The easy answer is "No". We are not a christian organization. However, the more nuanced answer is that the word is sometimes applied to All Souls United despite our efforts to avoid it. US law terminology is biased toward christian groups, a tendency seen throughout US culture and history. So, although you may hear the word "church" used of ASU occasionally, specifically in terms of IRS rules, it is not meant to connote anything other than the legal use of the term where more inclusive terms would be more helpful. We call ourselves a land-based spiritual community. We also understand some folks will use the word "church" colloquially and not as a precisely defined religious term, and to anyone who affectionately calls us their "church" (especially their "first church") we are abundantly grateful we are part of each others' stories.
Yes, as a land-based spiritual community we are protected under the first amendment of the US constitution (fwiw), are exempt from tax, and are able to receive tax-exempt donations under 501(c)3 (which donors that use itemized deductions on their taxes can use to reduce their taxable income*). Like most other religious groups in the US (but unlike non-religious nonprofits, who must file for tax-exempt status as well as file annual returns, which "churches" do not need to do), we received this status automatically by virtue of our religious nature. Within All Souls United, we encourage each other to study the nature of the religion-state complex in the US to learn about how these institutional arrangements have been used to do harm in the past. We're also constantly looking for ways to build accountability into our community's culture.
*This is considered general knowledge and not tax advice. See a tax professional regarding your specific situation. And tell them change is coming.
This description is meant to communicate a distinction between our spiritual community, which finds power in our connection with the Earth (specifically the land beneath our feet, wherever we are, including truly honoring those who have belonged to this land for ages) and other ideologies that might emphasize a psychological connection with an invisible father figure to the intentional neglect of a healthy relationship with the mother who gave them life.
We welcome everyone to learn and grow with us, including christians, secularists, or those from other backgrounds - anyone with an open learning heart. However (and it's a shame this needs to be mentioned for a religion based on the myth of such a sweet queer rogue commie rabbi but take a look at christian culture before casting stones at this narrative) we protect our community and work to ensure the emotional and physical safety of each one of us, including those who identify as queer, trans, BIPOC, disabled, and any other identity that's been hurt by the ideology or praxis of any religious group, including christianity and its cousin atheism. For this reason, we ask all our program participants to agree to recognize and fight for the equal human rights of queer, trans, BIPOC, disabled people. We reinforce these values through communal and self-directed reeducation. In the rare situations where our personalized reeducation program proves insufficient, it may become necessary to have some participants seek community elsewhere until their journey brings them to a place where they can interact with others without the violence of dualistic thinking.