Unitarianism and Churches Together UK

Comment by Philip Colfox on February 6, 2012 at 12:11

All groups of people appear to divide between the Change and No-Change variety. Radical vs Conservative. Early adopters vs Traditionalist. Etc.  It is easier to form an alliance between Liberal Jews, Moslems and Unitarians than it is between the Churches as a whole.  These liberal wings of different faiths seem to believe more in the core human values of respect for the beliefs of others than does Christendom acting through Churches Together!  

Comment by Linda Carsberg-Davis on February 6, 2012 at 16:38

I'm very heartened to see that someone has responded to my blog - and I agree totally with his comments. The present situation in the Christian Churches seems, to me, utterly at odds with "togetherness".  I fear we are, tragically, light years away from completely peaceful unity in Christ's love. 

Comment by Peter Colwell on February 6, 2012 at 17:55

Hi Linda,

although local churches together groups are completely independent of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and the national instruments in England, Scotland and Wales, and can set their own membership criteria, they do sometimes use the national membership of such bodies as a guide. The criteria - which includes professed faith in God as Trinity - was laid down in 1988/9 when we moved from the British Council of Churches to the Churches Together model. I wasn't around then so do not know much about the background to this.

Comment by Philip Colfox on February 6, 2012 at 21:15

Given that the Unitarians were one of the forward looking prime movers of the British Council of Churches, but went through a quiet phase in the post war period, it is a great loss to the ecumenical movement to have given local Churches Together Groups the option to hide behind bureaucracy and be un-ecumenical and loose the dynamic, radical outreach potential of the Unitarians. Most of the reforms to modern religious life have had a huge Unitarian input - for instance the provision of state education came with the proviso fought for by the Unitarian Rt Hon Jo Chamberlain MP (Chancellor of the Exchequer etc) that the religious education provided be on ecumenical grounds. the abolition of tithes and the institution of the more level playing field for all churches was driven through Parliament by his son as Minister of Health Rt Hon Neville Chamberlain MP - and that's just for starters.

Comment by Philip Colfox on February 6, 2012 at 21:29

It is worth saying that in 1942 when the organisations changed that time, Grandfathering rights were granted to the Quakers and Unitarians (the non-credal churches) that they could continue in the successor organisation to the ones that they had previously founded. This step was missed for the Unitarians in the 1980s revamp presumably because the Unitarians were going through a weak phase and suffered badly like all churches with poor recruitment and being a lot smaller were overstretched. It is not that way now, however, as the Unitarians have the biggest growth potential of all Churches in the UK - being the most open to defectors from the increasing populations of other faiths.

Comment by Linda Carsberg-Davis on February 7, 2012 at 12:34

I didn't know at all about the very valuable input to Society from the Chamberlain family. Thank you for that, Philip. The fact that "disbelief in the Trinity" is the reason for Unitarians' exclusion from ecumenical activities in my town, worries me deeply. I've had a little contact with members of Knutsford Unitarian Chapel and find them to be a very inclusive and loving congregation. It doesn't surprise me at all to hear that defectors from other faiths are joining Unitarianism. I seem to have "hit a brick wall" here in Knutsford, however, as no other churches are willing to respond to my emails on this subject. I did think that the Unitarian Minister, (who is becoming a friend), may well have been put in a difficult position by my efforts, but she seems very grateful! Don't quite know where to go with it, now - except, of course, to pray! Many thanks for your input, Philip!    

Comment by Philip Colfox on February 8, 2012 at 18:19

I think Unitarians feel as if the counter reformation is still in full swing and that the Unitarians are in some way likely to be visited by the Inquisition and burnt at the stake. The Catholics and Unitarians were the last of the religious groups to be allowed to hold public office or go to University in the UK and that was in the mid 19th Century. Their beliefs remained subject to the Blasphemy Act until approximately the same time. There really is a strong undercurrent of emotion against us from some so-called Christians. It makes one not want to have anything to do with Christians, some of whom give out quite aggressive feelings. It's a bit like being a Lib Dem like me and going Fox-Hunting (which I sometimes do). The fox-hunters think I am out to betray them.  I think the Christians do feel very threatened by the Unitarians. I am not sure why as we are only about 10,000 strong. I think that some Christians also strongly believe in the passage in the Bible where it says something like "nobody gets to God but through me". I can quite understand therefore that the tendency therefore of some Unitarians or indeed many Unitarians to explore other faiths and actively to suggest that the literal meaning of this passage is wrong, can be threatening to some Christians and make them think that Unitarians are not Christians. However a very great Unitarians have happily squared the circle between all the faiths by adopting a sort of Nestorian position - that Jesus was a man, but also is in a spiritual sense an emanation of the divine or of the spiritual world and exists in all of us and comes in many different disguises. Personally I think that is a very modern interpretation of Christianity and one that a great many mainstream Christians would agree with. It's pretty much the same as Bishop Jenkins' of Durham's view as I understand it.  However we Unitarians respect and welcome Atheists and Humanists and Buddhists and Pagans and people from all religions usually with the one qualification that they respect the beliefs of others because our common position is just that to respect the position of others (except a very few that we reject).  By coming into contact with people with other traditions and beliefs we challenge ourselves and are constantly learning and this, for me at least, has been immensely beneficial. Unitarian congregations have different styles - some are very traditional and some are very adventurous, but all of them are a bit like the excitement of Freshers Week at University when you try a bit of the things you like and stretch your brain and experiences a bit. In our town the Unitarians put on between 2 and 5 events a day and it is really quite interesting indeed.

Comment by Linda Carsberg-Davis on February 10, 2012 at 9:51

"Thank you" again, Philip. I feel like sharing this site with our local Unitarian Minister! In fact, I will tell her about it, next time we make contact. Having been brought up in a devout Anglican home, I strayed as a teenager and returned in my 20's. I became a  Roman Catholic in 1987, but was refused the Eucharist (and, incidentally, confession), when my marriage broke. My second husband of 20 years found his faith after a period of turmoil and we worshipped in our local Anglican Church, until we realised that, although people shared the Sign of Peace, there was absolutely no peace in the hearts of that congregation - centred mainly on a dislike of the relatively new (we felt she was wonderful!) Dutch vicar. So, we are now free Christians, working outside any Church and I have never felt closer to my God - I know that Rick feels the same. I simply wanted to share this with you, Philip, as a background to my writings! I WILL email again, but have to go out, now - husband will be calling me into the car! God bless you.. 

Comment by John Bradley on February 15, 2012 at 15:21

Linda, it's not true that you 'emailed CT once or twice recently asking this question, but no reply has arrived...so far!'  I replied at some length on January 16th; it's just that you didn't like what I said!  In our conversations in Churches Together in England we are constantly finding that we have misunderstood each others positions on various doctrines and practices.  I'm glad that we have Unitarian observers in the Theology and Unity Group and I think we all benefit from that.  Defining our basis does not mean restricting love and hospitality to those who fall within it.  I have many good friends who are Roman Catholics but since I am not of their part of the Church I cannot receive their Eucharist.  We share the pain and pray for the day when it will be healed but we don't give up on working together because of it.

How do you operate as 'free' Christians?  If you are 'in Christ', you are organically members of His Body, the Church, and branches of the True Vine, drawing the same sap as all the other branches.  If you are not in fellowship with other Christians in your locality, how can you use the gifts the Spirit has given you to build up the body?  Muscles only work when they pull together!

Comment by Philip Colfox on February 15, 2012 at 16:11

We believe that we pull together by keeping our individual personal beliefs private (unless invited to share) and by working with open minds, loving hearts and helping hands.

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