Winchester Profession

Winchester Profession, statement of Universalist faith adopted in 1803 by the General Convention of Universalists in the New England States at Winchester, New Hampshire. The declaration was phrased in general terms to embrace differing Universalist views about the nature of God, God’s relationship to humanity, Christology (doctrine concerning Jesus Christ), and universal salvation (i.e., whether or not the human soul would experience some punishment after death or would be immediately reconciled with God). Thus, it declared the unity of a loving God (to appeal to the Unitarian theology of many Universalist ministers while not rejecting the belief in the Trinity of orthodox Christian theology), proclaimed that Jesus Christ would “restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness,” and recommended that believers should “maintain order and practice good works.” In 1870 a resolution adopted by the General Convention required that the Winchester Profession be interpreted as requiring belief in the authority of Scripture and the lordship of Jesus Christ. This restriction was rescinded in 1899.