We're sorry, but the Web pages for the ULC in the United Kingdom are no longer functioning, and we have no further information on what may have become of this group. If anyone knows a contact information of the group or for any other legitimate ULC organization in the United Kingdom (i.e., not one affiliated with the Monastery), please contact us to let us know so we can make this information available to our members in the United Kingdom
This is the information provided by the ULCUK group when they were still active:
The Universal Life Church in the United Kingdom (ULCUK)
When you have a feeling in your heart that tells you that there is something you must do. When after a time of intense listening to the little voice that tells you there is a work to be done. When you come to the point of realisation that the feeling and the voice, is your faith, telling you that where you are, or what you are doing, is not taking you along the path of life that you should be following, where do you go, to whom do you turn?
You are not alone. Many of us have been there. We have joined and left many churches, not because they are wrong, but because they do not fulfill the needs of our faith, something is missing.
The Universal Life Church could be the answer, and for my colleagues and myself, the Universal Life Church in the UK, The ULCUK is.
The ULCUK was formed in 2000 as a way for ULC ministers to make and maintain contact with each other in the UK. Predominantly a web based ministry, it was successful in attracting a following of ULC ministers of differing faiths.
In the January of 2004, the first ULCUK conference was held and the structure that exists now was put into place. The ULCUK consists of five Archdeacons, one elected Bishop and a forum membership that grows daily. Also in place is the facility for fundraising, an active discussion forum and an outreach program, which involves one of the ULCUK Ministers currently negotiating to become active within a hospital chaplaincy in the West Midlands.
The ULCUK actively encourages people of all faiths to join in with forum discussions and to attend conference. The ULCUK also encourages people who feel the call to serve, in accordance with their own faith, to become a legally ordained minister with the ULC and if resident within the UK to also become an active full member of the ULCUK by obtaining a ULCUK Ordination.
Why was the ULCUK formed when the ULC already exists?
The ULCUK was formed to meet the needs of ULC ministers resident in the UK. There are many differences in the laws between the UK and the USA. The ULCUK recognises the ULCHQ in Modesto, California as the world centre for all ULC Ministers. The ULCUK was not formed to replace the ULCHQ, but to offer a central point of contact and support for ULC ministers in the UK. This has now been taken a step further with the formation of ULC Europe.
ULC Europe
The ULCUK has achieved much in a relatively short space of time, but now is not the time to rest on our laurels. All that has been done thus far will be duplicated and applied to ULC Europe.
It is important that ULC ministers feel that they are not alone but part of a bigger family. ULC Europe is that bigger family. The new support network has set itself the task of becoming the first place that ministers in Europe will turn to for help and advice with regard to matters pertaining to Europe. As always, matters relating to points of doctrine or ULC Policy are the domain of ULCHQ in Modesto, California.
This is a massive undertaking on the part of the ULCUK, but just as it was important to organise the support in the UK it is equally, if not more important to organise a support group within mainland Europe.
The biggest part of the challenge is to ensure that European ministers know of the existence of ULC Europe, then there is the language barrier, however with commitment and dedication these challenges, and the many more unknown ones, will be overcome.
A website and forum have been put in place as the cornerstones of this venture. The forum lists all countries within the EEC. As time goes on it is hoped that each of the country forums will become a hive of activity for ministries, that the forum as a whole will become a multicultural, multi-faith hive of activity. Ministers within there own country are a huge resource of knowledge and information relating to their own countries, ULC Europe aims to make that knowledge and information available to every new minister in Europe.
ULC Europe has also set itself the task of fund raising. The funds are to be used to support individual ministers and country specific ministries in their attempts to grow. Funding will also be used to support community projects in areas where ULC European Ministers are active.
To be a part of this growth ULC Europe will encourage ULC Ordained ministers to apply for a ULC Europe ordination in order to become classed as a ULCE Minister. This of course is not an absolute requirement, but requests for assistance will be looked upon more favourably from those ministers who share the vision of ULC Europe by becoming an ordained ULCE minister.
The ULCUK and ULCE are working constantly to ensure that ministers of all faiths are able to practice their religion without hindrance. By uniting under one banner we will have a voice that cannot be easily ignored. By working together we will achieve all that we want and much more besides. The Motto of the ULC is “We are one” this is the ultimate aim of the ULCUK and the ULCE, to come together under on European banner as one, and as European ULC Minister to join our colleagues in the USA as one.
We implore our ULC Colleagues both in the UK and Mainland Europe to help us achieve these goals, to join us and stand as one.
Written by: The Rt. Rev. Paul Woodland. Bishop ULCUK.
Additional material supplied by: Rev. Dr. Chris Oliver. Archdeacon ULCUK.
ULC Europe Logo designed by:
Rev. Rose Kidd (Bariskova) Founder of the Kiddarian Tradition and Treasurer of the Divine Circle Ministries