Our Mission Statement
We are a welcoming, supportive, and inquisitive spiritual community, actively living our liberal values – transforming lives as we reach out in love, celebrate diversity, and advance justice.
Our Congregational Covenant
The foundation of our congregation is love, inclusiveness, and creating a sanctuary that offers grace with humility and forgiveness.
We promise:
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To honor our individual spiritual paths, our interconnectedness, and our shared UU values;
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To foster an intergenerational, welcoming community where all are respected, heard, and affirmed;
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To extend grace to ourselves and each other while accepting responsibility for our words and actions;
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To protect free expression and curiosity while communicating with compassion;
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To respect our Bylaws and Rules that assist us in working in a community of diverse opinions and beliefs;
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To cherish the well-being of the congregation above our personal preferences.
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To serve as we are able to build the Beloved Community that creates justice and equality for all, within and beyond our walls.
Welcoming to All
Unitarian Universalism has made a commitment to opening its doors to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. First launched in 1990, the Welcoming Congregation program grew out of an understanding that widespread prejudices and ignorance about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people existed within Unitarian Universalism, which resulted in the exclusion of LGBTQ people from our congregations.
Today, 66% of U.S. Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and 94% of Canadian UU congregations are recognized as Welcoming Congregations. The program is supported by LGBTQ Ministries. CUUB is proud to be a welcoming congregation.
We're Green!
In 2016, CUUB became a recognized Green Sanctuary Congregation, a program developed through the Unitarian Universalist Association. This accreditation was granted after a three year process of congregational study, reflection, assessment and action in response to environmentally-related issues.
As Unitarian Universalists, we strive in our daily lives to make decisions which reflect the values described in our seventh principle "Respect for the interdependent web of all existenceof which we are a part". Our ongoing participation in the Green Sanctuary program provides us with a path to continue to reflect and live our lives in manners that support and honor this principle.
Our History
Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton, affectionately called CUUB, was founded in 1998 in the homes of a few people who wanted a safe place to explore their beliefs with their children. They gathered and grew, and realized that they wanted to create something permanent for other residents of Livingston County. CUUB services were held on Sunday mornings in rented space in the Brighton Education and Community Center for years, until CUUB purchased our current home, located at 3333 S. Old US 23 in Brighton, in the spring of 2012.
CUUB filled a great need — for liberal religious tolerance, understanding, and growth — in greater Livingston County, and continues to do so today. Chartered in 2000, we are a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, an association of over 1,000 churches in the U.S. and Canada. We are a joyful, caring, curious, intergenerational community doing our best to live out our shared values.
Social Justice
We have a legacy of “deeds not creeds.” Our work for a better world calls us to unexpected places as we harness love’s power to stop oppression. From grassroots community organizing to interfaith state, national, and corporate advocacy; in protest marches, prayer vigils, and press conferences; in homeless shelters and in prisons, Unitarian Universalists put our faith into action.
Our justice efforts are grounded in our congregationally-driven social justice statements and our call to break down divisions, heal isolation, and honor the interconnectedness of all life and all justice issues. We model these commitments by creating just, welcoming, and inclusive congregations. We act in partnership with groups and communities most impacted by injustice on local, state, national, and international levels.
Our justice ministries focus on key priorities for our congregations and communities:
Our ministry includes service, education, advocacy, and public witness (the spiritual practice of taking a public position in support of justice). Our Side with Love campaign harnesses the power of love to end oppression. Our UU College of Social Justice provides experiential learning opportunities to deepen the work of justice for people of all ages. Our work is led by our denominational staff, congregational leaders, and a wide variety of coalition partners and UU groups focused on justice and identity.
Facilities
CUUB facilities are available for member and community use. We have many rooms available for different sized meetings and events. Rental fees are dependent on rooms / dates needed, type of event and membership status.
Rooms available:
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Sanctuary
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Social Area
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Kitchen
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Boardroom
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Childcare Room
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Classrooms
Please send your requests for your meeting or event to info@cuub.org or click the button below to fill out the form.
Meet Our Staff
Rev. Vilius Rudra Dundzila
Consulting Minister
Rev. Dr. Vilius Rudra Dundzila uses his middle name “Rudra” as his given name. He taught as Professor of Humanities and Comparative Literature at Harry S. Truman College (City Colleges of Chicago) for 19 years until early retirement. He has served as the Seniūnas (elder, i.e., minister) of the Kaunas, Lithuania and Chicago congregations of Romuva (Lithuanian Ethnic Religion). He has served a series of Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ congregations in and around greater Chicago. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and German with an emphasis on religious-mythological literature, and a D.Min. in spirituality. He has authored various articles on Baltic mythology and religion. He likes to sail, kayak, bike, camp, lift weights, and walk his and his partner’s Mikie’s dogs. He loves baking whole-grain breads, cooking soups/stews and fermenting mead, esp. during the fall and winter months. Meditation a.k.a. Contemplation is his core spiritual practice.
Jeanne
Voltz
Administrator
Jeanne Voltz graduated from Cleary University with a Bachelor Degree in Business with a major in Accounting. She has worked mostly for nonprofit organizations. She worked for United Way, The Salvation Army, LACASA, the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Intermediate School District.
Pianist
Help Wanted
Pianist Job Description
Title: Pianist
Reports to: Worship Team Chair
Hours and schedule: Sundays 10:00 - 11:30 Salary: $150.00 per service
Full job description here
Send cover letter with resume to Minister@cuub.org. Applications are being accepted on an on-going basis until the positions is filled. No phone calls are accepted.
Spiritual Exploration
Coordinator
Help Wanted
Title: SE Coordinator
Reports to: Minister
Plans and administers the Spiritual Exploration (religious education) program, including recruitment,
training, and coordination of volunteers, and serves as a resource in using Unitarian Universalist religious
education curricula and programs.
Full job description here
Send cover letter with resume to Minister@cuub.org. Applications are being accepted on an on-going basis until the positions is filled. No phone calls are accepted.
Leadership Teams
These are the leaders who have stepped up to manage everything from the care and management of our building and grounds to creating meaningful Sunday services and everything in between! Consider attending one. Many hands make light work!
Tech Team
Small Groups
Small Group Ministries meet regularly to share our lives and interests. Go to the calendar tab above to see our schedule.
A Course in Miracles, a spiritual self-study program that teaches that the path to universal love and peace is through forgiveness and healing relationships.
CUUB Camping CUUB families camping together over a summer weekend.
Kindred Spirits
Kindred Spirits is a welcoming support and social group for members and friends of CUUB who identify with feminine energy. Events include, but are not limited to, daytime hikes, outdoor campfire parties, and attendance at local community events.
Men’s Group, Men's Group is for male identifying people to gather socially and to share our lives.
Pottery Studio, All experience levels welcome!
Red Tent This is s a monthly meeting on the 2nd Friday of each month, and you can attend as you are able. It is a time of bonding with other women, and new, enriching experiences.
For more information email info@cuub.org
Keep up to date on all things happening at CUUB by subscribing to CUUB News.