Our Past Presidents |
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Joan Auden |
List
of Past Presidents: Joan Auden 2005 - 2007 |
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Joan Hill |
What makes me a Unitarian and why do I choose to be active? As with many Unitarians, I was brought up in another religion. For me it was the Presbyterian church but I joined the Anglican church as a teen so that I could sing with their choir. In University, I began to question a religion that espoused the belief that you should do good on earth and not expect a reward, but then dangled heaven as a reward, only for those who ‘believed.’ And having theologians tell me that I only had to believe in one of the miracles in the Bible, namely the resurrection, did not sit well with my scientific training. And I couldn’t bring myself to believe that God would not receive people into heaven, just because they had different beliefs. So, I turned to Unitarianism and found a religion that valued ‘the dignity and worth of every human being.’ I also found a community that CHALLENGED me to grow - to be a better person, to explore what I believe, and to do things I might not otherwise do – all within an atmosphere of ACCEPTANCE and SUPPORT. I know that if I’m not feeling up to the challenge that there are caring people to whom I can turn who will help me see my way through. Sometimes that means a caring word, a smile, a hug; other times it means an offer of help that effectively lifts the burden; and at still other times, it’s just the acknowledgement that we can’t do it all and that’s OK too. From the very beginning, I have been active in various groups. Volunteering helps me feel CONNECTED to this wonderful community of people who share the same values. Connected to people who care about each other, about the environment and about social issues; connected to people who work hard to be inclusive and look for the best in others. Acceptance, growth, fulfillment, challenge and a strong sense of community. These are the qualities that I value in our congregation. I hope that you will take the time to seek out a place within our community – to find those activities and people who will enrich your lives. I’m not sure whether it truly is better to give than to receive, but I have found that giving reaps many rewards. | |
Bill Van Iterson |
Introduction
This credo statement sets our my thoughts about the world, the place of people in that world, and more specifically my place in our world. Finally, it explains why I am with the Unitarians. Origins of the World A story of Creation is an important part of the foundations of most religions. I think that for the purpose of my religious beliefs, it does not matter very much how or when the world was created. There is no conflict between religion or philosophy and science; they deal with different issues. Science describes how things work, but does not tell us why. That is left to philosophy and religion. I believe it is important to think about the nature of the world, and why we are here. The World and the Place of People in the World The world is a magnificent place. The range of species and their interrelationships is nothing short of miraculous. All life, in fact all existence, is intimately woven together in an interdependent web. From that miraculous web of life, we can draw some lessons about the nature of the world and our role in it. What strikes me as most meaningful about the world around us is life, and beauty, and the interconnectedness of all creation. I marvel at the beauty and the design of fish, and birds, and trees and humans. And I marvel at how each life form depends upon and is interrelated in complex ways to many other forms of life. Each life form has its own characteristics and abilities, and those characteristics and abilities determine its place and its roles in the web. I regard creation with awe and respect. I am joyful to be a part of such a miraculous world. It is clear to me that humans are a part of nature. As living beings, we are woven into the web of life, just as all other life forms are woven into that web. We are part of nature; we are not the masters of nature. I also think that it is important that we realize that even though the world is wondrous and magnificent, it is not perfect; and it is by no means free from hardship, suffering, injustice or pain. I feel that there is a wonderful spirit that permeates the whole of creation. It also permeates me. That spirit is part of me, and I am part of it. My Role in the World As humans, what is our role in the world? And more precisely, what should be my role in the world? How should I respond to the world in which I find myself? When I look around, I see that all forms of life depend on each other and I sense a spirit that flows through the entire living world. I also see that the unique abilities and characteristics of each life form shape its place and role in the world. That says to me that I, as a human being, should try to live in harmony with all life and with the spirit that permeates the living world. It also teaches me that we, as human beings, should recognize that our purpose in life, that is to say the key to our joys, our opportunities and, yes, our obligations, springs out of our unique human abilities and characteristics. As humans, we have an ability to learn, to analyse and to understand what goes on around us. And we have a remarkable ability to create solutions to problems and to invent technology. We can use our brains and our technology to make life more