Meg Rohal

We are a spiritual community that welcomes all persons, without regard to race, color, national origin, political affiliation, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. UUCJ was founded in 1906 by Duncan Fletcher, who served as Mayor of Jacksonville and one of Florida’s U.S. Senators. After the depression and war years, the congregation was renewed in the 1950s by strong lay-leadership, led by Dorcas and Francis Alberti. In 1960, a new minister, Rev. McGehee, was hired. Along with many members of our congregation, Rev. McGehee became an active leader in the civil rights movement. The architect of our present building was Bob Broward, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. We share a boundary with the Tree Hill Nature Center, and our buildings have received significant architectural awards. Unlike most religions, Unitarian Universalism is creedless faith. We do not subscribe to a particular religious dogma, and our members hold a variety of beliefs about the nature of the divine and humankind’s relationship to it: From atheism, theism, humanism, and more, our members come from a variety of religious backgrounds. We encourage the free and responsible search for meaning for all of our members, and acknowledge that everyone’s path may be different. While we do not ascribe to a particular creed or dogma, we do make a set of promises to each other, and we are thus a covenantal faith. These promises, known as the Seven Principles, are what guide our living faith: The Inherent worth and dignity of every person. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.