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Ralph Catts © 9 August 2026

Address: A Theology for Seekers

Our fourth principle is a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. This approach contrasts with most of the major world religions where canon and a scripture from thousands of years ago proscribe what followers are to believe.

Hans le Grand, a European minister who is a friend of mine, has recently completed a Doctorate in Theology, in which he develops a Seeker Theology. His starting point is an agnostic approach to the mystery of existence and our place within the complexity of existence which, he suggests, is beyond our full comprehension (Le Grand, 2023, p. 46), The elements of a Seeker theology include

• human thought as the source of ethics,
• diverse sources of inspiration,
• spiritual growth,
• a world view,
• the role of community and
• a perspective on what happens after death (Le Grand, 2023, pp. 36 -37).

In all these dimensions he argues that rational analysis and personal discernment are the arbiters of reality. This distinguishes Seeker Theology from the canon of Christian theology.

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Maria Hayward © 2 August 2026

Introduction to Colonisation

The chalice words are in honour of the Unitarian Universalist fourth Principle and were written by William Ellery Channing (an early US Unitarian – 19^th c.).

“I call that mind free, which jealously guards its intellectual rights and powers, which calls no-one master, which does not content itself with a passive or hereditary faith, which opens itself to light, whencesoever it may come, which receives new truth as an angel from heaven”.

Preamble:

Rev Alec Toleafoa mentioned colonisation and its effects in his talk to us about the Polynesian Panthers last year. And Catherine Delahunty earlier this year shared with us the ongoing detrimental effects of colonisation on West Papua. Some of us participating in this service today have predecessors who were colonisers, mine were, and our home countries enjoyed the spoils (wealth) that accrued from colonisation. But maybe there are also a few in our group who are descendants of colonised peoples, and your ancestors might not have fared as well. In nearly all the colonised countries, indigenous people, even today, are more or less at the bottom of every social pile, so I wonder, what did the colonisers do to create these unequal societies? I decided to undertake a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning”, (principle 4 again, – the green one), because I wanted to understand more about the detrimental effect of colonisation. But this is an extensive field, and I’ve only covered the tip of the iceberg. One aspect of colonisation was the dramatic accrual of wealth by colonising countries and the corresponding poverty inflicted on indigenous groups. India was one of the wealthiest countries in the world at the time of the British takeover; by the time they left, it was one of the poorest. But another aspect of colonisation was the racist belief in the superiority of the colonisers. I’d like to share with you today the beginning of my journey into learning about how colonisation and racism had a damaging effect on the beautiful motu we occupy today – Aotearoa.

for Well-Being of People and Planet

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Laurie Ross © 19 July 2026

The goal of an Eco-Economy will only be achieved if there is a Transformation of the global Economic System, to truly serve our higher values, to protect and nurture the well-being of Humanity and the Earth. Te ira Tangata e Te Taiao.

This honours the Unitarian Universalist Principle #7 ‘Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.’ This means the realization that the natural environment is interwoven with human Beings in the Spirit Te Wairua.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Rachel Mackintosh

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Rachel Mackintosh © 12 July 2026

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Meditation / Conversation starter

• To?
• Come?

Links

To come

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Paul Henriques

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Paul Henriques © 5 July 2026

My talk today is about the Universalist Church and its people. I briefly explore the history and beliefs of Universalism, including notable events and eminent Universalists. The religion of Universalism was founded on the idea that everybody gets saved. In other words, universal salvation. Its development had a remarkable set of Universalist characters. Examples include a third century scholar who refused under torture to recant his beliefs, a group of English farmers planting vegetables on common land who were beaten for it time and again, and the founder of the American Red Cross. The period I cover today starts with that third century scholar and ends in 1961 when the American Universalists and Unitarians merged.