The Augusta Unitarian Fellowship was organized in July 1954 when 12 people signed the membership book. For the next six years the fellowship met in a variety of locations around Augusta. Upon purchase of a lot on Walton Way in November 1959, the building dedicated in 1960 was designed by Don Kelly, one of our charter members. Office space was added to the original building in 1975 using funds from the sale of the Aiken, SC congregation’s building when they disbanded. A new sanctuary was completed in 1985.

Building on the fellowship’s activism in the Civil Rights movement and early establishment of a Social Action Committee, The Open Door Kindergarten, Augusta’s first inter-racial school, was opened in the church building in 1964.  Social Justice continues to be an important part of the church and its identity today.

In 1967, the name of the congregation was changed to Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta. This action reflected the convention of the time for congregations to change their name from “fellowship” to “church” as membership expanded.

Our music program is a very important part of worship and our lives together, including a long history of hosting jazz concerts with superb musicians from throughout the southeast.

Between 1994 and 2002, we began engaging with the Journey Toward Wholeness and Welcoming Congregation programs. The Welcoming Congregation Program is a volunteer program for Unitarian Universalist congregations that want to take intentional steps to become more welcoming and inclusive of people with targeted sexual orientations and gender identities. First launched in 1990, the program grew out of an understanding that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQIA+) people existed in our congregations but were nonetheless systematically marginalized and targeted.  Becoming a Welcoming Congregation meant actionable steps were taken and systems updated so that LGBTQIA+ people could experience full inclusion in our faith.  Today, 66% of U.S. Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and 94% of Canadian UU congregations are recognized as Welcoming Congregations.

Our church offers liberal and progressive folks unique sanctuary, faith community, and spirituality in the CSRA.  And often still plays an important, spear-point role to champion justice and progressive action beyond our small community – countering racism and white supremacy culture, supporting LGBTQIA+ pride and rights, and supporting reproductive rights among other important issues of our time.  We strive to create Beloved Community within, among, and beyond. 

To do so requires coalition building.  The UUCA and many of our members are an active participant in the Progressive Religious Coalition and the Interfaith Fellowship of Augusta. Numerous members of the congregation are also Sierra Club members, and the church collaborates with the Sierra Club in fundraising events each year.  We also have a large group of members in the local League of Women Voters.  And, our minister and members are often asked to speak at justice events by local organizers and leaders.

UUCA cherishes diversity in all its forms.  Our members and friends are grounded by a variety of theologies: humanism, naturalistic theism or earth-centered spirituality, paganism, and Christianity.  We have mystics, pantheists, atheists, agnostics, and skeptics.

Our members span a large socioeconomic range, yet often come from the area universities, the large medical industry in Augusta, and the Savannah nuclear power and research facilities.  The UUCA church congregation also includes Ft. Gordon civilian employees, soldiers, and veterans.  Our goal is warm, welcoming inclusivity.  There is no litmus test for membership though we do ask that folks agree to our covenant grounded by our shared values, all of which ask us to live a life of loving integrity.

Our faith formation programs for children, youth, and adults offer varied content and curricula for faith development.  All of which foster a culture of play and community.  We recently began a monthly small group ministry program for adults which brings us closer together and helps us deepen our spiritual lives in relationship and reciprocity.

UUCA offers pastoral care through our minister, the Rev. Nic Filzen, and the Pastoral Care Team.

We hope all of who you are feels welcomed and included by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta. 

We hope all of who you are feels loved. 

We hope that as we mutually nurture our souls, we can co-create Beloved Community.