Unitarian and Universalist Atlanta History Summary 1879 to 2003

1879 – First Universalist Church had a small congregation in 1879 organized by Reverend W.C. Bowman, but he moved on and Universalism was disappeared for a few years.

1882 – Church of Our Father-Unitarian formed by Rev. George L. Chaney and the first building was dedicated two years later. This building stood on the corner of N. Forsyth and Church, where Atlanta-Fulton County’s Central Library now stands. The church established Atlanta’s first Free Library, meaning anyone could use it despite color, sex or social standing. Chaney left in 1890.

1893– February 24 the Reverend Q. H. Shinn came to Atlanta and on February 24, 1895 he organized the First Universalist Church once again with twelve founding members.

1900 – July-with Reverend W.H. McGlaughlin now leading the Atlanta Universalists, the first building was dedicated at Harris Street.

1904 – Church of our Father changes name to Unitarian Church of Atlanta, first use of Unitarian name.

1913 – Reverend E. Dean Ellenwood grew the Universalist membership to 170 by 1910 whereas membership of the Unitarians plunged from a high of 160 just after 1900 to 55 in 1908. Clarence A. Langston had become the fourth Unitarian Minister in 1900 at an annual salary of $1400; down from the $2000 Cheney had received. During his first year on. June 9, he dedicated the second building for the Universalists at Spring and Cain Streets. The first building was sold in 1899 to the Carnegie Free Library. In 1903 he received $1200 and tendered his resignation but a note of love from his congregation, even though it lacked any offer of more money, convinced him to stay another two years.

Turmoil in the Universalist Congregation had another quick turn over by minister Moore Sanborn in 1908 and the Unitarians and Universalists merger lost by a close vote on that date.

1915 – Building on West Peachtree bought. Now location of Marta Station near Fox Theater.

1918 – Unitarian and Universalist Churches merge in Atlanta and form the Liberal Christian Church. Financial support came largely from the two parent organizations. They needed each other to survive economically and it decreased the amount both parent organizations had to fund by supporting one congregation. Unfortunately, it was an uneasy merger and it seemed there was very little true bonding of the two groups as power would be divided by having a Unitarian minister and a Universalist President or vice versa. The uneasy alliance continued for thirty-three years through several minsters and fights that included finances, the difference of the two faiths and most of all the issue of segregation.

1927 – Name changed to United Liberal Church.

1951 – From February 18-March 3 Lon Ray Call, a minister investigated the congregation and Atlanta for the American Unitarian Association and issued a report about how the merged congregations had never truly merged. Short term constantly changing ministers who were alternately Unitarian or Universalist and the fact that any member could still tell you who was a Universalist and who was a Unitarian. Both parent organizations were still supplementing the church with funds and several issues were unresolved including integration of the membership. This came to a head when a new Atlanta University Professor Dr. Thomas Baker Jones, a black Unitarian from Columbus, Ohio was denied membership in 1948. The minister, Rev. Isaiah Domas resigned in protest of the close vote that denied Dr. Jones’ membership. This eventually led to both the AUA and UCA encouraging their ministers not to fill the vacant spot of the United Liberal Church.

After the report reached Boston, the AUA Board (who held the deed to the building) made the decision to sell the old church and start anew.

1952 – In 1952, Rev. Glenn Canfield came to Atlanta and started gathering the flock back together. For the first year services were held in the Briarcliff Hotel and Canfield introduced a radical concept called “talkback”. Talkback was a discussion after the sermon about the sermon’s content and meaning. It was so unusual that the May 5th issue of the Atlanta Constitution ran an article titled “Pastor’s Sermon Debated.”

1953 – An arrangement was made with a Mormon Congregation to purchase their building at 605 Boulevard after sharing it for a year while they built a new one. Services for ULC were held in the afternoon and no smoking, drinking of coffee or alcohol was permitted in the building while the Mormons still owned it.

