What is the difference between the Unitarian church and a non-denominational church?

Answer 1

The Unitarian church is a very relaxed church which embraces all faith practices, with a Christian bent on things. It does not hold to traditional Christian doctrine, Biblical teachings, or the idea of Salvation by Grace. It is very new-agey, but teaches that Jesus was teaching some good stuff.

Nondenominational churches tend to be more Bible believing, and adheres to Christian doctrine of belief. (Trinity, save by grace, etc) But not all are the same, and the "non-denomination" banner can be very misleading. Many are teaching watered down doctrine, feel-good messages, prosperity theology, etc.

Find one that teaches solidly from the Word of God first and foremost - those are kinda hard to find.

Answer 2

Unitarian Universalism is a denomination. We have the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and develop programs for religious education and other purposes through the UUA. Like the Congregationalists, now UCC, we are driven by congregational polity. Ministers are ordained by congregations.

Most non denominational churches in the United States are independent Christian churches.

Just because Unitarian Universalist churches are more open to personal expression in spiritual life, doesn't make us non denominational.

Answer 3

We've been the Unitarian Universalist church since 1961. The Universalists get short shrift because they are second in the name. "Sears" used to be "Sears Roebuck" and the luxury car most people call a "Rolls" is really a "Rolls-Royce".

We don't believe in the Holy Trinity or in salvation by Grace. We believe in Universal salvation.

Non-denominational churches are still Christian. They believe in the Trinity, Salvation by grace, original sin and so forth. They just are not a "branch office" of the Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, etc. If churches were hamburger stands, you could call the Catholics, Presbyterians, etc. McDonald's and Burger King, and the non-denominational ones would be non-franchised ones, like "Joe's Burgers". That isn't a perfect analogy and I didn't mean Catholics would give you indigestion.

The Unitarian Universalists are a denomination, with a national headquarters and regional offices.

Non-denominational churches vary. Some are huge, with charismatic ministers who do just fine without a national body to pass down orders and take their dues. Some are so far off the wall they meet in a garage and have 14 members.

In my town they tend to be conservative. Again in my town, almost all of the mega-churches (average attendance 1,000+) are non-denominational.

Answer 4

Historic Unitarianism believed in the oneness of God and not the Christian doctrine of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one God) proclaimed at the Council of Nicaea in 325. Historic Unitarians believed in the moral authority, but not the deity, of Jesus.

The flaming chalice, symbol of the Unitarian Universalist Association.Throughout the world, many Unitarian congregations and associations belong to the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists. In the United States and Canada most Unitarians are Unitarian Universalist or UU, reflecting an institutional consolidation between Unitarianism and Universalism. Today, most Unitarian Universalists do not consider themselves Christians, even if they share some beliefs quite similar to those of mainstream Christians. There is a large percentage of Unitarian Universalists who have a Christian-centric belief system.




In Christianity, the term non-denominational refers to those churches which have not formally aligned themselves with an established denomination. Non-denominational churches establish their own internal means and methods of policy and worship without interference from the policies and worship practices of regional, national, or multinational organizations. Members of non-denominational churches often consider themselves simply "Christians", and many feel at home when visiting any number of other denominational churches with compatible beliefs.

On the other hand, some non-denominational churches consciously reject the idea of a denominational structure as a matter of doctrine, insisting that each congregation must be autonomous, sometimes pointing out that in early Christianity, there were no denominations. In support of this stance, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 is often cited. It reads:

Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Peter," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
In essence, it can be said that each non-denominational church forms its own unofficial and unnamed "denomination" with a specific set of tenets as defined by the governing structure of the church (including its members). Any similarities between those beliefs and the beliefs of denominations or other non-denominational churches is entirely unintentional.

Answer 5

The Unitarian is a denominatinal church, generally very liberal views.
Non-denominational churches are often independant and more conservative. .

Answer 6

A "non-denominational" church is a conservative evangelical church. Basically, generic conservative Protestantism.

The Unitarian Universalist Church is an extremely liberal religious body that doesn't identify itself as Christian anymore (there are a few Christian UUs, but most are atheist/humanist).