Universalist
Convention of North Carolina, Inc. (UCONCI)
"The mission
of the Universalist Convention of North Carolina,
Incorporated
is to foster, promote, and support Unitarian
Universalism,
and Unitarian Universalist congregations in North
Carolina."
Welcome
The
Universalist Convention of North Carolina, Inc.
(UCONCI) was first organized in 1895 to promote
the coordinated growth of Universalism in eastern North
Carolina. At that time, some very energetic circuit
riders were founding new Universalist churches in the
rural areas of our state and also in South Carolina and
Virginia. Reorganization in 1905 led to a charter of
incorporation, and even as the tide of enthusiasm for
the Universalist denomination ebbed with the subsequent
liberalization among the other more populous
denominations, this organization has held its ground and
abides today to assure mutual support (both financial
and social) among the congregations it serves.
We serve
as an oasis of reasonable religion in this "Bible belt"
area. People who have been disillusioned from more
fundamentalist origins find us with relief, and they are
usually able to gather hope for the future through an
organized source of worship based in love instead of
fear. Our congregations are inclusive and diverse in
beliefs and forms of worship services, as well as in
community support, with varied and numerous efforts to
actively improve the conditions we find in our
communities.
We
currently have thirteen
member Unitarian Universalist churches and
fellowships. Their locations
extend from Chapel Hill in central NC to Kitty Hawk on
the Outer Banks, with most of the groups in the Coastal
Plain.
We also maintain a summer
campground called Shelter
Neck Unitarian Universalist Camp in the
countryside near Burgaw NC,about 15 minutes from
Interstate highway 40, and less than an hour's drive
from several
fantastic beach communities. Shelter Neck is
the home of one of the very first Unitarian churches in
North Carolina, the Shelter Neck Chapel, built and
dedicated in 1902. We have a good time there, getting
together to have workshops, seminars, and retreats with
lots of recreation and conversation.
In past summers, UCONCI has sponsored
Shelter Neck Youth
Camps during the summer, with the aim of
connecting youth from small, mid-size, and large
Unitarian Universalist congregations across eastern and
central North Carolina in a cohesive, energetic and
thriving community. At this time, Summer camps are suspended
until further notice while flood damage at the camp is
repaired.
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