Rebirth of Liberal Religion in Atlanta

1954 – United Liberal Church (Unitarian-Universalist) The ULC takes over the Mormon Church and on January 20th, a vote taken on the Church Constitution. Article IV Membership stated, “Any person, regardless of any distinctions such as race, color, nationality or station in life, who is in agreement and in sympathy with the Purpose as stated in Article II, is eligible for membership in this church and shall become a member upon signing the Statement of Basic Principles of the Church.”

The only qualification to join ULC was to sign the membership book stating you believed in the Basic Principles. John Beck had been elected President and Morgan Stanford headed the Constitution Committee. 127 members signed from 83 family units.

December 12th, Whitney Moore Young, Dean of Atlanta School of Social Work, joins congregation making it the first integrated church in Atlanta.

1955 – Social issues sub-committee formed: Support for the League of Women voters and improvement of race relations. John Beck reelected President.

1956 – Reverend Glenn Canfield called to Miami leaving a congregation that has doubled in size. Dr. Abner Golden elected President.

Georgia Universalist Committee Separates from Universalist Church of America.

April 12 – Thomas Jefferson Conference meets in Atlanta. 200 Delegates from Churches and Fellowships in the Southeast. Some discussion on merging with Universalists.

April 16 – Georgia Universalist Council approves message “to President Eisenhower and other public officials to call conferences of White and Negro leaders to seek ‘just solutions’ to the problem of segregation. Executive Director was the late Reverend Clifton G. Hoffman of Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Athens (Georgia).

1957 – Called Edward Cahill to be Minister in Atlanta.

A reception for Rev. Cahill is held at ULC members Betty and Coe Hamling’s home in Avondale. A few black friends attended and the Avondale neighbors called the police. As a result, Betty Hamling lost her job as Avondale school librarian and attorney Morgan Stanford lost his position as Avondale City Attorney.

Morgan Stanford elected President

Rev. Cahill and Atlanta University Dean, Whitney Young appear before Atlanta Public Library Board with petition to desegregate library. Whitney Young testifies the current system did not offer “separate but equal service.” Board agreed to form review committee but refused to divulge names of committee members.

1958 – May 16, Amendment to Article III of Constitution to change Affiliations to American Unitarian Association, Universalist Church of America, Inc. and with regional or state groups by a majority vote of the congregation.

Racial issues splitting community as different congregations take sides. United Liberal Church responds by helping to organize HOPE-Help Our Public Education. Reverend Cahill says in his sermon, “More is at stake here than just the public schools…our Democratic life is on trial.” Cahill is consistently quoted in the news and is seen in the social columns attending numerous events. United Liberal Church is becoming known for its views on segregation and the segregationist of Atlanta have branded it.

Morgan Stanford reelected President.

1959 – March, HOPE-Help Our Public Education holds its first public meeting with members Gerald and Elizabeth Reed in charge of attendance. Approximately 1300 showed up to support and find out about the group. Later in the year, Gerald Reed and ULC member and activist Eliza Paschal became members of Hope’s Executive board.

Joseph Skinner is elected President.

1960 – Ebenezer Baptist Church and ULC decided to have integrated youth group meetings. At the time, Coretta Scott King was Ebenezer’s youth group leader. The Ku Klux Klan called Mrs. Cahill in the Minster’s absence and threatened violence at the next meeting at Ebenezer. Mrs. King and Mrs. Cahill decided the meeting would go on but would advise the parents so they could keep their children home if they wished. No parent felt like they could keep their children home and the fathers of both churches surrounded Ebenezer in a ring of protection. Reports are that the only disturbance was a group of men in a car shouting insults. They may or may not have been Klan.

Because of its excellent leadership and stance on current issues, the ULC had tremendous growth at this time. The North Avenue building was found to be inadequate for further growth. A capital fund drive was organized to collect for a new church building.

Dr. Francis Binkley elected President.

