Spiritual & Religious

University Unitarian Church was established in 1913, after the
Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition encouraged expansion at the University
of Washington. Families moving north to a new neighborhood found travel
to the downtown Seattle church—mostly on unpaved roads—too difficult.
This new congregation met for Sunday services in a rented hall.

Seattle was young, and times were almost unimaginably different.
Consider, for instance, that UUC – like so many public places – closed
all its functions for two months during the Spanish flu epidemic of
1918.

But the challenges, aspirations, and accomplishments of the
congregation then were remarkably like our own today: fundraising,
rapid growth, and space issues. Take this familiar story - During the
first congregational banquet, there were 80 reservations and 102
served.

UUC continues its long and interesting history as a spiritual home in Seattle.

University Congregational United Church of Christ is a progressive
liberal Protestant church. We see ourselves as an inclusive church, open
to diverse people and beliefs, but rooted in God's extravagant love, mercy
and justice. At the start of every worship service our clergy declares, "You
are welcome here, whether you are a believer, a
seeker, or a doubter. We pray that you will be met here by the living
Christ."

We are a covenantal church, not a doctrinal
church. This means that members of our church agree to work together toward
certain shared principles. Our members are not required to swear allegiance
to a defined set of beliefs.

We are an open and affirming church. This means
that we celebrate our diversity in religious background, sexual orientation,
race and abilities.

We believe that our strength as a Christian community lies in accepting and embracing the gifts of each person.

We invite all persons to full participation in the life of this
church. We welcome diversity of race, abilities, sexual orientation,
gender, age, religious background, opinion, marital status, and
economic condition.

We believe that we are made in God’s image and that we are called to
accept ourselves and our sexuality as a gift of God which enriches our
lives. We recognize that many of God’s people have suffered oppression
for reasons of sexual orientation.

Therefore, we covenant ourselves to be an OPEN AND AFFIRMING
congregation. We seek to end the continuing injustice of institutional
discrimination, instances of violence, and setbacks in civil rights
protection for gay, lesbian and bisexual people. As we journey together
with this community of faith, let us continue to celebrate God’s love
for us all.

Vision

We, the members of Temple B'nai Torah, a Reform Jewish congregation,
strive to build a caring, inclusive K'hillah K'doshah (sacred
community) and to fulfill the covenant between God and Am Yisrael (the
Jewish People) by engaging together in the primary Jewish acts of
Torah, Avodah and G'milut Hasadim - study, prayer and acts of loving
kindness.

To these ends, we affirm the following Precepts:

Torah

"It is a tree of life those who hold it fast"

Proverbs 3:18

Belief in one God and Torah is the essential expression of Jewish
spirituality, however, we respect the path each person travels towards
affirming that spirituality. We provide full opportunities for lifelong
learning in the Reform Jewish tradition through worship, instruction,
and individual study. Through our evolving understanding of Torah, we
set our compass and chart our course as a congregation.

Tikun Olam

"Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God"

Micah 6:8

Out of rachmones (love/compassion), we embrace the responsibilities
of our Jewish tradition and the opportunities to work for the
betterment of our congregation, our community and our world. We commit
ourselves to become ever more informed, as Jews and as citizens. Thus
do we gain the understanding and wisdom to act decisively and
effectively in promoting greater social justice.

Children -- Family -- Community

"And you shall teach them diligently to your children"

Deuteronomy 6:7

We treasure our children as a natural part of all we do. They are
the future of Judaism. We provide education and opportunities for
participation to instill strong Jewish values, foster a lifelong love
of Torah and strengthen the sense of community for children and
families of all generations.

Democracy

"Hearken unto the voice of the people"

I Samuel 8:7

We are dedicated to democratic decision-making stemming from Jewish
principles. Our leaders reflect the diversity of our congregation and
lead with integrity and a sense of fairness. Decisions are made with
respect for the tension that arises as we strive to achieve balance
between our resources and our goals.

Individual Worth

"And God created the human in the Divine image"

Genesis 1:27

All individuals who accept these precepts are welcome at Temple
B’nai Torah. We strive to understand and accept each other through open
communication and believe that through diversity our mishpacha
(community) is enriched.

As a
worshiping people, we seek to know the living God in the experience and the sacredness of our
daily lives. We witness to God’s love by spreading and sharing the Good News through word and action.

As an Open and Affirming church, ever grateful for God’s unconditional love, we welcome and accept
everyone into worship and full participation in church life.

Following the example of Jesus Christ, we strive to heal the broken, to feed the hungry and to provide service through outreach and involvement, seeking wholeness, justice and righteousness for
all people.

As stewards, we are called to be a caring people, living in harmony with the environment, respecting and honoring the gifts of God’s creation.

We, the members and friends of St. Paul's are called in covenant
with God and one another to provide an environment of emotional and
physical safety in which people of all races, genders, ages, cultures
and sexual orientations may come and spiritually grow at his/her own
pace. All are welcome to come without judgment or criticism.

Through Christian fellowship, we seek to provide opportunities to
experience God's spirit and grace in community. We are committed to
developing a fellowship where each member has a place and can
experience their own rebirth and growth into mature spiritual
individuals.

We are inspired by the mission of the Greater UCC church to share in
the care of our wider community and unite in the struggle for social
justice.

We celebrate God's grace and humbly serve all people in the name of Jesus Christ.

Our MISSION is to

To affirm and promote Unitarian Universalist Principles and Purposes as the standard of human behavior in our interdependent world;

To be a sanctuary for the exploration and expression of liberal religion;

To provide worship services, religious education, and other programs that inspire and energize the congregation and individuals to spiritual
growth;

To foster an environment of intimacy, acceptance, and mutual support;

To be a welcoming refuge for all who seek affirmation of personal worth and dignity;

To grow in human and financial resources in order to accomplish our goals;

To embody, for ourselves and the world, the greater possibilities of human community.

Founded in 1869, the founders of our church, the Hanford and Holgate
families, were among the very first pioneer settlers to Puget
Sound. Our church is one of the oldest in Seattle. We are an American Baptist Church USA, a member of the Evergreen Baptist Association of the Northwest and a Welcoming and Affirming congregation.

Our Distinctiveness
As a Baptist church, we serve as a "healing bridge" for persons coming out of a style of fundamentalism that has been damaging and hurtful.

We are a welcoming and affirming congregation; sexual and gender minority persons are naturally integrated into the congregation in a relaxed way.

Our mission is to nurture connection and meaning in the
lives of individuals and to create a world of compassion and justice. Our vision
is to be a beacon of liberal religion in South King County.

Where is it? How old is the church? 

Saltwater Church is located on five wooded acres nearby
Saltwater State Park in Des Moines, Washington. The church has been in South
King County since 1954.

Who is welcome to attend?

 All are welcome, regardless of creed, class, ethnicity,
gender, or sexual orientation. The church is wheelchair accessible and has
assisted listening devices for the hearing impaired.

As a congregation of growing faith,
called by God, shaped by Christ,
and empowered by the Spirit:

We are a people who seek to understand, struggle
with and celebrate personal and public life in
light of our faith, its scriptures and traditions.
We strive for an atmosphere of theological and
spiritual tolerance through which we may be nurtured
and connected as we share our doubts and discoveries.
As an open and affirming church, we welcome all
persons in this journey.

We are commited to join others in caring for
the peoples and places of the broader community.
We share in the struggle for justice and peace,
forming partnerships and sharing our resources.
As a United Church of Christ,
we join with the mission of the wider church in
seeking reconciliation and wholeness in the world.