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26-642: The UCA also has fraternal relations with European groups such as the Assemblée Fraternelle des Chrétiens Unitariens (AFCU) and Congregazione Italiana Cristiana Unitariana, along with North American groups such as the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship and American Unitarian Conference. As such, the UCA should be considered to be part of three Christian subcultures—the distinct traditions of Unitarianism and Free Christianity, and

52-540: A "Revival" every year, which is an opportunity for its members to gather together. Members also meet regularly at their local Unitarian Universalist congregations in UUCF-affiliated Christian spirituality covenant groups, and by engaging in sharing and discussions on the UUCF Facebook group and page and via e-mail. [[Category:Unitarian Universalist organizations] This article about a Christian organization

78-428: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Unitarian Universalism –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland The Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland is a non-creedal Christian denomination, which maintains a great emphasis on individual conscience in matters of Christian faith. The Church became part of

104-595: Is constituted of three Presbyteries: the Presbytery of Antrim with 16 churches, the Presbytery of Bangor with 13 churches, and the United Presbytery and Synod of Munster with 4 churches. The Unitarian churches of Dublin and Cork publish a monthly magazine entitled 'Oscailt'. In 1725, the Synod of Ulster formed a new Presbytery of Antrim, consisting of the following 16 congregations: - Newtownlimavady , under Joseph Osborne,

130-575: Is in accordance with 'The Constitution and Code of Discipline' (1997) of the denomination, which states: "That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the rule of Christian Faith and Duty under the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ" and "That it is the inalienable right of every Christian to search these records of Divine Truth for his instruction and guidance, to form his own opinions with regard to what they teach and to worship God in sincerity, agreeably to

156-523: The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches on its foundation in 1928, although it is now recognised under the terms of the 2010 Accord with the General Assembly as an independent and fully functioning denomination in its own right. Non-subscribing Presbyterians continue to maintain a strong commitment to the worship of God, the person of Christ, and the centrality of Scripture. This

182-608: The Lord's Supper (Communion) and Baptism . Baptism is usually performed using the wording from Matthew 28 , and this usage has increased in many places in recent years. The Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland is a founder of, and active within the Irish Council of Churches and the European Liberal Protestant Network (ELPN). Today, the denomination has thirty-four congregations (thirty-three churches) on

208-656: The Unitarian Universalist Association of the United States, whose main office is based in Oak Ridge , Tennessee. The UUCF was founded in Boston , Massachusetts in 1945, and can trace its roots back through the history of North American Christian Universalism and Unitarianism . As its bylaws put it: We serve Christian Unitarians and Universalists according to their expressed religious needs; uphold and promote

234-721: The Westminster Confession , a standard Reformed ( Calvinist ) statement of faith; and who were placed, in 1725, in the Presbytery of Antrim . A similar disagreement led to the creation of the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster in 1830. In 1835 the two bodies together with the Synod of Munster formed the Association of Irish Non-subscribing Presbyterians. However, the foundation of the earliest of Irish Presbyterian congregations predates

260-439: The Association, and to undertake any other charitable purpose that may arise." They sought to achieve these aims through working together on explicitly Unitarian Christian publications such as The Herald (a journal published every quarter), contributions to Hymns of Faith and Freedom (a Unitarian hymn book), and through the holding of explicitly Unitarian Christian meetings, lectures and services within churches affiliated with

286-596: The Christian witness within the Unitarian Universalist Association; and uphold and promote the historic Unitarian and Universalist witness and conscience within the church universal. They do this work by publishing quarterly (Advent/Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time) the Good News Journal , a journal of theology and spirituality for progressive and liberal Christians , and by holding

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312-597: The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. In its early years, the members of the UCA decided that they did not wish to apply for recognition as an official body affiliated to the General Assembly. But after the GA adopted new aims and objects which specifically included "the upholding of the liberal Christian tradition," it was agreed that it would be appropriate to apply for recognition. The Unitarian Christian Association became an Affiliated Society in April 2002. Despite

338-588: The Presbytery of Antrim, the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster, and those congregations that had formed the Free Congregational Union (a radical group made up of a few congregations who had left the Remonstrant Synod or the Presbytery of Antrim) for a few years, formed the General Synod. By 1910 only three congregations of the original Synod of Munster remained in the south of Ireland. Although (like all