1961 – Late in 1961 an anonymous history reported, “Capital Fund drive launched with minimum goal of $60,000 but the actual pledge went well over $90,000. It went on to report that few area churches were integrated and that up to now there had been very little racial violence in the city. Many in the congregation are active in civil rights, especially school integration. Members are also active in Atlanta Mental Health Organizations, Active Voters League, League of Women Voters and the AAUW.”

Dr. Edward Cahill appeared before a Hungry Club, YMCA Forum and spoke about the three methods of social change: persuasion, litigation and mass protest.

June 1, Edward Cahill submits resignation to United Liberal board; called to Pittsburgh church.

Dr. Elaine Updyke elected President.

From October to December Civil Rights activists including Dr. Samuel W. Williams, Rabbi Jacob Rothschild and Dr. Martin Luther King filled the ULC pulpit.

December 31st ULC Speaker was the Reverend Martin Luther King who gave his sermon, “Remaining Awake Through the Revolution.”  Dr. King used this sermon many times in his life and it was the title of his last public sermon on March 31, 1968. Four days later he was assassinated in Memphis.

1962 – Property on Shady Valley Drive is denied use by ULC by Atlanta City Council. Alderman Buddy Fowlkes stated it was feared anti integrated church would “lower the moral tone of the neighborhood.”

Georgia’s County Unit System outlawed. The County Unit System was a device that allowed the rural areas of Georgia to insure segregation and in the words of 1946 Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge “a question of White Supremacy.” By allotting six votes to each of Georgia’s eight counties and six each to the rural counties, it insured that the liberals and Negroes would not control an election. (Wasn’t Morgan Stanford someone who helped defeat this system?)

Rev. Eugene Pickett called as Senior Minister.

Dr. Elaine Updyke reelected President.

May 4 – 15, 1962 United Liberal Church considered selling their building on Boulevard and North Avenue to a separatist group of Black Muslims. The vote to sell or not ended with the majority voting not to sell. Eugene Pickett in a letter to the UUA stated that he believed many of those who voted not to sell, did so because the group believe in racial superiority or that they were reflecting the desires of the church’s Negro neighbors not to have a separatist group in the church.

September 1, an article in the Atlanta Inquirer quoted 8th Ward Alderman “Buddy” Fowlkes denying suggestions that he led the fight against United Liberal Church getting a zoning change for property on Shady Valley Road, because its congregation included Negroes.

October 7, in a reaction to the rioting over James Meredith’s enrollment at the University of Mississippi, Eugene Pickett sends prepared statement to the Congregation outlining his interpretation of the First Amendment. Speaking out politically is allowed, the government acting as church or the church as government is where the line is drawn. Members could choose to act politically or the church as a whole could do so after its own vote.

Early Fall, church building sold to ?

November 4, Congregation moves to Clark Howell School. In Sara Mitchell Parson’s book “From Southern Wrongs to Civil Rights,” she talks about how Eugene Picket called and asked her if ULC could use the school. She was afraid to mention to the board that ULC was integrated and went to the board President asking him to approve it. At the next meeting it was approved and she states that she doubted any of the board members knew ULC had black members.

1963 – Harry Adley is elected President

While looking for suitable property to build on, ULC faces opposition from locals and politicians because of their political stands and the fact ULC is an integrated church. Zoning board denied a request at one point after pressure from an Atlanta City Alderman, (see September 1, 1962).

January 24, The Northside News printed a biased story that implied United Liberal Church had made an offer to buy a Methodist Church when no offer had been made. Headline read “Cokesbury Methodist rejects bid by blockbuster for N.S. Property. Bi-Racial United Liberals lose despite fat offer.” Blockbusting was a term used to indicate an area was being integrated against its wishes. Later that year, the Northside News ran a “negotiated” retraction of the article. Besides a denial of the offer, it listed the makeup of the church, brief history and a listing of famous UU’s including Adlai Stevenson, Frank Lloyd Wright, Florence Nightingale, Ralph Waldo Emerson and several past U.S. Presidents

March, Public Issues Committee formed to focus on issues and to keep congregation informed of organizations involved in areas of vital concern. Dr. Gerald Reed is chairman.

