As Unitarian Universalists, we are brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers. We are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, but aligned in our desire to make a difference for the good. We have a track record of standing on the side of love, justice, and peace.

We have radical roots and a history as self-motivated spiritual people: we think for ourselves and recognize that life experience influences our beliefs more than anything.  In the following pages you can find out about:

Who We Are

At a Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady worship service or meeting, you are likely to find members whose positions on faith may be derived from a variety of religious beliefs: Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, naturist, atheist, or agnostic. Members might tell you that they are religious humanists, liberal Christians, or world religionists.

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This Unitarian Universalist congregation located in Schenectady, NY has had a presence in this city since 1901. We are a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, aka the UUA. We are guided by 7 principles, and the Living Tradition we share draws from many sources. Our congregations and faith communities promote these principles through regular worship, learning and personal growth, shared connection and care, social justice and service, celebration of life’s transitions, and much more.

What Guides Us?

Our Shared Values

Our beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We strive to live into a covenant based on shared values, and celebrate an openness to inspiration.

Our shared covenant declares that Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.

Inseparable from one another, these shared values are Interdependence, Pluralism, Justice, Transformation, Generosity, and Equity.

Interdependence

We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it.

We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.

Pluralism

We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.

We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.

Justice

We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive.

We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.

Transformation

We adapt to the changing world.

We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.

Generosity

We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope.

We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.

Equity

We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.

We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.

Our Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources

UU Principles

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Sources

The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

• Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
• Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
• Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
• Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
• Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
• Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Our Mission and Vision

The UUSS Mission

Connecting in spiritual community,
we celebrate life with joy
grow in compassion
create justice

Our Vision

The vision of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady:

• We will boldly live our Unitarian Universalist Principles, within our church and in service to the larger community
• We will nurture mind and spirit through lifelong learning, engagement and growth
• We will create a community that welcomes, embraces and supports all
• We will worship in ways that comfort, inspire and challenge

Our Ministers and Staff

Rev. Wendy Bartel and Rev. Lynn Gardner
Co-Ministers

Read more about our ministers and staff here:

Our Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees governs the Society, with authority delegated to it by the Congregation. Two or three members of the seven-person Board are elected each year at the congregation’s Annual Meeting in May.  The Board meets on the third Monday of each month at 6 PM.

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Our Congregation

Schenectady Unitarian Universalists have a diverse religious background. Only about 10-15 % of us are lifelong Unitarians. About 60% were once associated with one of the many Protestant groups and about 20% come from a Roman Catholic background. Other members range from Zoroastrian and Greek Orthodox to Quaker, and a bit more than 10% ascribed to no religious group prior to associating with us.

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We are an LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation

We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people.

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Our Location

The Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady (UUSS) is located at 1221 Wendell Avenue in the historic GE Reality Plot, a block away from Union College and centrally located between Schenectady’s downtown and Upper Union Street business districts.

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