[OLD REGGIE]

But, seriously, I wasn't saying they were identical . . . I was saying that local autonomy means that one church may hold quite a different set of beliefs from another in the same denomination.

Of course, Baptists tend to differ on matters like the use of musical instruments in church or the scope of dispensationalism . . . NOT the existence of God!

OK I may have overstated my case somewhat. :-)

My local UU "Church" is called "The First Religious Society - Unitarian". What the heck is that? It so happens that most of the congregation reads the Bible and we have a somewhat tradional service but it stops there.

[AnAmericanMother]

"First Religious Society" was a designation used by the early New England Congregationalists.

Perhaps your church was the result of a merger with a Congregationalist church? Or maybe Quakers (Religious Society of Friends?) Some Quakers have moved away from the Society's original Christian background and have become more Unitarian (mostly the really liberal peacenik Quakers).

The Congregationalists (but certainly not the Quakers) might have bequeathed your church a more liturgical service . . .