CUUPS Chapters
The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) exists in part to promote the practice and understanding of Pagan and Earth-centered Spirituality within the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and to enable networking among Pagan-identified Unitarian Universalists. Chapters are one way CUUPS accomplishes these goals.
CUUPS encourages chapter meetings and worship services to be open to all people. Chapter activities can appeal to members of UUA congregations, interested Pagans from the community, as well as people who do not consider themselves Unitarian Universalists nor Pagans.
With close to 70 chapters continentally, finding a CUUPS chapter near you is getting easier. This list of Chapter Locations includes those chapters and the congregations they are affiliated with, as well as links to those chapters who have sites online.
What Chapters Do
Each chapter decides what activities to offer. They may offer worship services, discussion groups, book studies, workshops, film series, field trips, and other activities with a Pagan focus. Some publish a newsletter to keep members informed. To start a chapter, pick one activity and advertise it to members of your congregation. If people show up, you may have the start of a CUUPS chapter!
How Chapters Worship
CUUPS draws on the heritage of worship styles in Paganism and Unitarian Universalism, often creating new styles of worship. Worship services, often in the form of rituals or ceremonies, can be traditional, modern, or a blend of both.
Chapters may celebrate traditional Pagan holidays in modern ways and with modern understandings, or they may celebrate in a manner handed down through generations. Some chapters hold services eight times a year in honor of the Sabbats (i.e., the Solstices, Equinoxes, and points half way between). Other chapters hold worship services for only some of these, or for different holidays, or not at all.
Chapters may also lead worship services for their congregations. These services may follow the standard format in the congregation or may be non-traditional in format. CUUPS encourages chapters to use practices familiar to members who attend for worship services but not to follow only one tradition of Paganism. Chapters are ideal for exploring diverse Pagan practices and traditions.
How Often Chapters Meet
Chapters determine their own schedules. Meeting times can vary from getting together occasionally to meeting weekly, based on the interest of those attending. Meeting times and frequency can vary throughout the year and throughout the lifetime of the chapter.
Requirements for Chapters
Policies on Local CUUPS Chapters *
- To be recognized as a CUUPS chapter, a group must be in sympathy with the CUUPS Statement of Purpose and the UUA Principles and Purposes.
- In order to manifest a primary working relationship with a UU society, potential chapters must submit a document from the minister, the board, or the membership of a UU congregation attesting to its willingness to host the forming chapter. Other modes of affinity are potentially acceptable, but establishing them may require additional disclosure of chapter makeup, history, plans, etc. Please be aware that there is currently a chapter in existence associated with the Church of the Larger Fellowship to serve members who do not live near a congregation.
- All new and existing chapters shall provide a contact person for publication, who shall at all times be both an active member of CUUPS and a member of a UU society or CLF.
- All chapters shall submit an annual registration form and chapter fee. The chapter fee is waived for chapters whose members include three or more current, dues-paying CUUPS, Inc. members.
* as amended through July 20, 2008
Now available online:
Chapter Discussion E-List
If you are interested in starting a chapter or are interested in discussing topics of interest to chapters, join our Chapter Contact list.Printer-friendly pdf Chapter Registration Form
