History of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint HISTORICAL SYNOPSIS On March 9, 1930, fifteen people met at a hotel in Flint in response to an advertisement placed by the American Unitarian Association. Later that year, inspired by information they received from representatives of the AUA, the group joined the association as the First Unitarian Church of Flint. The journey of this small group of liberal thinkers to become the present congregation was not easy, but it was interesting. A major theme was the search for a permanent home. In 1937 the Unitarians joined with the Congregationalists, who had a building, for common worship. The groups maintained their own identities. In 1940 the Congregationalists’ building was repossessed and the groups moved to temporary quarters in a building in downtown Flint. The best remaining source of information about the early days of the church can be found in the reminiscences of members speaking at the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, April 18, 1980. A transcript of their remarks can be obtained from the church office. In the late 1930’s Flint was at the heart of the union drive to organize the auto industry. This included the "Sit-Down" strike that has been described as "the most significant event in American labor history." The church was deeply involved with this. After a period of growth cycles, changes in ministerial leadership, and set-backs in attempts to acquire a suitable place to build a church, the present site was purchased in 1957. Name and affiliation change had become a major issue; the church became the Unitarian Church of Flint affiliated solely with the American Unitarian Association. A few of the Congregationalists went to First Baptist (now Woodside Church). Funding was arranged for construction, cost $70,000, and the first service was held in the new building in 1961. Auldin Nelson, church member, was the architect. In the Communist "witch hunt" period from 1957 to 1968, the church was under surveillance by the Michigan State Police "Red Squad". It was also a period of courage for many members as they actively protected African Americans and their homes from acts of racial hatred. The church was very active in the civil rights days with members joining marches, trips to Washington, etc. The church itself was the site of continuous protest meetings, discussions, speeches by politicians and activists, sensitivity groups, draft and abortion counseling. In 1981 the church received a bequest of $485,000 from the estate of Florence Whaley Orrell, aunt of long-time, active member Mary Blackinton. An addition to the original building was completed in 1987 and cost $500,000. Auldin Nelson was again the architect. The addition contains our present sanctuary, fellowship hall, and offices. It includes a bell tower for which the children had lobbied and raised funds. The building project precipitated what became, arguably, the most serious crisis in UUCF history. This level 5 crisis divided the congregation, some favoring spending only trust income (from the Orrell bequest) and others wanting to use trust principal for the construction. The latter group prevailed and some dissenters left the church. Church activities in the eighties include the hospice program worked on by Rev. Marshall, the growth and development of the memorial garden and the sponsorship of seven Viet-Nam refugees. In addition, in the words of an involved member, the 1980’s were a time of constitutional, procedural and systems modification. In 1993 there was a church division over rental of our chapel to a Church of God International congregation that displayed anti-homosexual literature in our church hallway during their meetings. Our minister strove to heal the division. The congregation voted to continue renting to the Church of God which agreed to abide by the terms of their rental contract, displaying no literature outside of the room where they meet. Some members still left UUCF. Epiphany Community Church, a Christian UU church, was founded nearby in Fenton in September 1996. We have a covenant relationship with Epiphany. The church proudly became a UUA Welcoming Congregation in 1999. In 2003 the congregation took a unanimous public stand in support of gay marriage. The 1990’s and the new millennium have seen UUCF more willing to take public stands on issues such as gay rights. We believe we have developed better ways of handling differences and strive to be a welcoming congregation in all senses of the word. Worship innovations and celebrations remain a focus, as does community involvement, such as the HOSTS program (Helping One Student to Succeed) with Cummings School. Special collections are taken for social agencies and causes chosen by congregational vote. Covenant circles and other small groups draw and nourish many. The congregation celebrated the church’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2005.