What is Unitarian Universalism?

Unitarian Universalism (UU) is a non-creedal, inclusive, and liberal religion that encourages a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We believe more than one thing. Whether you come from a Pagan, Christian, atheist, humanist, or seeker’s path, you are invited to bring your whole self—your full identity, your questioning mind, and your expansive heart.

Our community holds no single creed. Instead, we are united by shared values, a commitment to love and justice, and a covenant to support one another in our spiritual journeys. We don’t ask you to leave anything at the door. UU is not about what you must believe—it’s about how we live, grow, and care for each other in community.
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Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition, shaped by history, reason, and experience. It draws from many spiritual and philosophical sources, honors both personal insight and collective wisdom, and remains open to growth, reimagining, and re-commitment. Rather than a single sacred text or fixed doctrine, our faith evolves in relationship—with one another, with the world, and with our deepest values.

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Today, our commitments are articulated in three interwoven frameworks:

• The Seven Principles, which have shaped UU identity since the 1980s;
• The Six Sources, which ground our spiritual exploration across world traditions;
• The UU Values, adopted in 2023, which place love at the center of our covenant and call us toward justice, equity, pluralism, interdependence, transformation, and generosity.

Unitarian Universalist congregations include people who identify as theists, agnostics, atheists, humanists, mystics, and seekers of all kinds. Across our churches, fellowships, and societies—throughout the United States and beyond—what binds us together is not uniformity of belief but a shared dedication to building a more just, loving, and interconnected world.

Together, we form a spiritual force greater than any single tradition or belief system. We do not check our backgrounds or convictions at the door. Instead, we journey together in covenant, honoring where we’ve been and co-creating the world we long to live in.

​Our Living Tradition: Sources, Principles, and Values

Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition, shaped by experience, reflection, and the evolving needs of our world. Over time, UUs have expressed our shared faith through guiding frameworks: the Six Sources (our roots), the Seven Principles (our long-held commitments), and most recently, the UU Values (our shared covenant adopted in 2023). Each remains meaningful in our communities today, offering insight and inspiration on the journey of spiritual growth and justice

UU Six Sources

We draw from a rich tapestry of religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions. These Six Sources are not doctrines to be believed but wells of inspiration and wisdom.

​They reflect our ongoing dialogue with mystery, justice, nature, and human reason. UUs may be deeply rooted in one source or draw from many across their lives

We draw spiritual insight and ethical guidance from:​

• Direct experience of transcending mystery and wonder;
• Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront injustice;
• Wisdom from world religions, which inspires ethical living and spiritual growth;
• Jewish and Christian teachings that call us to love and justice;
• Humanist teachings, which counsel reason and affirm human agency;
• Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions, celebrating the sacred circle of life.

UU Seven Principles

The Seven Principles are a set of ethical commitments that guide Unitarian Universalists in how we relate to ourselves, each other, and the wider world. 

1. 1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. 2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. 3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. 4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. 5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. 6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7. 7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
8. The 8th Principle: We covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions

UU Values

​As adopted in the revised Article II of the UUA bylaws, these shared values are the foundation of our covenant with one another:
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Love — at the center of all we do. Love grounds us, guides our ethics, and calls us into right relationship with ourselves, others, and the world.
Justice — building a world where all can thrive. We work to end oppression and create fairness within and beyond our communities.
Equity — dismantling barriers to full inclusion. All people—of every identity and ability—deserve to be valued, supported, and empowered.
Interdependence — honoring the web of life and our place within it. Liberation is collective, and care extends to all beings and ecosystems.
Pluralism — celebrating diverse beliefs and experiences. Truth is not singular; our faith is enriched by many paths and voices.
Transformation — embracing change as essential to growth. We are committed to renewing ourselves, our institutions, and our understanding.
Generosity — cultivating a spirit of abundance and compassion. We offer our time, gifts, and presence to nourish shared purpose and care.

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What Is a Covenant in Unitarian Universalism?

In Unitarian Universalism, a covenant is a sacred promise that binds individuals and communities not through shared beliefs, but through shared commitments, values, and relationships. It is the foundation of our faith tradition—a living agreement about how we walk together in community, honor our differences, and hold ourselves accountable to one another.
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Unlike a creed, which defines what must be believed, a covenant defines how we choose to live and relate—with love, respect, and mutual responsibility.

UU covenants can take many forms:

• Theological covenants, like the one expressed in the UU Values adopted in 2023, outline our collective commitments to love, justice, equity, and interdependence.
• Congregational covenants, often recited in worship or printed in bylaws, affirm how a particular UU community agrees to nurture spiritual growth, welcome diversity, and care for one another.
• Behavioral covenants are more specific, co-created agreements that guide how we engage during meetings, decision-making, or conflict—naming values like active listening, mutual respect, consent, and accountability.

All forms of UU covenant are relational, voluntary, and renewable. They are not enforced by doctrine, but sustained by trust, intention, and the ongoing work of being in right relationship with ourselves, our communities, and the world.

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What is CUUPS?

The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) is an organization dedicated to networking Pagans, educating people about Paganism, promoting interfaith dialogue, developing Pagan liturgies and theologies, and supporting Pagan-identified religious professionals. 

CUUPS exists on three levels.

• CUUPS exists at the individual level – our members, friends, and frequent participants, as well as Pagan-identified UUs and UU-friendly Pagans.
• CUUPS exists at the chapter level – chapters have their own organization, activities, and relationships with their host congregations.
• CUUPS exists at the Continental level – our Board of Trustees, which manages our wider programs and maintains a relationship with the UUA.​

CUUPS chapters are organized democratically just like our Parent UU Congregations. Many Chapters hold elections and have a President.

Wyoming Valley CUUPS elected Eric Peisel as Wyoming Valley CUUPS Manager. The next elections members will be able to vote is January 2026.  ​

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About UU Paganism

UU Paganism is a community of Pagans instilled with specific UU values that include the celebration of diversity and respect for all. UU Paganism does not tie a person to any particular dogma in the Earth-centered religious traditions.

Each person is free to choose their own spiritual "truth." Heathens, Hellenics, Druids, Wiccans, Witches, Animists and so on make up the community of UU Pagans. 
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• We are active in UU congregations and we support UU principles and causes.

• We have many different Pagan identities, beliefs, and practices.  Some are more represented than others (Earth-centered, Pagan, and Witch are the most common labels selected) but none dominate.
• Nature is very important to us, and our most popular spiritual practices involve interacting with Nature.  We connect to Nature physically, spiritually, and mystically.
• Like most UUs, we want community but we value individual sovereignty even more.
• We meet most frequently for group rituals.
• We like educational opportunities, but there is no clear consensus on what we should study.
• We have an interest in gods and spirits.  About 60% of us see them as independent beings, while 40% see them as metaphors for natural phenomena.

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