The Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield was founded in downtown Springfield in 1819 as the Third Congregational Church. After subsequent name changes and a move from downtown it has received its current name and address. There are some ideals that members say are central to the congregation's identity: freedom for spiritual growth, embracing all in a loving community, and living their beliefs in the world. The members of UUSGS strive to be a welcoming and inclusive community that places love at the heart of its spiritual life and that places a premium on living that embody the centrality of God's messages of justice and compassion. The Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield is a proud member of PVP and seeks to work in partnership with all faith communities who share the moral vision so dominant in the Scripture: working for economic justice, caring for the most vulnerable, and welcoming the "stranger".