There are many opportunities to explore and develop your faith as an adult at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. The Racial Justice Taskforce, the Green Sanctuary, and the FORUM are among a few ministries that offer a variety of programs every year in which speakers are invited on topics of broad interest. The minister, the religious education director, and various lay leaders offer varied workshops, one-day events, and other opportunities for diving deep into faith formation throughout each year.

The newly – restarted Sunday morning FORUM meets on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. The FORUM invites speakers on important topics of interest to members of the congregation. The FORUM is both in person and online! To find out what the next FORUM topic will be, view the church calendar.

We also encourage and help facilitate the creation of book discussion groups. This year’s recommended titles include books on circle processes, often referred to as “restorative justice” circles. Circle processes encompass many other functions, however, not simply in response to conflict. Interested in joining a book discussion group? Sign up here! Once there are at least three people signed up for a title, you will be contacted and put in touch with each other to organize your group.

Each year, the Unitarian Universalist Association recommends a book for its congregations to explore. The UUA’s Common Read for the 2024 – 25 year is:

Recommended Reading: Unitarian Universalism for Beginners 

This list scratches the surface of the rich and varied topics to explore in our faith. The UUA Inspirit bookstore carries many, many additional titles worth browsing!

The following books will ground readers in Unitarian Universalist recent historical context and basic explorations of theology and philosophy of Unitarian Universalism. This list is continually being updated.

Want to start a book group on one of these titles? Email eshadowsong@first-unitarian-pgh.org for assistance.

• Elite: Uncovering Classism in Unitarian Universalist History by Mark Harris

• A Chosen Faith : An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism

• Black Pioneers in a White Denomination by Mark D. Morrison-Reed

• Revisiting the Empowerment Controversy: Black Power and Unitarian Universalism by Mark D. Morrison-Reed

• Fluent in Faith: A Unitarian Universalist Embrace of Religious Language by Jeanne Harrison Nieuwejaar

• The Cathedral of the World: A Universalist Theology by Forrest Church

• The Gift of Faith: Tending the Spiritual Lives of Children by Jeanne Harrison Nieuwejaar