1. What is the FUUCI?

    The First Unitarian Universalist Church of the Internet
is an experimenting virtual community in cyber-space.
It consists of individuals sitting at their computers,
communicating with one another by e-mail,
receiving and responding to cyber-sermons,
by having dialog about cyber-sermons
and other issues of common interest.
The home page of the FUUCI,
which contains up-to-date information is:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/Y-INDEX.html

2. What is the age-range for members?

    The FUUCI began its life as an online community
for UU young adults world wide.
In UU usage, "young adults" means ages 18-35.
But the FUUCI never excluded people beyond age 35.
And now the FUUCI has broadened its reach
to include adults of all ages.
If you have access to a computer,
you can be a member.
For more details about membership, see this URL:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/Y-MEM.html

3. How does one become a member
or get off the mailing list?

    Anyone in the world who has an e-mail address
may become a member of the FUUCI.

    We hope to be accepted as a mailing list of the UUA.
When this happens, details will be included here.

4. Does it cost anything?

    No, membership is completely free of charge.
If you would like to know more about
how the FUUCI operates without money, read this file:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/Y-FREE.html

5. Does the FUUCI emphasize any particular
philosophical or theological point of view?

    No.  Diversity of one of the greatest strengths
of the UU movement.
And the FUUCI seeks to represent
as much of this diversity as possible.
For those who know little about UUism,
the following is a partial listing
of some of the themes within UU spirituality.
Such themes are not exclusive, of course,
since the same person could embrace women's spirituality,
earth-centered spirituality,
and neo-pagan spirituality all at the same time.
These themes are organized by similarity.
The largest group of Unitarian Universalists
call themselves "humanists".

I. Theistic Spiritual Paths

 A. Jewish UUism
 B. Paganism
 C. Christian UUism
 D. Deism
 E. Earth-Centered Spirituality
 F. Panentheism
 G. Green Spirituality
 H. Pantheism
 I. Transcendentalism
 J. Process Theology

 A. Humanism

  1. Existential Spirituality
  2. Women's Spirituality, Feminist Spirituality

 B. Buddhist UUism

    Unitarian Universalists are free to define their own spiritual paths.

{Please add to this list of themes;
we want this listing to be as comprehensive as possible.}

    If the FUUCI stands the test to time,
new themes will doubtless emerge
as the years, decades, and centuries go by.
Unitarian Universalism is not tied to anything in the past.

    The First Unitarian Universalist Church of the Internet
is governed democratically by its members.
Members may volunteer for any committee.
Final decisions (when needed) are made by the
Board of Directors, who are elected by the members.
For a list of committees (and possible committees) see:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/Y-COMM.html

7. Does the FUUCI have any professional leadership?

    Yes, professionals with leadership abilities
are encouraged to become members of the FUUCI.
And then they can become professional volunteer staff.
These staff members provide occasional cyber-sermons
and volunteer to do some pastoral counseling by e-mail.
More information about the professional volunteer staff:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/Y-MIN.html

8.  What does the FUUCI do?

    This online organization exists only electronically:
an e-mailing list and a home page.
Members and volunteer professional staff
communicate with one another by private e-mail.

    A cyber-sermon is a very short written discourse
on a subject of interest to the members.
Cyber-sermons might be shortened versions of standard sermons.
Three pages is the maximum length,
defined in electronic terms as 10 KB.
This could also be described as 10 small screens
or about 100 sentences.
Cyber-sermons are sent to all members.
And these first readers are encouraged to forward cyber-sermons
to others they know who might be interested.
For more details about cyber-sermons,
see the following part of the FUUCI home page:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/Y-CYBS.html

10. Is the FUUCI related to any other organization?

    The FUUCI is basically an independent cyber-organization,
run by and for its members.
The following disclaimer,
which appears at the top of our list of cyber-sermons,
illustrates the free and open-minded nature of the FUUCI:

     The individual author of each cyber-sermon
bears primary responsibility for all the facts and opinions it contains.
Each subsequent individual or organization
that re-distributes cyber-sermons
cannot be held responsible for errors of fact
or controversial opinions cyber-sermons might contain.

    Persons who are not familiar with Unitarian Universalism
are hereby informed that UUism is a decentralized,
creed-free, liberal religious movement.
There is no UU Pope, no UU Bible, and no UU dogma.
There are several traditions from which Unitarian Universalism springs,
but these do not limit individual freedom of belief—or non-belief.
(For more information, see the UUA home page: http://uua.org .)

    Thus, no central authority has reviewed
the thoughts contained in any cyber-sermon
—or in any regular sermon delivered to any local UU congregation.
Cyber-sermons reflect the views of their authors.
They should not be taken to represent the views of any religious body.

11. Where can I get more information about the FUUCI?

    The most current information
will be found on the FUUCI home page:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~parkx032/Y-INDEX.html
When new cyber-sermons are distributed to the members,
they are also placed in the FUUCI library on the FUUCI home page.

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.