Stories

Marj Hill is deceased, but Jim Broadstreet and History and Memories contributor Joyce Pyle have given their permission to quote from their 2002 publication. I chose today’s post “The Split” to illustrate a time when conflict was a catalyst for growth. Healthy churches have healthy anecdotes like this one.

In the book History and Memories, Jim and Joyce tell their stories separately. Jim speaks for “The Old Guard” and Joyce speaks for “The Young Turks.” Marj adds another chapter titled “After the Split.” I’ve chosen to weave the three pieces together. A paragraph prefaced by a name means that I’ve quoted the author directly.

Jim: Let me begin by stating that “The Split” did not turn out as badly as most of us predicted it would. A strong UU presence in the Ozarks came about with our later reunification.

Jim reports that on Sunday, April 24, 1966, the congregation gathered for their annual meeting at his home because the Hod Carriers’ and Laborers’ Hall where they had been gathering for worship was entirely unsuitable for the formality of the event. (Children left Sunday services “filthy dirty” due to the grimy conditions, and adults left “coughing and wheezing and smelling of stale cigarette smoke.”)

Jim: There was a faction in the group who felt passionately that we could use some respectability. They felt that Springfield was, or should be, ready for a UU Church rather than a Fellowship, with a minister and a church building…Some dubbed these folks “The Young Turks.”

Joyce: The annual meeting…was held to elect a slate of officers which would have given The Young Turks the balance of power. We had come into the Fellowship the previous fall and worked hard to change the way things were being done. Make it more “church-like.” It didn't occur to us how this might have been perceived by the existing group. 

Jim: Among the [Old Guard] were people who could not see how, when we couldn’t afford rent payments on [our previous] modest building [owned by Dr. Rosen], we were going to make that giant leap. There were others, probably, who liked the Fellowship concept and who believed that the wide variety of programs and speakers was interesting and appropriate…Debating turned into more like argument resulting only in people getting more strongly attached to their respective positions.

President Dennis Jackson finally called for a vote on the slate of nominees. The slate included Harlene Henderson for secretary, a person favored by The Young Turks, but The Old Guard offered another name when nominations were called from the floor. The Old Guard candidate won, leaving the Young Turks without a majority on the board.

Jim: Six people rose in unison and headed for the door. One of the most memorable moments in my history with this organization was when Lee [Kinsey] turned to me as she neared the door and asked, “Jim, are you coming with us?” My reply was, “Hell, Lee, I can’t leave. I live here.”

Joyce: It may not have been our finest hour, but I agree with Jim’s analysis. It did turn out to be the best for both groups. The Young Turks learned a little humility, and the older members learned that new ways of doing things would not necessarily diminish their beliefs and principles.

Once again, I have woven together two stories from the book History and Memories. A paragraph prefaced by a name means the person is quoted directly.

Marj Hill: Following the split, the original Fellowship decided to resume meetings in Dr. Rosen's building at 1361 East Seminole. The group was determined to survive and thrive, to pay rent, and, hopefully, assume ownership of the building. By 1968, we had, indeed, purchased the property, along with the house to the east.

Joyce: ...the three couples [who left the meeting] still could not give up their dream of becoming a church. We met at each other's houses...It was our belief that we needed a minister, someone who could give some professional help and who would bring some "religion" to Sunday morning services.  

Joyce: On June 4, 1966, Harlene wrote Monroe Husbands in Boston outlining a case for leaving the fellowship...He replied, "In thinking about it, it does seem a little presumptuous, with 14 members, to identify yourself as The First Unitarian Church in Springfield. There is an outside possibility that the present Springfield fellowship could become the First Unitarian Church."

Joyce says the group thought that because their numbers had more than doubled, they ought to get a little more consideration. In the meantime, a retired Disciples of Christ minister was asked to meet and plan their first Sunday service, to be held on July 17, 1966. Newspaper ads were run, letters were sent to a lengthy mailing list, posters were hung wherever they were allowed, and publications were ordered from Beacon Street for the grand total of $9.25. 

Joyce: The Stone Chapel Group was born.

