The UCA’s Deed of Trust begins with some beautiful words that really should be known more widely amongst us simply because they set out, quite clearly, the doctrinally open nature of our liberal Christian tradition. They are printed below in their original form and are immediately followed by a modern “recasting” made by the Revd Chris Wilson (UCA Moderator 2006-8).
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Rule of Christian Faith and Duty under the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That it is the inalienable right of every Christian to search these records of Divine Truth for his own instruction and guidance, to form his own opinions with regard to what they teach and to worship God in sincerity agreeably to the dictates of his own conscience without privation or the inconvenience inflicted by his fellow man.
That the imposition of Human Tests and Confessions of Faith, and the vain efforts of men to produce an unattainable uniformity of belief have tended to restrict the sacred right of private judgement and to prevent that free inquiry and discussion which are essential to the extension of religious knowledge.
That forasmuch as the Master, Christ, has described the true disciple in these words, saying, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another”, and further, has emphasised the two great commandments, saying “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these”; and forasmuch as Christ himself has said, “Not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”.
They, therefore, refuse to impose conditions upon the Church which He, Himself, has not sanctioned, and they solemnly declare their allegiance to the principle – as the real bond of union between Christians – that the teaching of Christ Himself must take precedence of the doctrine of a later time, and that unity is to be sought, not in uniformity of creed, but in a common standard of righteousness and obedience to the commandments which Christ Himself has laid down.
THE UCA FOUNDATIONAL DECLARATION IN RECAST FORM by the Revd Chris Wilson
The Bible is central to our faith and Jesus is the Teacher, Exemplar and Master. We will read and search scripture for truth, interpreted by the authority of Conscience. All creeds and confessions restrict belief and the free Inquiry we need for Knowledge. By loving one another, we show ourselves to follow the example of the Jesus. In all things, in faith and deeds, we seek to follow the His Great Commandment that God is One and we should love God with all that we are, and love neighbour as ourselves. We know that how we act is much more important than what the words we say and that, in all times, the words of Jesus still show the way, more important than those uttered in later days. Unity is found not in creeds or doctrines, but by following and being obedient to His teachings. This we affirm.
