Unitarian Christian Church of America
We warmly welcome you to the UCCA. We believe we are a “faith whose time has come, indeed a faith for today.” Our aim is not to impose a specific belief but to unite with others to promote, educate, and improve a “way of living” in harmony and peace with everyone.
The world we live in is not what God intended for it to be. The old ways no longer work, nor are they relevant; it is time for an “awakening.” Our spiritual needs are unmet as we have evolved, creating a growing spiritual and moral void that must be addressed.
We invite you to join us in becoming the revival that awakens humanity into the next century and beyond. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. The time is right, the need is clear, and the answer is waiting.
The UCCA teaches that life should be lived with love, humility, compassion, spiritual openness, and a commitment to personal and communal flourishing.
"First, liberty, freedom of the individual to think, think as he will or think as he must; but not liberty for the sake of itself. Liberty for the sake of finding the truth"
- Minot J. Savage, Our Unitarian Gospel (p. 9).
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO
October 25, 2026
Leviticus 19:1-2, 1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the Israelites and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God is holy.”
We can all agree that God is holy. But what does it mean that we are to be holy as well? What does it mean to be “holy”? To be “holy” means to be set apart, distinct from the ordinary. The Hebrew word for “holy” literally means “separate” or “set apart.” People often think of holiness as moral perfection or a list of rules, but in Scripture its foundational meaning is “otherness”: being set apart from common use and consecrated for a divine purpose. God is holy because He is qualitatively different from and superior to all creation, and beyond human understanding. We are holy when we choose to live in ways that reflect God’s holiness as it is manifest in His love for others and for all creation. Does this sound like you?
Living a holy life means choosing God's standards over the world's values, habits, and moral compromises. Holiness means dedicating yourself to God's purpose and growing in grace, not striving for flawless performance or practicing harsh, self-inflicted asceticism. Living in holiness means rejecting self-righteousness and reflecting God’s righteousness. The next question is: how do we do that?
"No one is born holy, no one is born unholy. A person becomes holy through their own deeds, and unholy through their own deeds." Sutta Nipata, Vasala Sutta
This Buddhist quote captures what we are discussing. In Buddhism, true holiness is not granted by a divine power; it is achieved by purifying one's mind, overcoming greed, anger, and delusion, and practicing profound compassion. Each of us chooses who we are. We choose to follow truth or dogma; we choose to live in godliness or in sin; no one makes us do so; it is our free will. Turning from worldly ways and following the way Jesus taught is your choice; no one can make it for you. When we choose to see others through God's eyes and love them as God does, and when we see all creation as God’s and accept that we are here by His grace to care for it, we see holiness for what it truly is. What do you see?
“However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?” Buddha Siddhartha Gautama Shakyamuni
This is the same message that Jesus and all the prophets gave us. It isn’t words, membership, creeds, or scriptures that make us holy. It’s how we live. No one, not even Jesus, can do it for you. It’s a choice you make: to follow Jesus, change your life, and live as a reflection of God’s love toward all others and all creation. You can’t tell someone you’re holy; they can’t read it in your writings. The only way to be holy is to live it with all your heart in all you say and do. Then the world and God will see you as unique, set apart, and truly holy. What will they see in you?
‘“It is an undoubted truth that every doctrine that comes from God leads to God; and that which doth not tend to promote holiness is not of God.” George Whitefield (1714-1770), Minister
This statement contains more truth than the preacher would have you know. When we look at it properly, we can rephrase it as: “If your doctrine promotes holiness, you can call it from God. But if not, it should be rejected.” The key words here are “promote holiness.” This applies not just to our words but, more importantly, to our actions. What we say is overshadowed by what we do, though the world witnesses both. Actions do speak louder than words in every case. Does the message you follow promote holiness, or does it sound like man? Do you follow the dogma of an institution, revere the words of a book, or do you live your faith for all to see and as an example for them to follow? Your “doctrine” is the witness of your life; is it truth? Does it come from God? Is it manifest in holiness? If not, when will you correct your path? When will you truly “repent” and turn your life around? When will you sin no more?
"Every man is as holy as he really wants to be." A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), Minister
This is true for every human being. It is your choice. What will you choose? To live in true godliness, loving as God does, seeing all others and our world as God does, caring for everyone and everything as God does, and helping others find their way. That is true holiness, godliness in action, the message Jesus and many others brought to us all. Have you found the truth? Are you free from the misdirection of institutions lost in ancient misunderstandings, free from dogmatic theologies founded on supernatural myths that mislead and misdirect? It’s up to you; no one can do it for you. Indeed, you can be holy if you put it in your heart, live it, and make it so. Do you really want to?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
Our Purpose:
Our Church is centered in our “Universal Principle”, thus, the UCCA declares and proclaims: “There is only one God, creator and sustainer of all existence, giver of life to all that lives. As God’s creation, we are to love and honor our God with every ounce of our being. When we purport to behave in a manner consistent with that belief, it is manifested by the unconditional love we have for, and the compassion we demonstrate to, all humankind and all creation.”
(Ref. Gospel of Mark 12:28-34)
Our Mission:
It is intended that the UCCA will become a common gathering place and a source of information, inspiration, and support for those who are considering or choose to become modern-day Unitarian Christians.
A Message for Today's World
We sincerely hope you'll find a comfortable and welcoming environment and new home here with us. When we come together, our goal is not to impose personal faith or judge honest individual differences. Instead, we strive to unite through our love for God and to live in truth, peace, and love for all humankind and all of God’s creation.
As our Platform may be unfamiliar to you, we invite you to take this opportunity to learn more about who we are and what we believe. The UCCA is genuinely committed to a “faith whose time has come, indeed, a faith for today.”
We welcome everyone who chooses to participate in living our Platform. Those who actively practice our Universal Principle embodied within our Foundational Beliefs and to the best of their abilities, live the faith we share as a way of life, not just a statement made when convenient or appropriate.