March 31, the ULC had reprinted an article by Rev. Richard Kelley of Little Rock, Ark. Titled “How old are we?” Interesting facts included: The Unitarian Church was founded in 1563. This indicates we are 252 years older that the Seventh-Day Adventists, 170 years older than the Methodist Church, 84 years older than the Circle of Friends (Quakers) and 46 years older than the Baptists.

December, The Public Issues Committee expands into areas of Social Justice and this month urged members to report facts “concerning non-compliance with Supreme Court school-prayer decision.”

Eugene Pickett delivers sermon on “The Feminine Mystique”. Current best seller by Betty Friedan.

Cliff Valley Property was acquired.

1964 – James L. Miller elected President.

May 15- Straw vote during annual meeting indicates congregation prefers Unitarian-Universalist Congregation over other names including Unitarian-Universalist Church. United Liberal Church received only six votes. Recommendation was made for Congregation but cannot be done until church constitution is amended.

1965 – January 10 – Groundbreaking for new building.

Constitutional Amendment passed on February 21 to change name to Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Atlanta.

Joseph Amasano receives award from the National Conference of Church Architecture and the American Society for Church Architecture for our current building at Cliff Valley Way. James Miller reelected President while Harry Adley chairs the building committee for the new building.

1966 – Mr. Amasano presented the Architectural Awards his firm had received for the design of the Cliff Valley property to Rev. Eugene Pickett.

January 2, new building at 1911 Cliff Valley Way opened at cost of $449,000. An Art show and music recital helped highlight the dedication. Dr. Dana McLean Greely, UUA President from Boston gave the dedication address.

Pamphlet shows building is 75′ x 75′ and 30′ high. Building is 25,000 square feet.

August-The Atlanta Magazine runs an article called “A church for all reasons” by Rosemary Daniell. The author attempts to describe the religion and does so in a very fair way with an article that is complimentary, not demeaning. Two notable quotes: Dr. Raphael Levine-UUCA President at the time “Other religions stress man’s relationship to God. Unitarianism stresses man’s relationship to man.” In another quote Rev. Pickett replied when asked about comfort in times of need, “As a medical corpsman during the Second World War, I saw that dying men were not particularly sustained by conventional religious beliefs.”

1967 – *November 12-A report by Dr. Gerald Reed outlines the poor response of the school board to integration. Dr. Reed explains it “more as an attempt to protect white students while conceding as little as possible to Negro students”. An addendum shows increased pressure caused the board to stop “double sessions” at Negro high schools, but that it was a minimalist effort that fell far short of satisfactory to the Negro Leaders.

Toby Van Buren called as assistant minister (first time Congregation hired second minster). Ed Mangiafico is elected President.

1968 – Northwest UU spun off from UUCA. Controversial as it sent a large percentage of our pledged capital to the new Congregation.

March 22, UUCA member Lorenzo Benn is Chairman of the Public Accommodations Committee or the Metropolitan Atlanta Summit Leadership Congress. Concerned with MARTA Plans and is campaigning for Representative of the 38th District.

Ed Mangiafico is reelected President.

1969 – Dr. Gerald Reed, one of our members runs for Alderman. He was defeated because of his stands on integration.

Bill Pulgram elected President

*February 3, Atlanta Journal Constitution runs an article by Reese Cleghorn titled “The Better Schools Report: Gaining Ground”. In it Mr. Cleghorn reveals the Atlanta School Board had hired a private detective to investigate UUCA’s Education Committee after they published a report called “Better Schools: Atlanta”. The committee has criticized the board for their unequal distribution of materials to predominantly black schools while the predominantly white schools got everything they needed. In his article, Cleghorn stated “We can see no conceivable justification for such use of publicly employed detectives.”

