We're a Seeker's Church
Our mission statement says: "We reflect and draw upon a
Baptist tradition and seek insights from faith traditions
of the world." Being a Seeker's Church is part of our
journey with Jesus who promises, according to Matthew 7.7:
"Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be
opened to you."
It is also at the root of our heritage since Roger
Williams, the founder of the First Baptist Church in
America, eventually identified himself not as a Baptist but
as a "seeker." His commitment to soul liberty made him an
early advocate for authentic and integrated spirituality.
You will hear this echoed in our openness to other faith
traditions, in our deep questions of ourselves and
Scripture, and in our commitment to listen and grow.
"Seek", Jesus says, and that Spirit is at work
here.
We are a Sanctuary
"Sanctuary" at UBC is not just a place - that big
room with pews and a pulpit. Sanctuary is our way of being
together in the world. As the second church in the United
States to declare "sanctuary" for Central
Americans during the violence of the 1980's, UBC became
conscious of its role to both provide a safe place and to
speak out against the forces of oppression and violence in
the world. Folks here talk about those sanctuary days as a
time of great struggle and strength. Again, those voices
are echoed in our mission statement: "Christ calls us
to; offer sanctuary and resources to those who are poor,
powerless or in need; [to] work for peace, compassion and
justice."
Sanctuary has echoed in many commitments here: welcome to
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people; support for
conscientious objectors; a kitchen for hungry folks; a
haven for women in transition from shelters to permanent
housing; and safe and affordable childcare for children
from a diversity of families and ethnicities. It all sounds
like "sanctuary" after awhile. Sanctuary is, in
that sense, a place - this whole place - filled with a
commitment to welcome and witness. Don't be surprised if
you are confused by the word when it is used here. It
reverberates all over the place.
Spirituality and Social Activism
The spiritual life of University Baptist Church has feet -
and sometimes they dance in worship. Sometimes they head
off to meet "the challenges of contemporary moral and
spiritual life", as the mission statement says.
Sometimes it is the pitter-patter of little feet leading us
in intergenerational activities. Often, it is the sound of
people moved to nurture and serve one another. It is the
sound that echoes the words of Jesus to "go into all
the world." Led by our vision statement to "be a
compassionate Christian community inviting people into
faithful discipleship," we seek always to journey
in hope.