The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica

Featured Articles - July, 2007

Are We a "Church," a "Community," or Both?

Shall we change our name again? This is a proposal that we become the Unitarian Universalist Community of Santa Monica.

We have changed our name twice before. Our original name was All Souls Unitarian Church of Santa Monica. In 1951 we changed it to Unitarian Community Church of Santa Monica. We still have that name above our door. In 1961 the Unitarians and Universalists merged, but we waited until 1995 to become the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica.

I propose changing our name again. Why? Because the word "church" makes a lot of people uncomfortable. "Church" is defined as a Christian organization. Some of us define ourselves as Christian. Many more do not.

We have a number of Jews in our congregation. There are also many Jews who will not join because we are called a church. We also have people from Muslim backgrounds and those with other religious backgrounds or none at all.

Removing the word "church" does not mean we are anti-Christian. It means our essence is that we are a community, which is a truer statement of what we are than saying we are a community church. It is more welcoming, which (as we remind ourselves each Sunday) we strive to be. It is also more inclusive, which is the most important reason for making the change.

On the other hand, it has been pointed out that if we call ourselves "community" people might think we are a community center. Many of us agree that our name is too long, but deleting "church" doesn't help much. One suggestion is to delete Santa Monica also, making it clear that our members are drawn from a wider area.

Most UU congregations use names other than "church." The list includes "congregation," "society," "fellowship." In the northeast many are "parish." Some are "Unitarian Universalists" alone. And there are a few called "community." Why make the change now? Because we are just starting the building process and incorporated in our facilities there will undoubtedly be a new sign. And why not now?

This is a big decision. Let's start thinking now, so next year at the time of the annual meeting we will have had the opportunity for widespread discussion and a feel for the sentiment of our members.

And let's think about how we have this discussion. One comment about people who have negative feelings about the word "church" was that they should "get over it." This discussion is the opportunity, as Judith states each Sunday, to "practice what it means to be human." (Yes, I recognize the irony because this James Luther Adams quote is prefaced by "Church is where we . . . .") Here is our opportunity to practice humanity by discussing — without sarcasm or acrimony — a topic that for some will have great emotional impact and for others little importance. Whatever we ultimately decide, let's discuss it without it dividing us. Maybe we will find a consensus.

Let's start with the newsletter. Send your letter to the editor (newsletter@uusm.org) and let's get the discussion going.

— Carol Agate

Book Review: "Out of the Flames"

Afascinating book was recently passed into my hands. My friend said, “You should read this. It’s about how your religion started.” While this is not really the case, the book is a very good and, for a Unitarian Universalist, valuable read.

The book is “Out of the Flames: The Remarkable Story of a Fearless Scholar, a Fatal Heresy, and One of the Rarest Books in the World” by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone, published in 2002 by Broadway Books.

The story starts with the invention of the printing press in 1455. The authors liken this invention to the creation of the Internet. Suddenly information that had been locked up in elite libraries was widely available. For the first time people had the opportunity to actually read the Bible and other books themselves. This ferment led to the Reformation, with many people not only exploring new venues of thought but also being able to publish and express their views beyond their immediate environment.

The book then follows the life of the brilliant Michael Servetus born in Huesca, Spain, in 1511. By the time he was 13 he could read Spanish, French, Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. When he was 19 he published a book pointing out that the concept of the Trinity is not present in the Bible. This heretical belief caused him to be sentenced to death in absentia by the Spanish Inquisition. Reform leaders were equally furious.

Servetus was able to escape them both by assuming a new identity in a new city. The book follows the twists and turns of his life as well as the lives of various other reform leaders. Eventually Servetus is caught, tried, and burned at the stake for heresy. It was intended that all his books be burned with him. However it appears that a few books escaped the flames. The book then follows the search for the remaining Servetus books and the beginnings of the Unitarian movement.

The book reads like a thriller. It also gives a vivid portrait of a time of change when new ideas were tumbling about and those in power responded by demanding strict adherence to the letter of religious law. “Out of the Flames” is in our church library and available in our bookstore. The Los Angeles Public Library and the Santa Monica Public Library each has two copies.

— Dorothy Steinicke

Our Weekend at Sleepaway Camp

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