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Unitarian Church of New England
| Unitarian Church of New England |
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| General Information | |
| Founded: | 4 August 2013 |
| Membership: | 861,792 |
| Congregations: | 367 |
| Administration | |
| Bishop: | Michael Thomas |
| Moderator: | Jan Carroll |
The Unitarian Church of New England or UCNE is the largest religious denomination in New England. Founded in 2013, the UCNE began as small and obscure progressive movement determined to re-engage New Englanders to a sound foundation of religious faith and practice. It has grown to become the biggest single denomination in New England, with 861,792 members or about 35.91% of the national population.
The UCNE is led by the Bishop of Armidale, who is elected by the General Assembly of the Unitarian Church every four years. At the last census, there were 367 UCNE congregations in New England.
Beliefs & Practices
In both beliefs and practices, or forms of churchmanship, the UCNE is mixed. The church considers itself to stand both in a Unitarian and Anglican tradition, and members are often referred to "unitarian anglicans".
- The church is unitarian in that holds no central creed or dogma and is governed in a semi-congregationalist fashion.
- The UCNE is also anglican in that the form of worship and many other traditions (such as a Book of Common Prayer) come from the Anglican Communion.
The result is a body that free to teach in a manner that moves with the times within a framework that is both ancient and stable. The UCNE does not have a central creed which members are required to believe in if they wish to be a member. Instead, they are expected to adhere to a series of principles in which they vow to lead their lives. Members of the UCNE draw teachings from all the world's religious beliefs, and see many of the founders of major religious movements as teachers of wisdom, compassion and tolerance.
Governance
The UCNE is partly congregationalist in governance, with each parish being independent but affirming it's membership in the national church by way of the Articles of Union. However in certain matters, UCNE governance is episcopal, especially within the executive structure of the church. In the simplest terms, the UCNE can be said to be a federation, with most power residing in the parishes who have chosen to delegate some powers to the central church. The most important organs of the church are as follows:
The Bishop of Armidale - The Bishop is the spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the UCNE. Appointed by the General Assembly to serve a four year term, the Bishop is also one of the Deans of the National Cathedral. The Bishop is granted a home to live in whilst head of the church, known as Bishopscourt. A Bishop of the UCNE may be addressed as Your Grace, and carries the style of Right Reverend. The current Bishop of Armidale is the Rt. Rev. Michael Thomas.
Bishop's Council - The Bishop is assisted in the day-to-day administration of the church by a council of 21 members known as the Bishop's Council. The council is composed of two members from each archdeaconry (one from the clergy and one from the laity) and the Moderator. The council manages the various committees of the church and regulates the funding of the committees and corporate services of the church (such as archives, finance and information technology).
Archdeaconries - For administrative purposes, the UCNE divides New England into ten archdeaconries. These serve as the basic units by which the day-to-day running of the church is carried out. It is here that the various policies and initiatives of the church are carried down to the congregations for approval or veto. Any two of the archdeaconries may veto a resolution of the Bishop's Council, however all decisions must be carried by a two-thirds majority.
General Assembly - Every two years, the UCNE convenes an assembly of all member congregations and associated bodies. Each congregation may send two voting members (usually one from the clergy and one from the laity), and an unlimited number of non-voting members, to participate in the plenary sessions, workshops and worship services. It is here that all long term strategic decisions of the UCNE are made and the election of Archdeacons, the Moderator and the Bishop take place.
Clergy
The clergy of the UCNE are trained through the School of Theology at the New England National University, and are also required to complete a Diploma in Unitarian Ministry at the Michael Servetus Seminary in Williamstown. Women have been eligible to become clergy since the foundation of the church. All clergy are free to marry, and their sexual orientation is not considered an impediment to appointment.
There are also a number of specialist ministries that are appointed by different means. The Dean of Saumarez is the personal chaplin of the Monarch. There are also two Assistant Deans, who act as chaplains for the other members of the Royal Family. The New England Defence Force also has a Chaplin for all major religions. The Unitarian Chaplin is responsible for the pastoral care of Unitarian serviceman. The clergy is comprised of:
Curates - Graduates from the School of Theology are sent to a congregation for formal on the job training. After two years, a curate may apply to led a congregation in their own right, at which point they become a vicar. Those not wishing to work in pastoral care may opt to work for the UCNE charities or the various administrative roles within the church. In this case, the person's title is not changed, and he remains a curate.
Vicars - Each congregation is led by a vicar, who governs a church with the assistance of the Parish Council. All vicars are chosen by the parish congregation, who appoint a committee responsible for the appointment of a suitable person to lead the churches pastoral care. Despite the historical connotations of the title, today all of the UCNE's 367 vicars are remunerated by a complex formula split between the parish and the central church.
Archdeacons - Each county is led by an Archdeacon, who leads the home church of the county, usually in the county seat. The appointment of archdeacons is carried out by the clergy and laity of the archdeaconry every five years. An archdeacon can only be elected if he or she has been an ordained and has been practicing for six years or more.
Moderator - The second most senior position within the church, the Moderator is responsible, under the supervision of the Bishop, for the day-to-day management of the UCNE. The Moderator presides at the General Assembly, attends meetings of the Bishop's Council, and represents the church on special occasions. The moderator may be addressed as Moderator, and carries the style of Very Reverend. Since 2049, the Moderator of the UCNE has been Jan Carroll.
Other Titles - The UCNE has three Deans who serve is specialised pastoral or administrative roles and are styled the same as Archdeacons by the church. These are the Dean of Saumarez (who tends to the pastoral care of the royal family), the Dean of the Defence Force (who cares for all Unitarian servicemen), and the Dean of the College of Archdeacons.
Laity
Ushers - The most junior position in the parish church, ushers undertake many tasks, such as greeting and seating people for services and collecting the offering. It is the usher that a person will first see when they go to church, and their smile and messages of welcome are a enduring symbol of the modern UCNE. Most parishes will have at least two ushers, with many having more in addition.
Vergers - The lay officers who assist in the ordering of religious services are known in the UCNE as vergers. Vergers play a very prominent role in the organisation and smooth running of services, such as helping the vicar to plan the logistical details of a service or discreetly assisting the vicar during the service itself. Not all parishes have a verger, although in recent years, it has become a more common post.
Cantors - The musical directors of a church, cantors can be found in most parishes across New England. A cantor, in tandem with the vicar, prepares the musical side of a service, and will very often lead either the instrumental or choral arrangements. Many cantors are music teachers and tutors who volunteer their spare time for the church, although in recent years some cantors have began to recieve a stipend from the parish for their time. Like vergers, not all parishes have a regular cantor.
Parish Council - The true power of the church lies with the many parish councils, which are the executive bodies of a UCNE congregation. The council is responsible for the financial affairs of the Church and the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents. The usual parish council consists of the vicar, chairman, secretary, treasurer and any other offices, such as curates, vergers and cantors.
Related Groups
Finances
As with all religious organisations in New England, the UCNE does not receive any direct government support. The largest source of direct income is derived from donations and tithes
History
The origins of the UCNE are to be found in the bloodshed of the Civil War.
Many progressive members left the Anglican Church in the 2010s and came to the UCNE.
| Unitarian Church of New England |
| Bishop of Armidale - Council Moderator · Archdeaconries · General Assembly |
