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).
WHAT DID JESUS TEACH
July 26, 2026
Matthew 5:20, For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Look around you. How many “scribes and Pharisees” do you see? Most will say, “none.” But is that true? The scribes and Pharisees Jesus referred to were the religious leaders of his time; we have the same today. Though they aren’t called by the same names Jesus used, many of our religious leaders today act the same way as those Jesus was speaking of. They, too, lack true “righteousness.” The “Kingdom of Heaven” isn’t what you have been told. It is a state of living in which your focus is on exemplifying the love of God in all you say and do. A life centered on becoming all that God would have you be. On being a reflection of “His Essence on Earth” as a help and example to all humankind. Are you?
To Jesus, being righteous meant living in a truly godly manner. It meant doing more than reciting the laws and commandments that many say are paramount and truly living a life that God would approve of. A life that others did not envy but saw as marked by goodness, unconditional compassion, and true concern for all people and all of God's creation; it was so very impressive; all who realized it desired to make it their own. This is what those who saw Jesus saw, why they chose to follow him, and what we today should see as well. Do you?
Most today don’t bother to know the truths of Jesus; they are lost in dogma, creeds, and liturgical recitations, and the “Book” to see or know the truth. Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi, a “Teacher of the Torah.” The difference in his teaching from that of others was that, instead of forcing the laws and commandments that exceeded 600 upon all but themselves, Jesus taught the truth. The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, but they contain much more than just laws or commandments that rule over anyone. The Torah, the Pentateuch, and even the New Testament are collections of ancient writings, and the Torah represents the true intent of these writings. Not to ascribe hard-and-fast rules, laws, and commandments that should govern our lives, but a deeper and fundamental reality: these writings are instructions and teachings to guide us in how to live godly lives, lives that are in a right relationship with our God, and to instill peace, unity, and compassion for all. They do what Jesus tried to do; they teach a way of life not under the demands, threats, and iron fist of laws but within the unconditional love of our Creator, so that when the world saw us, they saw the ‘Image of God” that dwells within.
Today's “scribes and Pharisees,” those who would be our “religious leaders,” are just as misguided as those Jesus spoke of. They seek power, dominion, control, and false respect, as others before them did. They teach false dogmatic doctrines and baseless creeds, recite liturgies, and preach sermons that are hollow of the true, simple teachings God would have us know. Few messages from today's religions teach a way of living in godliness; most do not even broach the subject. Jesus taught the Torah as it was meant to be taught, not as a set of laws and commandments that lacked substance for everyday life, but as a call to live it or not have it. He never said any of the things we are told to conform to, but he offered a simple message of godliness: “love one another.” That didn’t mean just certain Jews, or certain anyone; it meant everyone at any time, without exceptions or qualifications.
Do you?
Psalms 1:1-2, 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers, 2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
What is the “law of the LORD?” That is simple. All the LORD asks of you is to live in a way that reflects the love God has for all humankind to see, so that those who have lost their way might see your light of hope and return to Him. Is this what you do? Or are you lost in the wilderness, wandering through life, believing that following as closely as you can a list of laws and commandments will be your salvation? Those in the days of Jesus did the same; many today still do so. Are you one of them?
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.
