FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
People Persons is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. We operate out of a space in Collingwood for our regular meetings, and hold our celebrations in public spaces. Recently, our equinox parties have been held in public parks, and our summer solstice was held at Ceres Community Environment Park.
A central goal of the UNChurch is to gain a regular premises for our members to congregate.
When you hear the word church, you automatically conjure a number of ideas and images: a connected community, a central meeting place, celebrations, community groups, philanthropy. We believe that the societal move away from churches (while beneficial in many ways) has left a gap in many peoples’ lives. Churches historically have provided a dedicated time and space for shared moral and philosophical contemplation; a wide network of people with which to share resources and rely on; a sense of meaning and belonging; and the capacity to lobby governments to better serve their communities. We believe that people can have access to the spirit of community and these benefits should be available to people without the requiring of traditional faith in the unobservable (i.e. God). By instantly associating these ideas, the word Church better describes our mission than simply “community group.”
The Unorthodox Network Church (UNChurch for short), is a witticism based on the idea that we are “Unorthodox” in the sense that our church does not follow a traditional religious doctrine. That we are primarily for building a community network that benefits members and non-members (indirectly through our community outreach). And that we would like to have all the same benefits for our members that a traditional religious organisation may be able to provide, without the prejudice often imposed by these structures. We aim to foster that spirituality of community and shared purpose in a meaningful way.
The church, historically, has been the gathering point for community networking and a source of information from distant places. It fostered a sense of community by providing opportunities for social interaction and news exchange, shaping values and worldview. We seek to carry on in this tradition based on our defined values, with a distinct absence of dogma.
We gather monthly to discuss our values, and how we can take these values into the world around us. During meetings we will have open discussions, guided meditations, guest speakers, and updates on current events associated with the UNChurch, wrapping up with tea and social time.
Church activities include celebration of the change of seasons; the Solstices and Equinoxes.
AHA - Awe yeah
Our focus of faith, AHA, symbolizes the collective "aha moment" that unites our community in synergy and celebration. AHA serves not only as a unifying force but also as a protective element, ensuring the safety and belonging of our community members. Inspired by the positive connections fostered during our gatherings, AHA embodies the preventive aspect against negative influences, echoing the empirical evidence on faith's contribution to well-being and resilience. As we say "Awe Yeah" in response to our shared realizations, we emphasize the joy and affirmation within a supportive and secure community.No. The Unchurch welcomes people of all faiths or no faith at all. For the integrity of the community, we expect all members to behave in line with our values, but belief (or non-belief) in any deity or dogma is not required for anyone to enjoy the benefits of belonging to our community, your participation builds the community spirit that is the basis of our Church AHA.
Let me count the ways…
The Unchurch strives to make participation in our community accessible to all, and encourages members to be as involved as their available time and energy permits. Here are some of the main ways to get connected:
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Attend an event! The first step to connection is meeting people.
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Volunteer at an event. There are roles for people of all abilities, from speakers to welcomers to the tea party. Many hands make light work.
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Sign up to fill one of our ongoing roles. Find something that aligns with your passions or gain experience in a new skill.
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Lead an initiative. Have a great idea for a program or event? We want to help you make it a reality!
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