1970 – Toby Van Buren called to Baton Rouge, LA and Don Jacobsen called from Chicago as Associate Minister.

James C.H. Anderson is elected President but has to step down in November. Walter Dowdle takes over and serves out term.

1971 – Alice Young elected President

1972 – After over nine years of dedicated ministry, Eugene Pickett is granted a sabbatical, the first ever given by UUCA. UU World magazine runs an article on it in their March 15 issue.

Alice Young reelected President.

1973 – Dan Weinstein elected President

1974 – Eugene Picket resigned after over twelve years of ministry at UUCA. During his leadership at UUCA, the congregation grew from a little over one-hundred to 1040 members. Pickett moves back to Boston to become UUA Ministry Head.

Glyn Pruce called as interim Minister for nine months.

Jack Schmidt elected President.

1975 – September, Charles Reinhardt called from Seattle.

Holly Wyand elected President.

1976 – Reverend R. Lanier Clance and eight members of UUCA form First Existentialist Church of Atlanta.

Holly Wyand reelected President.

Reinhardt resigns after vote of confidence from congregation give only 51% approval.

1977 – Lay led and guest speakers fill pulpit for nearly two years while budgetary restraints prohibit the calling of a new minister.

Carlos (Carl) Taylor elected President.

1978 – David 0. Rankin selected as candidate for ministry.

Jim Highsmith elected President.

1979 – May 1, David 0. Rankin called and begins ministry.

Mary Ann Oakley elected President

1980 – Lorenzo Berm is elected to his first term as State Representative.

Margrit Nash elected President.

Church organization restructured. (more detail)

July 1, a letter to David Rankin from a member protests the church using its non-profit status to mail out flyers requesting participants to protest the execution of a prisoner on death row. The death penalty came up again about twenty years later.

1981 – January 17, Production of the $1.98 talent show featuring UUCA talent.

April 12, UUCA member and State Representative Lorenzo Benn is awarded the C.L. Harper Award by the NAACP. Mr. Benn has been a member of UUCA for seventeen years prior to 1981 and a very active member in the NAACP, YMCA and is founder and advisor of the Street Academy.

August 1, David 0. Rankin resigns.

August 26, Women’s Equity Day Rally to support ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment at Georgia State Capital Steps. Janet Paulk researched the suffragettes who were honored and other UUCA members helped organize and were in attendance.

Margrit Nash reelected President.

1982 – May, Georgia Friends of the Mentally Ill, Now NAMI Georgia (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Georgia) started at UUCA by Milton and Miriam Chaikin.

June 6, David Rankin gives his final sermon at UUCA. It is on photography and in his own words contains this message, “Use your eyes, ears, nose, lips and fingers—not only to receive the world, but to transform the world into a new and better reality. When you take a picture, or do anything, you are giving a portion of your soul. Make it count for something and produce a work of art.”

Reverend Terry Sweetser takes leadership of UUCA and begins with controversial sermon that begins by confessing he is an alcoholic and has just left his wife.

Duncan Howlett, retired UU minister from Maine comes to UUCA to serve as Interim Minister for one year.

Ed Arnold elected President.

1983 – Roger Comstock elected President.

1984 – Mary Ann Chew elected President.

1985 – Mary Ann Chew reelected President.

1986 – Bob Greene elected President

Interim Assistant Minister Fern Stanley comes to UUCA.

UUCA member Nan Grogan Orrock elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives.

1987 – February 28, UUCA throws Reverend Don Jacobsen a retirement party after sixteen years of service to the congregation.

Bob Greene reelected President.

October 3, The Atlanta Constitution reports that the UUCA is host to a UU revival held by the Manhattan All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Minister F. Forrester Church. Reverend Church has a battle cry of “Jesus was the greatest humanist of all time” and hopes to accomplish two things: reclaim the Bible from the conservatives and restore in liberals a sense of the uplifting wonder of religion.

