Liberal

We’re different.

What do we mean by liberal? Well, we’re talking theology here, not politics. Most churches require a particular set of religious beliefs for adherents. We do not. More than anything else, Unitarian Universalist churches stand for the right of individuals to form their own theological beliefs.

Are Unitarians Christians?

Some are. Some are not. Some of our members are devout Christians. (One says he belongs to Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church because he thinks many modern Christian churches are “insufficiently Christ-like.”) Other members come from the Jewish tradition. Still others come from Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Some of our members practice the oldest of religions: communing with nature’s wind, water, and earth. And some of our members are doubters or even outright non-believers. All with an open mind and a caring heart are welcome.

What are Sunday services like?

They’re interesting! Sermons often pertain to the many varied views of spirituality. (If you’re looking for ‘fire-and-brimstone’ a more traditional church may be a better choice for you.) We have a choir, and it’s a good one. Our Sunday services last about an hour. We then offer a 15-20 minute coffee-hour afterward for socializing and discussion.

During most of the year our services are led by the congregational minister. The first segment of the service is “for all ages” – very kid-friendly, often involving story-telling with the younger children invited to sit up front on the floor. Youngsters and teachers then leave for age appropriate Religious Education classes taught by parent volunteers. Parents are quite welcome to attend the class with their children, or to stay in the chapel for the remainder of the service. We also have a paid child-care provider in the nursery for the very young.

For most of the year, Sunday services are held at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. In the summer months we hold only one service -- at 10:00 a.m. Summer services are often lay-led. Check our home page for the topics of upcoming services.

What about teens?

We have vibrant programs for both teens and pre-teens. We also offer optional human sexuality classes for our youth. The volunteer leaders undergo training before teaching these classes. Any and all ideas and concerns are examined including topics often forbidden in public school classes (abortion, homosexuality, etc.).

What about women?

Our church, and our national organization, the Unitarian Univeralist Association (UUA), have taken strong, progressive positions favoring inclusion. A slight majority of UU ministers are female. To our knowledge, we are the only national religion for which this is true. In the past there have been female ministers at Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church.

What about sexual minorities?

The General Assembly of the UUA passed its first gay rights resolution way back in 1970! Our church – like most UU churches – has a sign in the lobby specifically welcoming our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters into full participation in our community. We publish this written invitation because sexual minorities are so often vilified by leaders of other religions.

We are activists.

Our pastor and members of our Caring Associates Committee minister to the needs of our congregation. We also care about the larger world. In the 1960’s Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church was an organizing center for civil rights activists. Later, our members pressed Fairfax County to tackle the issues of homelessness and childcare. When religious conservatives announced a boycott of local, full-service hospitals (because they dared to provide therapeutic abortions), MVUC members organized blood donation drives to benefit those hospitals. Those blood drives continue today. Many of our members are leaders in organizations concerned about human rights, living wages, affordable housing, and environmental stewardship.

Our grounds are historic and beautiful.

We are located in the Fort Hunt/Mt. Vernon area of Fairfax County on a seven acre hilltop. Our land was once owned by George Mason, and one of his sons lived here. In addition to our chapel, we use a century-old mansion for meeting rooms. Our grounds offer a serene setting for spiritual reflection.

Why this invitation?

It occurs to us that many people don’t even know there are theologically liberal churches that encourage individual views of spirituality. We are here, and we invite you to join us on Sunday mornings. You are most welcome to visit.

We're in Good Company

Famous Unitarians and Universalists

For the past 450 years, Unitarians and Universalists have made their mark on the world, not by voicing their religion, but by living their principles and sharing their gifts. Here are just a few of hundreds of women and men you've probably heard of, but never knew they were Unitarians and Universalists.

Abigail Adams

U.S. President John Adams

U.S. President Thomas Jefferson

U.S. President John Quincy Adams

U.S. President Millard Fillmore

U.S. President William Howard Taft

U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun

U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (ND)

Daniel Webster

Susan B. Anthony

P.T. Barnum

Clara Barton

Bela Bartok

Alexander Graham Bell

Luther Burbank

Charles Darwin

Dorothea Dix

Buckminster Fuller

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Horace Mann

Samuel F.B. Morse

Sir Isaac Newton

Florence Nightingale

Keith Olbermann

Linus Pauling

Joseph Priestley

Christopher Reeve

Frank Lloyd Wright

Louisa May Alcott

Ray Bradbury

Robert Burns

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

ee cummings

Charles Dickens

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Horace Greeley

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Herman Melville

Sylvia Plath

Beatrix Potter

Carl Sandburg

Pete Seeger

Rod Serling

Henry David Thoreau

Walt Whitman

Mary Wollstonecraft

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

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