"Different people. Different beliefs. One faith."

Welcome!

We are proud to be of service to Edmond and North Oklahoma City.
Nestled back in a serene and wooded pastoral setting, Channing has more of a homey feel to it than that of a church. Entering through its kitchen door is more like walking into someone's home. And to many of its members... it is a home away from home.

At Channing, our mission is to provide a safe, affirming, and encouraging place for the progressive religious community to explore spirituality through education, religious service, and involvement in issues of community concern, social justice, and civil liberties.

Unitarian Universalists (UUs) believe in complete but responsible freedom of speech, thought, belief, faith, and disposition. They believe that each person is free to search for his or her own personal truth on issues like the existence, nature, and meaning of life, deities, creation, and afterlife. UUs can come from any heritage, have any sexual orientation, and hold beliefs from a variety of cultures or religions.

Concepts about deity are diverse among UUs. Some believe that there is no god (atheism); others believe in many gods (polytheism). Some believe that God is a metaphor for a transcendant reality. Some believe in a female god (goddess), a passive god (Deism), a Christian god, or a god manifested in nature or one which is the "ground of being". Some UUs reject the idea of deities and instead speak of "universal spirit" or "reverence of life". Unitarian Universalists support each person's search for truth and meaning in concepts of deity.

We like to use a Wizard of Oz analogy: all the characters are on one path but each is in search of something different.
(UUism for the yellow brick road)

Channing’s members don’t just talk the talk...
we are constantly learning how to walk it.

Channing's members and friends also host a variety of activities...

We are involved in supporting the civil liberties of the GLBT community.

Our choir blends their voices to bring us beautiful music for our Sunday service.

Channing's youth are true friends that enjoy spending time with each other and taking road trips to local attractions.

We support Made in Oklahoma products and growers by hosting The Oklahoma Food Co-Op of Edmond at our facility.

And our members even frequently find an excuse to congregate outside of church just to enjoy each other's company... like at barbecues and house parties.

Channing is a wonderful place full of both spiritual and human values, and warm, caring friends...

Come out and give us a visit!

A Brief History of Channing
Unitarian Universalist
Church of Edmond , Oklahoma

In 1983, three Unitarian Universalists in the Oklahoma City area decided to follow up on thoughts that they and others had previously expressed...to found another UU Church in the OKC area.
After obtaining its charter in September 1983, the congregation met in various office locations in northwest Oklahoma City in hopes of attracting new members residing in this popular growth area. During this span of several years, we had an extension minister, Rev Michael Nelson, whom we shared with the Stillwater Fellowship.
In 1989, the decision was made to move the Church to Edmond, primarily to give us a more unique identity. In 1991, the congregation purchased its first building located at 1209 S. Broadway and a charismatic minister, Rev Wayne Robinson, volunteered his time with us. Rev Robinson quickly attracted many people to the church and Channing sponsored an ongoing program, the Channing Classical Music Society that was well received and lasted for six years.
Our membership grew.

In 1995, Rev. Robinson accepted a position in Florida. For the next several years, Rev Donna Compton, a liberal Disciples of Christ minister, was the Church’s primary minister on a contract basis. In 1999, the building at 1209 S. Broadway was sold. After almost a year of meeting in a temporary space, the congregation moved into its current home, a remodeled house on 5 acres of land in west Edmond.
At the beginning of 2001, the congregation adopted a new ministerial team (a new idea in UU circles) with Rev. Jonalu Johnstone as its consulting minister and Anna Holloway as our student minister.
Our membership continued to grow.

In the fall of 2003, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary as a congregation. And in 2004 we initiated the UU Welcoming Congregation program. In early 2005, we hired a new minister,
Rev. Tim Wilkins, who has a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Southwestern Christian University and a Master of Divinity from Southern Methodist University.

Today, the enthusiasm and efforts by the membership and friends of Channing are amazing. Our goal is to grow in strength, depth, and numbers.

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Copyright © 2005-2007
Channing Unitarian Universalist Church of Edmond, OK