1988 – January 19, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported a gunman wearing a ski mask interrupted a seminar at UUCA. The gunman robbed twelve people and abducted a woman who he later raped.

September 10, The AJC reports that the UUCA has its top three positions filled by interim ministers and all are women. The three women were the Reverends Betty Baker, Joyce Smith and Emily Palmer.

October 7, the AJC reports the Coalition Opposing Operation Rescue is hosting two screenings of the documentary, “Holy Terror.” One will be viewed at UUCA.

Lanie Damon and Bruce Kitchell elected Co-Presidents.

1989 – The Reverend Dr. Edward Frost is called from Princeton to UUCA.

Lank Damon and Bruce Kitchell reelected Co-Presidents.

1990 – February 8, AJC Staff Columnist Celsestine Sibley writes of Eliza Paschall who had died earlier in the year in England. Sibley describes her as an independent, outspoken crusader. Ms. Paschall spoke out for civil rights and women’s rights and later spoke out against quotas and using race or sex for any reason in hiring. After going to work for the Reagan administration, she came out strongly as well against the Equal Rights Amendment citing the existence of laws already in place made the amendment unneeded.

May 11, Celestine Sibley, honors another memory of long time UUCA member Lorretto Chappell who had passed away at the age of 94. Her column cited the time Miss Chappell was harassed into resigning her post as Head of the Children’s Division of the State Welfare Department because a neo-McCarthy state representative saw a copy of “Mein Kampf’ and “Red Wine First” on the bookshelf of her office. Attempts to fire her failed yet Miss Chappell stepped down to prevent the politics of the situation from interfering with the office of-Child Welfare.

June 4, Leader, State Representative, Activist and accomplished dancer could all describe Lorenzo Benn who also passed away in 1990. He succumbed to cancer at the age of 55. Low key, hardworking and fair were all words used for Mr. Benn who was known and loved by many in the congregation.

Les McGukin elected President.

1992 – Les McGukin reelected President.

Adopted an all congregation commitment and program to provide a direct service ministry to an inner city school. First school chosen was Fowler Elementary.

Lyn Conley elected President.

1993 – AIDS/HIV Action Group established to take over and expand the projects of its predecessor organization, UU AIDS Ministry. AIDS/HIV Action Group is formed to perform specific tasks in outreach ministry such as direct services, advocacy and prevention. One example is providing meals for Project Open Hand’s delivery route.

Rev. Marti Griffith asked several members of UUCA to Organize the L’Chaim committee. This committee helps in the celebration and education of Jewish holidays and customs.

Lynne Nault elected President.

The 1992 All congregation commitment to an inner-city school switched to John Hope Elementary (Atlanta’s second most impoverished school) and became the Hope School Project. Since then thousands of dollars, volunteer hours and assistance has been invested in this inner city school.

Lynne Nault reelected President.

1995 – Dennis McClure elected President.

UUCA establishes a Welcoming Congregation for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexuals in the community.

Later Transgender was added.

1996 – Paul Lowery elected President.

1997 – Paul Lowery reelected President.

1998 – Marti Keller ordained as Minister.

Helen Borland elected President.

1999 – June 1 – Pat Kahn came on as RE Director.

Dawn Baker restarts Families Together.

Stacy Kottman elected President.

2000 – Fern Creek Project started to keep our part of Fern Creek Clean.

January- First OWL (Our Whole Lives) class began at UUCA.

Walter Hodges elected President.

2001 – January-Parents night out started.

Walter Hodges reelected President.

MROC-Migrant and Refugee Outreach Committee formed by Jeremy Mauldin. Purpose is to encourage UUCA members to develop relationships with refugees and migrants and assist them with adjustment, support and education.

2002 – Spring – The Bennett Award is given to UUCA after a three member team consisting of Joy Borra, Janet Paulk and Howard Rees put together a presentation of UUCA’s community involvement and Social Justice Programs.

Mary Root came on as Music Director.

