About Central Unitarian Church

Our History

In 1897, a small group of folks founded the Hackensack Unitarian Congregational Church. By 1956, the congregation had outgrown its walls and moved to Paramus, changing its name to Central Unitarian Church (CUC) and reaching out to the liberal religious community in Bergen County. In 2022, the congregation decided it was once again time to move to better meet the needs of congregational life in the 21st century, which are significantly different than those during most of CUC’s history.  In August 2023, Central Unitarian Church moved to a temporary location in Westwood, NJ, while our new permanent building in the same area is under construction. 

Our Vision Statement

We dream of a future in which

… Central Unitarian Church’s commitment to Unitarian Universalism as a union of reason and faith is a beacon to all who seek nourishment of the heart, mind and spirit in a life-changing religious home.

… Central Unitarian is a loving community built on bonds of trust that offers powerful, tangible ways for every person who walks through our doors to work for a better world.

… Central Unitarian offers multiple pathways to generous service in which all members and friends find personal meaning and share their abundant talents and ideas.

… Central Unitarian celebrates the whole human experience, gathering many cultures and voices through our richly diverse programming.

… Central Unitarian works passionately for justice and empowers each person to change lives within and beyond our walls every day.

… Our past is honored, and our resources enable this vision to flourish.  

 Adopted by the congregation on June 10, 2012.

The Central Unitarian Church is… 

…a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA.org)

… a Welcoming Congregation, affirming and welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families.

… a Stigma-Free Zone, committed to ending the stigma associated with mental illness as part of the county-wide Stigma-Free campaign and Paramus Stigma-Free.

… a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement for equality and justice.

 … a Community of Covenant, where members promise to act with honesty, compassion, love, and respect toward one another.

 … a member of the Interfaith Brotherhood/Sisterhood Committee of Bergen County.

 … a member of the UU FaithAction NJ, our voice for justice, equality, and compassion in the Garden State! … a community partner of the Center for Food Action, committed to preventing hunger and homelessness and improving the lives of individuals and families living in poverty.