People's Church is a welcoming congregation that encourages visitors to attend. Our goal is to be a supportive community, nurturing the lives of all who come, while respecting each individual's independence of thought. When entering through the front doors, there is a table located to the right where members can help answer any questions you may have about our church. Here are some commonly asked questions.

What Do Unitarian Universalists Believe?

The short answer is this: individual Unitarian Universalists believe whatever they choose to believe, based upon their own reasoning and experience.

The longer answer is that Unitarian Universalism (UU) is a religious movement which is not bound by creeds and doctrines. Ours is an approach to religion where freedom of conscience is encouraged. When we come together as congregations, we gather around shared values instead of beliefs. Central to those shared values are freedom of thought, respect for reason and rationality in religion, and tolerance for different beliefs and practices. We encourage one another to live toward wisdom, compassion and justice, using inspiration from many different traditions. Unitarian Universalist beliefs are consistent with seven principles that our congregations have agreed to affirm:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement of human growth
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
• 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

Where Do the Words Unitarian and Universalist Come From?

The term "Unitarian" originally meant "non-trinitarian," a belief in the oneness of God rather than a three-part entity. Our ranks now include those of more non-theistic and non-supernatural religious bents as well. We value the teachings of many great thinkers from several religious or philosophical points of view.

The term "Universalist" derived from the concept of universal salvation first promulgated by the Alexandrian theologian, Origen and centuries later by Protestant Christians like John Murray and Hosea Ballou. The American Unitarian Association and The Universalist Church of America were both relatively small religious bodies when they merged in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal tradition that does not prescribe a mandatory or restrictive set of beliefs or creeds. Each individual is free to undertake his or her religious and spiritual life according to the dictates of conscience and reason. Our goal is to be a committed and supportive community, nurturing the religious lives and growth of all who come, while respecting each individual's independence of thought.

Who Are Our Members?

As Unitarian Universalists, we welcome all persons regardless of race, age, disability, sexual orientation, economic status or faith. We respect diverse sources of religious inspiration, and endeavor to teach our children and ourselves to live with reverence for life and in harmony with all creation. A vision of community guides everything we do at People's Church. Every member signs our Bond of Union, adopted in 1892, at the time of joining.

Membership is open to anyone 16 years of age or older who is in sympathy with our church's vision and mission, as well as with the principles and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

When Do We Meet?

During the regular church year Sunday Services begin at 10:45 a.m. (We meet at 10:00 a.m. during the summer.) Children and youth attend the first part of the service with their families, then go to classrooms for religious education.

We have a few activities that occur before the service:

9:30-10:30 a.m.- The Forum meets for lectures and discussion on a wide variety of topics of interest to both church members and the wider community

10:00 a.m. - Choir Rehearsal

Throughout the week, a variety of other activities take place including classes, discussion groups, social service activities, outings, and committee work. Many members are active in a local interfaith social justice consortium, Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community (ISAAC). Our young adult group, Kalamazoo UU Liberal Students, meets once a week on the campus of Western Michigan University.

Meeting times and places for these and other groups can be found on our calendar.

Who Is Our Minister?

The Reverend Jill McAllister was called as our minister in April 1998. A graduate of Duke University, Washington University, and Mt. Angel Seminary (Oregon), she brings to her ministry her experiences in environmental science, parenting and teaching. She has served on the UUA Board of Trustees and is active in the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU). In her own words:

"My definition of ministry is 'being with,' which I understand to mean living intentionally involved in and related to Life--as it manifests in other people, in the universe and in the deepest parts of myself. This understanding constantly reminds me to strive to let Life live through into the world, by engaging honestly and compassionately with others. When this work of 'being with' allows or encourages others to be in the presence of Life is to experience what Love is."

"Ministry flows from a committment to living the values of our faith. Freedom of belief and the primacy of reason in religious ideas and practices are values which are no less at risk now than they have been at any time in the past. It is perhaps the most crucial role of the liberal ministry to articulate these values."

What About Religious Education?

Religious Education is a lifelong quest, and at the center of People's Church programs is Religious Education for Children and Youth. Classes meet weekly on Sunday mornings, led by dedicated volunteer teachers. Our curriculum includes the UU tradition, Jewish and Christian heritage, world religions, peace and social justice, environmental justice, and a wide variety of topics and activities of special or timely interest at age appropriate levels. In addition to K-12 classes, we have a nursery for babies and a preschool for toddlers.

Offered in our Adult Education program is a variety of study groups, classes, discussions, retreats, and seminars. Our goal is not to provide all the answers, but to encourage every person, young or old, to stay on the path to discovery.

Who Runs the Church?

People's Church is one of approximately 1,000 congregations in the United States that are voluntary members of the UUA. Like all of these other congregations, our church is autonomous; the members 'run' the church through the elected Board of Trustees, whose nine members serve overlapping three-year terms. In democratically conducted meetings, our members make decisions on matters of policy, election of officers, fiscal and social concerns and the calling of a minister. Our staff members and all committees report directly to the Board.

As part of the UUA, we are also linked with Unitarian Universalist partners in more than 20 other countries around the world. The Board of People's Church has partnered with the Unitarian congregation of Kovaszna, Romania for many years, and has recently begun a partnership with Burundi in Africa. This partnership helps to facilitate our understanding of UUism in other cultural, social and religious contexts.

The trustees agree that the responsibilities of each member include being present and active in the life of People's Church by being intentional about personal religious growth and learning, and by supporting the church with one's time and talents, as well as a financial pledge.

How Do I Become a Member?

Membership is a form of belonging to and taking root in our particular community. It is expected that members actively support the operations of the church through regular attendance, service, and an annual financial contribution of record.

We encourage everyone interested in learning more about us to attend our Membership Orientation, offered three times a year. This class allows participants to get to know other people who are exploring membership, as well as the minister and other lay leaders. Topics include the history of Unitarian Universalism and People's Church, our work in the wider community, and the rights and responsibilities of membership.

Formal membership is accomplished by signing our Bond of Union. When you are ready to join, we invite you to request our Path to Membership letter with Intent-to-Join card, or talk with the minister, office administrator, or a member of the membership committee at the Information Desk in the foyer on Sundays. We also have a mentor program where a People's Church member will be available to answer your questions and assist you as needed.