There are those who do not understand the power and the grandeur of the structure of the Universalist theology. From its inception into the United States (1770), the Universalist Church had to quickly organize, erect, and develop full service churches which functioned as more than a one issue religion but as a fully comprehensive Church of Faith.

The central doctrine of our faith which distinguished our church from all others was the belief that by the grace of a perfect God of love, all souls shall be saved. By the very nature of this faith, the implications and meanings of this belief rapidly expanded in ever widening circles to incorporate the following as natural and logical practices:

(1) The use of reason to read, study and interpret the Bible as urged and practiced by our founder John Murray

(2) a faith which believes in the permanent and unfailing divine goodness of a loving God

(3) a faith which teaches a religion of Jesus who taught that divinity is in each person

(4) a faith which teaches the supreme worth of every human personality

(5) a faith which teaches the power of love to improve the human condition

(6) a faith which has shored up the distressed in pain

(7) a faith which ministers to the daily lives of its friends

(8) a faith which has always been in the forefront to promote social improvement of the lives of others and to serve in human fellowship with love and kindness

(9) a faith which has historically recognized and encouraged the fulfillment of the universal principles in all aspects of life

(10) a faith which fosters the advancement of knowledge and the growth of scientific truths

(11) a faith which is democratic in practice and relations with all people regardless of race, creed, color, and sexual orientation---Gloucester, January 1, 1779 -- Gloster Dalton, African” signed membership book

(12) a faith which stresses the brother/sisterhood of all earth's people

(13) a faith in which every person is one's own teacher; and we come together in worship for support, encouragement, enlightenment, sociability, and love

(14) a faith that by coming and joining together, we strive to develop the ability to have that sacrificial spirit of love and sharing to overcome evil and progressively establish a kingdom of God on earth as well as in the hearts of all people

Each of these has been a historically original corollary which naturally flows from the central doctrine of our Universalist Church.

We Universalists have often sold ourselves short by lacking full faith in the implementation of our own beliefs. We often stand silent when others loudly claim for themselves that which Universalists first pioneered. But here we stand proudly, loyally, and lovingly enjoying our past and always pressing on to a greater future.