comfortable, more exciting, and more enjoyable. We can also use our ingenuity to destroy thousands of life forms and to pollute the living world. I think that I and my fellow human beings have a responsibility to use our abilities to be "better" members of the living world on our planet. By "better" members, I mean members who contribute in a better way to promoting harmony and well-being for our fellow humans and for the rest of creation. As a human being, I also have a special ability to establish close and loving relationships with other persons and to help shape the community and the society in which we live. That ability, too, provides me with an opportunity for great joy, and a responsibility. I should do what I can to make life better for other individuals. I should also try to use my abilities to improve the well-being of our human community, both local and global. And I, with my fellow human beings, should do what we can do, all together, to reduce human suffering, especially when it results from injustices, inequities or and other human actions that can be prevented. In short, I believe that I should do my best to live in a way that respects and is in harmony with the spirit of all creation, our fellow human beings and our planet. How Does All This Relate to the Unitarian Church? At the age of 22, I spent a year in India as a CUSO volunteer. That year was a great education for me. Among other things, I learned about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and about how people of those religions look at Christianity. I will never forget the Hindu who said to me that he too considered himself a Christian. He had no difficulty accepting Christian beliefs, and greatly respected the teachings of Jesus. There was only one point on which he disagreed with the Christians… and that was the Christian belief that their way is the only way! From what I learned in India, it is clear to me that all great religions have a great deal in common, and I think most would agree with the views expressed in this Credo statement. But I could never again be a member of a church that does not recognize that there are many paths to the Truth or to Nirvana or whatever you choose to call a spiritually fulfilled life. In Canada, the movement that best fits my philosophy and preferences is the Unitarian church. It respects the value and dignity of every person, recognizes that there are many Truths and many Paths to the Truth, and that all creation is an interdependent web, and finally it emphasizes that we have to turn our beliefs into actions in this life. | 
Bob Stevenson |
I am honoured to be a member of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. Like many Unitarians my religious life has been a colvoluted one. My journey to this point in time has had many landmarks. My dissatisfaction with traditional religion led me to attend the Student Humanist Guild at the University of Toronto in the early 60's. This encouraged me to explore religious liberalism with the Toronto's Unitarian Congregation. Unfortunately, there was a large time gap before I joined the Ottawa Congregation ten years ago. I had a compulsion to explore the basic questions of life. The Unitarian approach is the philosophy that the examined life is preferable to the unexamined life; we feel that it is more satisfying to know what is strong and what is weak in each of the philosophhic viewpoints. We believe this because, while they cannot give us final answers to our questions, they can help us to broaden our vision, deepen our understanding, respond more sensitively and become more conscious of the implications of being human. Unitarians are not of one mind on the subject of God, Jesus Christ, immortality or the role of science. We do not pretend to have all the answers, or even to know all of the questions. It is like one long research experience, which we know is good because in living this way we experience more broadly and feel more deeply. At each Board meeting I am reminded of the multitude of ways that our Congregation works to further our growth in areas of social responsibility, music, the arts and our active Religious Exploration program for youths and adults. Easily one third of our members is actively involved in volunteer work within the congregation. Although many of us are strong in the humanistic tradition there are others who stress the study of spirituality, However, in the spirit of mutual respect, together we examine all viewpoints, religious and secular in order to develop our own individual approach to the basic questions of life. Since each Sunday service has a different topic, it is necessary to visit a few times to get a feel for what's going on. Eventually I hope that you find it it is comfortable and rewarding as I do. |
Jack Wright |
I am privileged to be a member of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa. Why do I feel this way? Unitarianism was founded well over 400 years ago in Europe and established in Canada and Ottawa in the late 1800's. Our congregation will celebrate its Centennial this year. Through Unitarianism I
have found a comfortable environment that permits me to pursue my
spiritual/intellectual path, free from religious dogma and ideology,
based on the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. I have the
freedom to choose my own path in a highly personalized private sense.
The search for the meaning of life lies in uncharted waters with may
more questions than answers. It is an adventure. |
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