364-564: The UCA also maintains an ethos of theological open-mindedness and inclusivity shaped by its links with the Free Christian tradition. This is highlighted by the UCA's Foundational Declaration (Recast Edition) which states the following: "The Bible is central to our faith and Jesus is the Teacher, Exemplar and Master. We will read and search scripture for truth, interpreted by the authority of Conscience. All creeds and confessions restrict belief and

390-545: The Unitarian Christian Association sought to uphold the original Unitarian Christian tradition of Francis David within the British Unitarian movement. The aims of the UCA were "to promote Unitarian Christian religion in the congregations of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, to promote religious education within that tradition, to relieve need, hardship or distress of members of

416-511: The broader 'umbrella movement' of liberal Christianity . The Unitarian Christian Association, as its name suggests, exists primarily to preserve and celebrate Unitarian Christianity. In short, the Unitarian Christian tradition is founded on a theological position (originally espoused by Michael Servetus and Francis David ) that dissents from the doctrine of the Trinity instead affirming

442-549: The clear friendship and warmth between Unitarian Christians and non-Christian Unitarians in the UK, there have been a series of debates within the Association and wider denomination - sometimes heated - over the future of Unitarian Christianity in the United Kingdom, and the UCA's role in its preservation and continued development. In Spring 2006, a theological colloquium was held at Cambridge University by UCA members in order to discuss

468-464: The dictates of his conscience, without privation, penalty or inconvenience by his fellow-men." Whilst it continues, for historic reasons, friendly relations with the Unitarian and Free Christian General Assembly, it does not share the latter's 'post-Christian' outlook and remains firmly part of the Christian family of faith. In common with most Protestant churches they affirm the two Biblical Sacraments of

494-400: The elements that came to form the General Synod in 1910) the Synod of Munster was and remained a member of the Association of Irish Non-subscribing Presbyterians, it did not formally join the General Synod until 1935. The Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland has a statement of uniting principles which are: “We declare allegiance to the principle that: Our faith: The denomination

520-480: The formulation of the Westminster Confession, and the congregations of the Synod of Munster never subscribed to this. When the Presbytery of Antrim was formed, it received support from the Synod of Munster. As the eighteenth century progressed, the attitude to subscription within the Synod of Ulster became more relaxed. The Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland (NSPCI) was consolidated in 1910 when

546-529: The free Inquiry we need for Knowledge. By loving one another, we show ourselves to follow the example of the Jesus. In all things, in faith and deeds, we seek to follow the His Great Commandment that God is One and we should love God with all that we are, and love neighbour as ourselves. We know that how we act is much more important than what the words we say and that, in all times, the words of Jesus still show

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572-687: The future of Unitarianism and Free Christianity within Britain. Following this, UCA representatives met with representatives from the Assemblée Fraternelle des Chrétiens Unitariens (AFCU) and Congregazione Italiana Cristiano Unitariana to discuss the future of Unitarian Christianity on a wider international level. From this meeting the Avignon Manifesto - a joint declaration of intent - was created and published for their members to individually ratify. The document affirmed their distinct identity as Unitarian Christians whilst signalling their intent to remain within

598-592: The island of Ireland, divided into three Presbyteries, with a total of about four thousand members. The denomination currently has twenty-five ministers on its roll with both women and men serving as ministers. The NSCPI is also a member of the International Association for Religious Freedom . It has also recorded year-on-year growth in recent years (source: General Synod Annual Reports). The Church has its origins with those early 18th-century Presbyterian ministers who refused to subscribe at their ordination to

624-507: The unity of God and placing emphasis on the humanity of Jesus whilst at the same time recognising the divinity of Jesus. This strict monotheism is arguably more akin to Islamic and Jewish positions than the positions of larger Christian groups such as the Roman Catholic Church - and as a result, they may be regarded by some fellow Christians as 'unorthodox' or 'heretical'. In tandem with their aim to promote Unitarian Christian beliefs,

650-471: The way, more important than those uttered in later days. Unity is found not in creeds or doctrines, but by following and being obedient to His teachings. This we affirm." The UCA was formed in 1991, largely at the instigation of scholar and minister Lancelot Austin Garrard (1904–1993), as a response to theological revisionism within the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. The founders of

676-499: The wider Unitarian and Free Christian traditions. In Ireland, a similar body is called the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland (NSPCI). The NSPCI used to be affiliated with the UCA, but in 2015 they ended this affiliation. Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship The Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship ( UUCF ) is the main group serving Christian Unitarian Universalists within

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