About Us
Unitarian Universalism has been in the forefront of the struggle for human rights throughout our history. Theodore Parker’s harboring of fugitive slaves and support of the abolitionist movement, leaders in the women’s rights movement, including Margaret Fuller and Susan B. Anthony, and civil rights leaders such as Whitney Young and James Reeb exemplify our struggle.
The first woman ordained by any denomination was Olympia Brown, a Universalist. Today, UU has a significant number of women serving as senior pastors of major churches. For over 25 years, Unitarian Universalism has also been in the forefront of the battle for gay rights, ordaining openly gay ministers and celebrating gay unions.
If you are new to UUism, you will find many answers to your questions at the Unitarian Universalist Association website. The links below provide access to some useful information there.
Principles & Purposes
Newcomers to UUism
UUism: The Uncommon Denomination
Seven principles are our guide:
- We believe that each and every person is important.
- We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly.
- We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning together.
- We believe that each person must be free to search for what is true and right in life.
- We believe that all persons should have a vote about the things that concern them.
- We believe in working for a peaceful, fair, and free world.
- We believe in caring for our planet Earth, the home we share with all living things.
We are non-creedal: there are no required beliefs about God, the after-life, or other religious questions, but we do learn from other religious. We all have a common approach to life in our on-going search for meaning.
The most common comment we hear from prospective members is: “I’ve always been a UU. I just didn’t know it!”
Our members come from nearly all west valley cities. Our location is a convenient and easy drive from both Sun City and Sun City Grand, and many of our members come to us from those cities. Over the last 10 years, as new families moved into the cities of Peoria, Surprise, El Mirage and Youngtown, the number of families with children in our congregation has significantly increased.
Just as Phoenix is a city full of non-native people, most of our members have roots in some of the cooler parts of the country. Many are also part-time residents and have a home congregation here and another home congregation where they spend their summers. So if you’re a part-time resident, you are welcome here.
Service and volunteerism is important in Unitarian Universalism, our members are involved in almost every aspect of the operation of our church. From decisions about the order of service and the coffee we serve, to the organization of the ushers and the maintenance of our facilities; member volunteers make it happen. Our members also take the lead in organizing community outreach programs for adult education and the adoption of local schools to ensure they have volunteers for tutoring and other tasks.
Our members come from nearly all west valley cities. Our location is a convenient and easy drive from both Sun City and Sun City Grand, and many of our members come to us from those cities. Over the last 10 years, as new families moved into the cities of Peoria, Surprise, El Mirage and Youngtown, the number of families with children in our congregation has significantly increased.
Just as Phoenix is a city full of non-native people, most of our members have roots in some of the cooler parts of the country. Many are also part-time residents and have a home congregation here and another home congregation where they spend their summers. So if you’re a part-time resident, you are welcome here.
Service and volunteerism is important in Unitarian Universalism, our members are involved in almost every aspect of the operation of our church. From decisions about the order of service and the coffee we serve, to the organization of the ushers and the maintenance of our facilities; member volunteers make it happen. Our members also take the lead in organizing community outreach programs for adult education and the adoption of local schools to ensure they have volunteers for tutoring and other tasks.
- 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 rights of conscience and the use of 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.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
- Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life
- Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love
- Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life
- Jewish and Christian teaching which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves
- Humanistic teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit
Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of sacrifice and love. Unitarian Universalists today have many different interpretations of the flaming chalice, including the light of reason, the warmth of community, and the flame of hope.
Roth, was a retired dentist and a member of the UU Church of Surprise, Arizona, and had made 132 chalices, most in use by UU congregations. His chalices range from 9 to 23 inches in height and feature two interlocking hoops above the chalice bowl.
The first one he made was used at General Assembly 2005 in Fort Worth. Roth made the chalice for his own church as well and now one of the special pleasures for our members is attending services and seeing it lit each Sunday.
Mordecai liked to sit in the front row of the Sanctuary and just look at it. When you see the details, the spaces between the elements, you can’t help but feel just as he did. The chalice just keeps giving back to us every Sunday. It was indeed a labor of love for Mordecai when he created and began making these chalices.
Mordiecai once explained that the design for the interlocking rings just kind of evolved. “Once I got started the process just took on a life of its own.” He used the “lost wax” process, where wax in a mold is replaced by hot metal. “It’s not all that different a process from making a dental crown,” he noted. If you visit our Congregation in Surprise, AZ, you will find our Chalice on display in the Sanctuary. Designed and fashioned by our own Mordecai Roth, it is a spiritual gift left to us by a generous and caring member. Mordecai Roth passed away in 2013.
Karen Richter
Karen Richter is pastor and teacher at Unitarian Universalist Church of Surprise in Surprise, Arizona. She is a sexuality educator/trainer with the Our Whole Lives curriculum, a yoga practitioner / teacher, and a spiritual director with an emphasis on vocational discernment and family life as a spiritual discipline.
Karen’s passion for social justice is focused around children’s advocacy, sexuality education, nonviolent action / police abolition, anti-racism, and the spiritual care of activists. Her previous experience includes time in United Church of Christ settings, higher education, and nonprofit community development.
Lisa Lawrence
Maggie Mahan
2023 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Susie Cole
Liz Thomas
David King
Our church is governed by its bylaws. Click button below to read the most current.
The bylaws specify that we have a Board of Trustees elected at our annual meeting who serve for a 2 year term.
Board members meet the second Sunday of each month at noon following our service. Click below for the most recent agenda.
Click here to read the most recent President’s Report to the Board. Click here to read the most recent Minister Report.
Visitors are welcome, but comments should be withheld until the end of the meeting. To view the most recently approved board meeting minutes, click below.
The Board of Trustees establishes committees to carry out most of the operations of the church. Committee chairs are either appointed by the Board or the Nomination Committee. The committees and their chairpersons are listed below.
Aesthetics
(Co-Chairs)
Carol Calkins
Priscilla London
Building & Grounds
TBD
Finance
Janet Murphy
Investment
Bill Hughes
Sharon Beard Barbara Hughes
Membership
Libby Christianson
Memorial Services – Hospitality
David & Janet King Berta Czeczyk
Music
Mary Anne Pogoenburg
Nominating
Rich Manalis
Questers (Adult Education)
Juliet Gustavson
Social Justice (UUJAZ)
Rick Wambach
Emily Whitmore
Stewardship
TBA
Sunday Support Services (Ushers, Greeters)
(Co-Chairs)
Mary Ellen Baker
Sharon Steigmann
Worship Team / Services
Minister
Amy St. Peter
Sharon Beard
Librarian
TBA
Newsletter Editors
Gus & Juliet Gustavson
Sherry Robinson
Unitarian Universalist Church in Surprise
We welcome you!
Sundays at 10:30am
17540 N Avenue of the Arts
Surprise, AZ 85378
(623) 875-2550
A Progressive, Inclusive Faith Community