Welcome!

Our denomination is unique because every Unitarian Universalist has the right to develop a personal philosophy of life, without being told what to believe. We can learn from all philosophies and religions, and also from science and the arts. We explore important life issues in a caring community, united by shared values rather than by shared theological opinions. And no matter what we do believe about theology or philosophy, we try to live a good life and leave the world better than we found it.

Rev. Chris Schriner

The Rev. Dr. Chris Schriner is minister of our church from September 2000 to August 2008. He earned a B.A. from the University of Redlands in religion, psychology, and philosophy (1965); a Rel.D. (Doctorate of Religion), from Claremont School of Theology, with a concentration in social ethics (1970); and an M.S. in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from the University of LaVerne (1979). His Honors Thesis at Redlands examined the ethical thought of Paul Tillich. Nuclear weapons policy was the subject of his Dissertation at Claremont. And his Thesis at LaVerne involved dealing with infant distress.

Chris grew up as a Methodist, and became a Unitarian Universalist in 1963. He was ordained in 1971. In addition to being a minister, he is a state-licensed Marriage, Family and Child Counselor. Beginning in the 1960s, he has participated extensively in human potential programs such as bioenergetics, encounter, gestalt, guided fantasy, kundalini yoga, massage, creative movement, and psychodrama. He is a graduate of est, Lifespring, Silva Mind Control, and the Sedona Method.

Publications include fifteen articles and three books. Easy Effort: The Art of Letting Go (self-published, 1981) details techniques for releasing emotional upsets. Feeling Great (Wesley Kolbe, 1986) is a survey of self-help psychology for young adults. Feel Better Now: 30 Ways to Handle Frustration in Three Minutes or Less (Jalmar, 1990) describes ways of easing everyday pressures as rapidly and directly as possible. For the past ten years he has been studying problems of consciousness as understood by analytic philosophy.

Chris conducts thirty Sunday services a year, and takes a break for study and vacation during the late summer. Guest speakers and lay-led programs fill out the remaining Sundays. He is also available for wedding, memorial, and child dedication services. He is a member of Tri-City Ministerial Association, and is involved with social concerns organizations such as Tri-City Peace Action.

Chris is married to Jo Ann Schriner, who is a music therapist and the mother of four grown children. He shares Jo Ann's love of music, and offers two annual music appreciation evenings at Mission Peak - History of Jazz and History of Rock and Roll. Chris and Jo Ann enjoy concerts, dancing, and traveling in the Bay Area and Northern California.

Coming in September: Rev. Joy Atkinson, Interim Minister

More details to follow.

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