The First Parish in Cambridge
AI summary — doctrinal positions on this page are inferred by AI from this church's own public statements and may be inaccurate.
This congregation's own public statements appear to indicate it may not affirm the historic Christian doctrine of the Trinity (one God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as confessed by the Nicene Creed). It is listed here for completeness, not as an endorsement. This is an AI inference from the congregation's own public text and may be inaccurate. Report a correction.
Historical details
A stance that departs from the denomination
The congregation's own words appear to differ from what its denomination's confession binds. This is an AI reading of the church's public text and may be inaccurate — the quotes below show what it's based on.
AI summary — these stances are inferred by AI from the church's own public text and may be inaccurate. Report a correction.
"rejects — Infant baptism is the norm. Baptism regenerates and incorporates into the Church. Emergency baptism of infants is a serious pastoral concern."
What Roman Catholic Church teaches
Positions bound by the denomination's confessional standards. This is what the tradition teaches; whether this specific congregation publicly holds each is a separate question — see Statements below.
Confessional standard: Council of Trent (Canons) · Council of Trent (Decrees)
- Apostolic SuccessionSTRONGHistoric episcopate — tactile line of consecration from the apostles.
- Assumption of MarySTRONGPius XII, Munificentissimus Deus (1950)
- Immaculate ConceptionSTRONGPius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854)
- Infant BaptismSTRONGWestminster XXVIII; Book of Concord SC IV; Council of Trent Session VII; Wesleyan Articles Art. XVII
- Marriage as one man and one womanSTRONGGenesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4–6; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Perpetual Virginity of MarySTRONGSecond Council of Constantinople (553); universal patristic reception
- Real PresenceSTRONGTrent; Book of Concord (sacramental union); Chrysostom liturgy; 39 Articles Art. XXVIII
- TheotokosSTRONGCouncil of Ephesus (431)
- TransubstantiationSTRONGCouncil of Trent, Session XIII (1551)
- Believer's BaptismstandardBaptism practiced once, infant primary (RCC Trent; Orthodox catechism)
- Homosexual practice and biblical sexual ethicsSTRONGRomans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; historic universal Christian teaching.
- Permissibility of divorce and remarriageSTRONGMarriage is indissoluble; annulment (declaration of invalidity) is the only recourse (CCC 1650).
- Women in pastoral / ordained officeSTRONG1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:34; historic apostolic practice.
- Pacifism vs. just-warweakDefault just-war framework — usually unwritten. Inheriting at weak confidence.
Statements
<!doctype html> Who We Are and What We're About — First Parish in Cambridge 0 Skip to Content New to First Parish? Worship Service & Justice Community About Us Open Menu Close Menu New to First Parish? Worship Service & Justice Community About Us Open Menu Close Menu New to First Parish? Worship Service & Justice Community About Us Welcome to the Meeting House Leadership & Staff OUR HISTORY Renting Space Contact Us Announcements Who We Are and What We’re About Welcome to First Parish, the Meeting House for Harvard Square! When our spiritual ancestors raisedSource ↗
First Parish in Cambridge is a Unitarian Universalist church, located in Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is a Welcoming Congregation and a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The church is notable for its almost 400-year history, which includes pivotal roles in the development of the early Massachusetts government, the creation of Harvard College, and the refinement of current liberal religious thought.Source ↗
Who We Are and What We're About — First Parish in Cambridge 0 Skip to Content New to First Parish? Worship Service & Justice Community About Us Open Menu Close Menu New to First Parish? Worship Service & Justice Community About Us Open Menu Close Menu New to First Parish? Worship Service & Justice Community About Us Welcome to the Meeting House Leadership & Staff OUR HISTORY Renting Space Contact Us Announcements Who We Are and What We’re About Welcome to First Parish, the Meeting House for Harvard Square! When our spiritual ancestors raised the walls of their first religious home nearlySource ↗