Who We Are

Our Mission

The mission of Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) is to create a welcoming community that nurtures spiritual growth and challenges us to transform the world through acts of love and justice.

We Are Unitarian Universalists

We are brave, curious, and compassionate people committed to making a positive difference in the world. Diverse in faith, ethnicity, history, and spirituality, we are united by shared values of love, justice, and peace, and respect for human dignity.

Rooted in a tradition of free thought and spiritual exploration, we believe that personal experience, reason, and reflection help shape our beliefs. We need not think alike to love alike.

Our community includes people from many religious and philosophical backgrounds, including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, atheist, agnostic, and those who embrace spiritual mystery. Some believe in God, some do not, and many find meaning in a variety of ways. What binds us together is not a shared creed, but a shared commitment to support one another and work for the common good.

For more than 40 years, TVUUC has been a leader in LGBTQ+ inclusion and affirmation. We welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, backgrounds, abilities, and life experiences.

We invite you to bring your whole self, your questions and convictions, your doubts and hopes, into a community where you can grow, connect, and make a difference.

Beliefs and Principles

In Unitarian Universalism, you are encouraged to bring your full identity, questioning mind, and open heart. Together, we create a community that honors where we come from while supporting our ongoing search for truth and meaning.

Our beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no required creed. Instead, we are guided by shared values and covenantal commitments expressed through the Seven Principles, which support “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.”

While Unitarianism and Universalism have roots in liberal Christian traditions, today’s Unitarian Universalism draws wisdom from many religious, philosophical, scientific, and ethical sources.

In addition to the Seven Principles, many congregations, including TVUUC, have endorsed the 8th Principle:

“Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other forms of oppression in ourselves and our institutions.”

Unitarian Universalists reflect together on life’s most important questions, including:

Though our beliefs may differ, we are united by shared values, meaningful worship, lifelong learning, service to others, social justice work, and a commitment to creating beloved community.

What We Do

We seek to create positive change in ourselves, our communities, and the wider world.

Unitarian Universalists put their faith into action through acts of love, service, justice, and compassion. We believe that our values are best expressed not only through what we believe, but through how we live.

How We Live Our Faith

  • Worship & Inspiration: Sunday services and opportunities for spiritual growth throughout the week.
  • Action & Service: Volunteer work, advocacy, and efforts to advance justice and equity.
  • Connection & Care: Mutual support, small groups, youth and family programs, and pastoral care.
  • Celebrations & Life Passages: Weddings, memorial services, child dedications, coming-of-age ceremonies, and other meaningful milestones.

Together, we strive to build a more compassionate, just, and welcoming world.

Congregational Covenant

While we do not share a single creed or doctrine, we are held together by covenant: the promises we make about how we will live, grow, and care for one another in community. Each Unitarian Universalist congregation creates its own covenant to reflect its values and aspirations. At TVUUC, our covenant reads:

We covenant with each other, promising our goodwill and honest effort, pledging our care and support to one another and to our church community, challenging one another to live in accord with our Unitarian Universalist principles.

With this common purpose as our source, we covenant:

  • to welcome all who come to us with acceptance and respect for the differences among us, and to remain open to the richness and discomforts of diversity;
  • to listen with sincerity and love;
  • to foster trust, practice patience and speak one’s truth directly and with compassion;
  • to reflect carefully about the potential results of our words and actions before we speak or act;
  • to assume the positive intent of others and keep our discussions to topics and issues rather than personalities;
  • to acknowledge that we may not always agree with the group decisions, but we will support and participate in decision-making processes that are collaborative and democratic; and be open to compromise;
  • to pursue a mutually satisfying resolution when there is disagreement, and seek help when needed;
  • to speak directly to those with whom we have disagreements and encourage others to do the same;
  • to speak out with loving kindness when we witness disrespectful interactions, acknowledging our fallibility and practicing forgiveness;
  • to act with loving kindness, seeking to promote justice, equity, and compassion;
  • to understand that building our beloved community requires ongoing learning and practice of courageous acts of love and reconciliation.