Food for Thought
This page is a collection of short but meaningful messages from the UCCA. We hope that you find inspiration from these thoughts
A LAYMAN’S PERSPECTIVE
I would love to hear from you: Please reach out to me here for any questions or conversation! - Carroll "Chip" Fossett, UCCA General Counsel
SALVATION - Article 5 in a Series
March 1, 2026
As I considered my questions about Jesus and the Bible, I found that Church theology did not make sense to me:
The Gospel of John provides explicit statements about exclusive salvation through Christ:
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (3:16, Revised Standard Version)
“No one comes to the Father but by me.” (14:6, RSV)
But what about other people, other religions--Jews, Muslims, Buddhists? Does God condemn them to eternal damnation if they don’t believe in Jesus? I don’t think so:
God is the Creator and He loves His Creation—the Universe, life on Earth, the Human Race, even us “sinners.” If He loves us, I don’t think that He wants to sentence us to eternal punishment. There are considerations to putting oneself “right with God” other than an orthodox belief in Jesus—love and doing God’s will to suggest two examples: In Luke 10: 25-28, Jesus admits that love is the way to eternal life; Similarly, in Matthew 7:21 he says “He who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” shall enter the kingdom of heaven. (RSV)
Paulo Coelho in “Aleph” has a compelling take on Heaven and Hell:
“In the second before our death, each of us understands the real reason for our existence, and out of that moment, Heaven or Hell is born. Hell is when we look back and know that we wasted an opportunity to dignify the miracle of life. Paradise is being able to say at that moment: I made some mistakes, but I wasn’t a coward. I lived my life and did what I had to do.” (“Aleph,” second chapter)
Carroll “Chip” Fossett
UCCA General Council
QUESTIONS ARISING - Article 4 in a Series
February 15, 2026
After my spiritual awakening, I returned to church life and was active in the United Church of Christ (UCC) for over 30 years. Before long, however, I began to question the orthodox, Trinitarian theology of the Church—the representations of Jesus and the Bible complicated my understanding of God and His relation to the world:
- Must we “believe in Jesus” to be “saved” to eternal life? (John 3:16, Mark 16:16)
- After suffering crucifixion and dying on the cross, did Jesus actually rise, exit the tomb and meet his followers? (Matthew 28: 16-20, Luke 24: 36-49)
- Did Jesus walk on water (Matthew 14: 22-33), feed 5000 people with a few fish and loaves of bread (Matthew 14: 13-21), raise Lazarus from the dead? (John 11:38-44)
- Is the Bible the “Infallible word of God?”
- Why do we have a “historical Jesus” and a “Jesus of Faith?”
- Do we need Jesus to experience God?
- Is Jesus God?
My response to these questions would reshape my understanding of Jesus, religion and my personal spirituality.
Carroll “Chip” Fossett
Unitarian Christian Church of America
GOD’S MIRACLE - Article 3 in a Series
February 1, 2026
After graduation from my Trinitarian Christian education, I had a decade-long “agnostic” period—during college, military service and graduate school, I didn’t think much about God or religion.
Then I had my first Godsend: I met Becky who would become my friend-of-a-lifetime, companion, partner-in-life, and now my wife of 48 years. Two people became one and we have built our adult lives together.
Once A Trinitarian - Article 2 in a Series
January 15, 2026
So that we are on the same page, I believe that the essential difference between Trinitarian and Unitarian is that Trinitarians believe in a “triune,” three-in-one, God—Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit, while Unitarians believe in a unitary God and that Jesus is not God. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the spirit of God which Jesus has brought to us.
I received my strictly Trinitarian, Christian education at the Wellesley Congregational Church, Wellesley, MA. I learned my lessons about the Holy Trinity well: That Jesus is one with God, seated at His right hand; that he is our Lord and Savior; that he preexisted the world with God.
Welcome - Article 1 in a Series
January 1, 2026
Thank you for visiting the newly-updated UCCA website—we on the General Council of UCCA hope that you will visit often to learn more about the UCCA and Unitarian Christianity, and hopefully join us on our mission.
My name is Carroll (better known as “Chip”) Fossett and I am the Director of Public Relations and Information on the General Council. I was a long time Trinitarian, but over the last 15 to 20 years, I have found that my religious beliefs align more closely with Unitarian theology. I connected with the UCCA early last year and think that I have found my new religious home.
In the future, I plan to post additional notes relative to Unitarian Christianity which I hope you will find helpful. In the meantime, if you have any questions for me, please feel free to contact me at chezfossett@aol.com.
Thanks and best wishes for 2026.
"We regard the Scriptures as the records of God's successive revelations to mankind, and particularly of the last and most perfect revelation of his will by Jesus Christ. Whatever doctrines seem to us to be clearly taught in the Scriptures; we receive without reserve or exception." - Unitarian Christianity by William Ellery Channing