Let’s build a list for people looking for a church like West Hill.
In the aftermath of my interview with Wendy Mesley, I wanted to make sure that anyone who checked out my page looking for a congregation in their area might learn about some places they may feel welcome. This post is to make sure you know about some great congregations and to invite you to post names of other congregations of which you are aware that you think might be worthy of a visit by someone looking for a welcoming community.
Edmonton
Southminster-Steinhauer United Church in Edmonton, Alberta, has been welcoming diverse perspectives for years. Its clergy team, Nancy Steeves and Christopher New, leads the congregation in the meaningful work of transformation and commitment to positive, life-affirming social values. They do it with grace, intelligence, wisdom and a style that is engaging and welcoming. I know that if you are in the Edmonton area, you will receive a warm welcome.
Saskatoon
Saskatchewan has long been the leader in progressive theology in the United Church. Meewasin Valley United Church has taken that progressive theology and notched it up, affiliating with the Canadian Centre of Progressive Christianity and working with Saskatchewan Conference to provide a completely theologically barrier-free experience at one of their Annual Meetings. Not that they didn’t get some flack for that, but they are a courageous lot. Do check them out; they are now meeting in St. Andrew’s College.
Moncton
Jim MacDonald at Central United Church is one of my favourite people. He has a clarity that is delivered with such a gentle demeanour that I can’t help but embrace whatever perspective he’s sharing. Under his leadership, Central has created a social justice oriented ministry that reaches out and embraces the community through a shared working space built beside the church. Again, I know that Jim and the members at Central will make you feel extraordinarily welcome.
Victoria
While many Unitarian Universalist congregations continue to use the words of their Christian roots, there are many that will that extend a welcome to those who live on the other side of belief. You’ll have to check them out for yourself to see if the one near you fits. I do know that First Unitarian Church in Victoria, BC, is an easy fit for some West Hill members who spend part of the year there. You can read a welcome from the Revs. Melora and Shana Lynngood here and, below it, a statement of the congregation’s vision.
Toronto
We would, of course, love to see you at West Hill at our main site in Scarborough or our satellite in Mississauga, but if you’re in the centre of the city, there’s something else you may be interested in. West Hill affiliated with the Oasis Network, a growing group of secular communities that, until we joined, had only been in the States. We connected with them with a view to planting an Oasis community in the core of Toronto. And we’re doing that. Right now, we’re gathering names of people interested in being part of a leadership team. If you are, let me know by sending me an email.
Other Communities
While we’ve been gathering names for the Toronto leadership team, we’re hearing from others who are interested in launching Oasis communities in their own cities so I’ve been gathering those names together according to municipality. Once we have Toronto off and running on its own, I’ll head over to those lists and see what we can pull together. So let me know if you’re interested in being part of something like that in your own community. Did I hear “tipping point”?
If you know of a community that, from what you’ve heard, you think is a church like West Hill and you’d like me to promote it or you want to add the name of one in the comments, feel free to share. And, if you attend one of the communities listed, do add a review for others to help them in their search!
Grand River Unitarian connected to let me know a little about their congregation. Jessica Rodela is the minister there and identifies as an atheist. The congregation continues, however, to use traditional “language of reverence”. If that’s not a barrier to you, check them out and let us know how you find it!
What church or community would you recommend?
Is there a congregation in Winnipeg?
Some time back I wrote up a blog post about ‘church’ options for non-theists: http://adamgonnerman.net/post/133530365772/church-options-for-non-theists
More recently I’ve had a guest blog about Seattle Atheist Church:
http://adamgonnerman.net/post/135043633956/the-seattle-atheist-church
There are also Humanist chapters, like the Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix:
http://adamgonnerman.net/post/135502548364/humanist-society-of-greater-phoenix
I was very interested in your interview with Wendy Mesley.
I would like to know more about your thoughts, especially, if you do NOT believe in God, why do you say The Lord’s Prayer in church?
Your interview with Wendy Mesley interested me.
Anything about religion fascinates me.
I have been brought up an Anglican, but am comfortable in any house of worship that is not blasphemous — be it a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple, a synagogue, and so on.
If you do NOT believe in God as espoused by Christians, why do you repeat The Lord’s Prayer in church?