Summer-With help from a grant from the fund for International UUism, a group of our youth traveled to visit our sister church in Romania.

Elaine Eklund elected President.

2003 – Summer – First UUCA summer RE Day Camp Coordinated by Molly Bardsley. Howard Rees elected President.

August – Ashley Munday takes over as Youth Director.

ADHD Support Group begins.

September-Chalice Groups start.

September 14- Rev. Dr. Paula Gable gives first sermon as Acting Associate Minister.

Current Social Justice Groups under the Social Justice Council

• AIDS/HIV Action Group- Supports through volunteers and fund raising for victims of AIDS/HIV.
• Cascade House- direct support of this home shelter for homeless women with children.
• Citizen for First Freedoms- Concerned with violations of the Bill of Rights amendments through education and activism.
• Compeer Atlanta-Provides committed friends to people with disabilities through a variety of actions.
• Criminal Justice Reform-Active in a movement to make fundamental differences in the US system of incarceration.
• Ens and Outs-Active outdoor group that seeks to protect our environment and wilderness.
• Fern Creek Adopt-a-stream- monitors water quality and advocates the health of stream behind UUCA. Georgians for Gun Safety-Advocates for laws to keep children safe from guns.
• Interfaith Children’s Movement-Advocates to give an equal chance in life to children in Georgia. Interfaith Housing-Support for groups providing housing for low-income people and families in S. Atlanta Mental Illness Concerns-Active in breaking down stigma associated with mental and physical disabilities. Migrant & Refugee Outreach-Working to ease the transition of life in America for migrants and refugees.
• Partnership with Hope School-Provides volunteers, supplies and support for John Hope Elementary. All UUCA Project.
• Project Open Hand-Delivering meals to victims of AIDS.
• Racial & Ethnic Concerns-Works to eradicate racism & increase diversity at UUCA.
• Green Sanctuary-Works for responsible consumption of our resources and improve our own facility use.
• UU Service Committee- Financial support to National UUSC and advocates for human rights.
• UU United Nations Office-Promotes the benefits of the UN and its work toward a world community. UU’s for a Just Economic Community-Stands for fairness in the sphere of economics for the poor.
• Welcoming Congregation-Welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, and supports equal rights to the group.

Fellowship Groups

• Pastoral Care – Lay ministers provide pastoral care in the form of home and hospital visits. They teach children and youth and assist the ministers with many different aspects of congregational life.
• Accessibility – Insuring that UUCA facilities are accessible by all including elevators, hearing amplifiers and Braille song books.
• Bookstore – Provides intellectual and spiritual materials for the congregation.
• Counseling Services – Short term counseling for individuals to families for everything from finance to domestic problems. Resource help on long term counseling as well.
• Covenant of Pagans – For the nature lover with an open mind. Ever evolving nature worship & fellowship
• Daylight Focus – programs for folks who do not want to drive at night.
• Ens & Outs – Dedicated to preservation and enjoyment of our natural environment.
• Expo – Annual event where all groups gather to answer questions and gather new members.
• Families Together – Family support and fellowship through a variety of activities.
• Forever 40’s and 50’s – Gathering together of those who refuse to allow age to dictate their world.
• 40 Plus (40+) – Similar to Forever Forties and Fifties.
• Green Sanctuary – Organizing the Church and its activities to be sound in environmental awareness & acts.
• Health & Well-Being – events, resources and education on being healthy throughout mind and body.
• Holiday Dinners – Planning of annual Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners.
• Kroger Project – Use of Kroger Certificates to earn money for the UUCA.
• Music – Church Choir, Junior Choir, Bell Ringers, Quartet and guest musicians at UUCA.
• Neighborhood Groups – The gathering for potlucks by Zip code.
• Partner Church – Cultural, spiritual and economic bond with our partner church in Transylvania.
• Playgoers – Occasional gatherings for dinner and theater.
• Receptions – Providing refreshment for memorial services and when needed.