Universalist Church

The Universalist Church was a Christian religious denomination that developed in America from Pietist and Anabaptist movements, inculding Quakers, Moravians, Methodists, Lutherans and others. Its defining theology is universal salvation, and thus it runs counter to the central Calvinist belief in predestination, in which some souls are predestined for damnation. As a Presbyterian, Occom held to the Calvinist view and vigorously disagreed doctrinally with adherents of Universalism. The first Universalist Church in America was founded by John Murray in Gloucester, MA in 1779, and in 1790 the Universalists adopted a a doctrinal statement and plan for church government. In 1961 the Universalists consolidated with the Unitarian Association to form the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Cassara, Ernest. Universalism in America: a Documentary History. Boston: Beacon Press, 1971; "Unitarian Universalist Association." Encyclopedia Britannia http://www.search.eb.com/EBchecked/topic/615325/Unitarian-Universalist-Association#ref248532.