Introduction
Associated with a free and responsible search for truth and meaning Unitarian Churches are creedless and non-dogmatic. This liberal and tolerant approach to religious ideas have enabled us to adapt and remain remarkably relevant in a changing world.
Unitarians trace their history back to the courageous heretics who dared to apply reason to religion, such men as Michael Servetus, Giorgio Biandrata, Faustus Socinus and Francis David. Outstanding Unitarians in the past century and a half include Joseph Priestly, Theodore Parker, William Ellery Channing, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Albert Schweitzer and Florence Nightingale.
The motto of the Melbourne Unitarian church is "Seek the Truth and Serve Humanity". The Church was established in 1852 at a meeting at what is now the Athaneum Theatre and was chaired by the first Chief Justice of Victoria, Sir William a'Beckett. The Melbourne Unitarian Church also has the honour of having the first ordained woman Minister in what was the British Empire, Martha Turner, who was elected by the congregation on 26 October 1873,
Unitarian churches are democratic and congregationalist, which means that each church is autonomous and governs its own affairs. This is distinguished from less democratic systems of church governance, such as presbyterian governance (by elders) or episcopalian (by a hierarchy of bishops). Ultimate authority for the governance of the church lies with its members.
The Melbourne church is also affiliated to the Australian and New Zealand Unitarian Association. The Unitarian Universalist Association in the U.S.A. and Canada has a membership of 1,000 congregations serving over 200,000 adults and church school children.
Concert for Timor Leste
CONCERT: our winter concert is held on July 6th at 11 am sharp! to 12.30 pm. These are wonderful events and fundraisers for various selected organisations. The middle of the year concert will be raising funds for East Timor Women Australia. This money will assist women and children in East Timor who are so desperately in need. We will be bringing to you entertainment with talent from inside and outside our church. A BBQ lunch will be available after the concert to which you are cordially invited. Donations to this are most welcome. Please join with us for this great morning. Contact Florence (03) 9338 2883 A/H. Please spread the word.
Upcoming Services
June 1 : Peter Abrehart, Chairperson of the Church – ‘The dissenter Tradition’
June 8 : Pauline Mitchell, Secretary Campaign for International Cooperation & Disarmament (CICD) – ‘Iraq’
June 15: John Rutherford, International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS), - 'What is its role and significance of the ILPS for Australia?’
June 22: Val Noone - ‘Social Situation in Galilee in the time of Jesus’
June 29: Maree Dellora, Secretary Australia/Cuba Friendship Society and Church member – ‘Current situation in Cuba’
July 6: Church Concert for Timor-Leste
July 13 Andrea Bolch, ‘Your Water Your Say Action Group’ will speak on theDesalination Plant in Wonthaggi
July 20 David Spratt, Climate policy analyst for CarbonEquity & the co-author of ‘Climate Code Red: The case for emergency action’ – ‘Speaking honestly about Global warming’
July 27 Dr. Rodney Syme, Vice-president of Dying with Dignity Victoria – ‘Is it rational to want to die?’
August 3 Megan Johnstone, Professor of Nursing, Division of Nursing & Midwifery at RMIT University – ‘The moral imperatives of recognising & responding to unacknowledged racism in healthcare’
