The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waynesboro is a congregation of about 130 adult members and 25 children. Most of our members live in the Waynesboro/Staunton/Augusta County area. We are a diverse group representing different age groups, ethnic and religious backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, genders and sexual orientations.

Singles, couples, and families alike have found a place where they can share common values and interests and find lifelong friendships. As a congregation, we are united by our appreciation of each individual’s uniqueness and a common quest for spiritual action and wisdom.

In 2004, after extensive study of the issues and the justice needs of LGBTQ people, UUFW voted to become an LGBTQ-Welcoming Congregation and were recognized as such by the Unitarian Universalist Association. It means the congregation has undertaken to become fully inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender people in every aspect of congregational life and leadership and to honor and celebrate the lives and relationships of LGBTQ+ persons as having equal worth as the lives and relationships of straight people. As a Welcoming Congregation, we accept and support same-sex couples and offer congregational and ministerial assistance for weddings and other celebrations of family definition. And we commit ourselves to replacing personal prejudice with knowledge in the belief that it will lead to individual spiritual growth and congregational unity.

In 2021, after half a year of study, we voted to accept for our own congregation the proposed 8th principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association in advance of it coming to a vote at our association’s general assembly, and we committed our delegates to vote for the Eight Principle at such time as it comes before the general assembly of our association. The Eight Principle at the local level is a commitment:

“We members of this Fellowship commit and covenant, individually and as a congregation, to affirm and promote a journey toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.“