What IS the bridge between “religion” and theism? What made you change your stance? Why, then, do you feel disappointed if the United Church decides to expel you? After all, the United Church is just another name of a Christian institution — isn’t it? With its own laws and lores?
Why is it important for you to be attached to the United Church?
God bless
Mee Lin
Reverend
I was baptized Catholic, but left the Church 30 plus years ago. I saw your interview on the National and as strange as it may seem connected with your thoughts. I’ve never understood a supreme being or heaven and hell.
I’ve tried to be a good person, do the right thing and help others.
Do you have an affiliate in Ottawa
A church in the Miami USA area is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami.
http://Www.uumia.org
Churches like West Hill?
Find them here:Congregations | Canadian Unitarian Council
http://cuc.ca/congregations/
I saw your interview on CBC. I was raised in the United Church. Our minister was wonderful and at the core of his minister was social justice. It made an impact as my siblings and myself…we chose careers…teacher, nurse, social worker and civil servant in D. Labour…. a path to give service to those in our community. I married a Catholic but my faith waned with the abuses…made zero sense. So I moved on …I read all of Swami Radha’s teachings and visited Yosadahara Ashram in the Kootney’s. I got my own answers but not a faith and I presently now have a Buddhist teacher for meditation. I do believe in positive energy but the belief of a God/Gods is just not there. And I have felt lesser for it.
Your words deeply resonated with my own thinking. It is time and it is not surprising that this is being initiated from the United Church of Canada. Thank you for being brave and sharing the possibility of place were I would feel at home and believe in the spirit of those around me. I hear your spirit.
While practically all member congregations of the Canadian Unitarian Council (www.cuc.ca) warmly welcome atheists, agnostics, humanists, and many others, individual Unitarian Universalist churches do vary in tradition, size, and flavour. Our small, country, UU Church of Olinda (www.uuolinda.org) near Kingsville, Ontario, was founded as a Universalist church back in 1880 on the “faith that love is a more positive force for good than fear,” and it still uses the sanctuary built in 1881. We gather weekly to share live music, talks that inspire and enlighten, and discussion with others about our thoughts, aspirations, and searches for truth and meaning. Over the years, we have enjoyed the community of members originally from many other religious backgrounds, including Catholics, Jews, United Church members, Mennonites, Muslims, and Pagans, and a large fraction of us identify as atheists or non-theists.
We have much in common with the West Hill United and the Oasis network.
First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa http://www.firstunitarianottawa.ca/ is a welcoming congregation in the west end of Ottawa, ON.
Walker Church in Minneapolis was welcoming long before it was cool to be welcoming. Primarily Christian, but incorporates Jewish, native and other traditions. http://www.walkerchurch.org/
I wish there were such a list for the US Midwest.
Naomi, what part of the Midwest? In St. Louis there’ the Ethical Society, and in Kansas City there’s an Oasis. Both have fantastic reputations.
I am an atheist who attends Lutheran (ELCA) church in Illinois. I go because my husband wants me to go with him (he knows I won’t convert, and I was raised Catholic anyway). I stay because I have developed many good relationships with the attendees, none of whom know I am an atheist; not even the pastor. I have not told anyone because I am fearful of the backlash against atheists, especially in our turbulent culture/times in America, and ultimately I don’t want to be judged unfairly. I do not take communion, but only had a few negative comments in the past about that from a handful of people.
I have attended bible study in order to learn more about what it really says (for example, would Jesus have treated the LGBT community the way we do today? No – he would have embraced them and loved them just the same). Unfortunately, the more I learned, the more I discovered that many people who called themselves “christian” either didn’t seem to know what that really meant or were using the word incorrectly! (Similarly, people who call themselves “pro-life” are usually the ones banging the drums of war and wanting to “carpet bomb” people in the Middle East) Regardless, I think there are good lessons in the bible without having to believe in a triune supernatural being (or Flying Spaghetti Monster, as I have heard many times!).
Bottom line, I enjoyed reading about Rev Gretta Vosper in The Guardian by Ashifa Kassam and I hope that the upcoming review is successful for her – she is a remarkable person (and so is her congregation for supporting her).