levels and has been a member of the Executive Committee since April 2008 and General Assembly Treasurer since April 2009. He served as a member of the Hibbert Trust collaborative inquiry into the future of liberal religion: "Shaping the Future". ...

click to read article (news-co.shtml)