The Unitarian Universalist Council of Greater Cincinnati is a cooperative organization, made up of six congregations. Each draws members from Hamilton, Butler and Clermont counties in Ohio, Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties in Kentucky, and from Southeastern Indiana. Cincinnati as a city, has a rich Unitarian and Universalist history.
The Council was established around 50 years ago to address issues of housing inequality in the city and to create a judicatory to participate in the Metropolitan Area Religious Council of Cincinnati (MARCC) (https://marcconline.com/). The Council is the only Unitarian Universalist local denominational organization of its type in the United States. Leadership of the organization is through election. Each member congregation is represented by three voting members. Meetings are held four times a year.
The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Council of Greater Cincinnati is to help our congregations make liberal religion more fulfilling to their members and to propagate our Unitarian Universalist principles in the greater community. The Council reflects the democratic polity of the denomination at large in its organization and policies. As stated in our by-laws, our purposes are:
- To provide a central organization to address common concerns and needs of the Unitarian Universalists in the greater Cincinnati area.
- To promote the wellbeing of member congregations through the provision of programs, training and services.
- To emphasize the importance of participation in denominational affairs and to enlist and develop leadership from participating congregations.
- To increase awareness of the principles and concepts of the Unitarian Universalist movement in the greater Cincinnati area.
- To encourage engagement in the greater Cincinnati community based on Unitarian Universalist Principles.
- To serve as the public face of Unitarian Universalism in the greater Cincinnati area through participation in interfaith organizations.
We achieve this purpose in a variety of ways. Our member congregations pool resources of time, talent and money to create opportunities for shared social action, worship and educational programs. As a Council we represent the ethical interests of our congregations within the larger community by our participation in MARCC social action.
The Unitarian Universalist Council of Greater Cincinnati is committed to creation of a beloved community across the city and suburbs since, in the words of Rev. David O. Rankin, “We believe in the motive force of love which always seeks the welfare of others and never seeks to hurt or destroy.”
For more information about the Unitarian Universalist Council of Greater Cincinnati, please email one of our member churches.