Marj: The final years of the Fellowship were exciting ones of growth and development. It was fortunate that Franz Daniel moved to Springfield...and furnished us with his talents and experience as our Chairman of the Board of Trustees. There was a great spirit of comradeship and joy of working together.

Joyce: At the beginning of our fourth year at Stone Chapel, it became obvious that we were going to get kicked out of the Chapel. Thus, for practical reasons, we needed to explore the idea of reuniting with the Fellowship [but] we were not known for doing just what was practical. We needed leadership that would guide us through the process of reconciliation. Brent Stearns was the one. In his careful and patient way, he helped us to reunite with the Fellowship.

Marj: Perhaps the result of competitiveness was that both groups prospered and had strength and talent to bring to the re-united group, the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Springfield MO. 

Joyce: Both groups had been strengthened by the separation, both recognized the stupidity of having two groups, and the Young Turks were ready to compromise.

The groups merged in 1970.

The following story, written by Marj Hill, appears in the book History and Memories. It has been condensed for this blog.

In 1943, when I moved to Springfield there were many churches, but none were Unitarian. It was not until 1952 that I encountered another Unitarian, Fred Kieferndorf, who was teaching at the Springfield Art Museum. When Fred asked me to explain the meaning of a child in my drawing, I told him that I did not intend it to be the Christ Child but, rather, the idea that any child could be the hope of the world. Fred said, "You sound like a Unitarian!"

Learning that Fred and his wife Midge were Unitarians from Wisconsin inspired me to write to the Unitarian Association in Boston for possible help in locating others of our persuasion here. Soon after, I was visited by Lois and Vic Bovee, Unitarians from Iowa. In April of 1953, a public meeting on Unitarianism was announced and held at the Kentwood Arms Hotel. In charge of the meeting was Monroe Husbands from Boston.

The meeting was well attended, and although most of the fifty or more people there were only curious, we did select a steering committee and began holding meetings. We were accepted into membership by the American Unitarian Association on December 2, 1954.

We can all be excited that a new covenanted circle is starting up. As reported in the April 11, 2024 What's Up, "The inaugural Skill Sharing Circle meeting is Friday, May 3. This is a covenanted space where folks teach each other practical skills and life-enriching hobbies. This type of mutual aid helps communities thrive by building relationships, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting interdependence."

What is a covenant group, and what groups would we find in our past history?

According to the UUA, "A covenant group is a small relational group made up of six to twelve people who meet regularly to establish and nurture themselves in their own beloved community. Covenant groups provide an opportunity for group members to build strong relationships with each other and with the larger organization of which the small group is a part.

"Covenant groups encourage people to talk, learn, work and play together over time. Members may tell their life stories, offer support, and engage in work to serve the larger community. Covenant groups offer expanding opportunities for growth, caring and connection withing a congregation. Covenant groups offer caring networks, mutual responsibility, leadership opportunities, and a way for people to build and strengthen their communities."

The Nov 2003 newsletter reports that the Idea Explorers were meeting monthly on Monday evenings. The October meeting had focused on the Gospel of John which portrays the "Christ of Faith" rather than the "Jesus of History." The article states that "studying the Bible helps us come to terms with our own country's cultural Christianity, which has become more pervasive in recent years through the mainstreaming of fringe evangelical groups." 

The Meditation Covenant Group was also meeting once a month in 2003, under the direction of Eva Riebold. "Like other covenant groups, we spend some time checking in with each other, building relationships." She also led a Hatha Yoga group.

In 2004, John Prescott invited people to join a UU Christian Covenant Group. The Pagan/Earth-based Covenant Group was meeting twice a month. Their belly dancing special interest group sounds like a lot of fun. Finally, the details are sketchy, but a Dishwasher Covenant Group was also formed.

For more information on how to set up a covenanted circle, see Covenant Groups: What They Are and How They Work. 

The above photo is of Eva Riebold in India; it appears in the book History and Memories.

In January of 2004, Scoop Peery announced our participation in the UU Service Committee (UUSC) Coffee Project, which he was introduced to at a General Assembly. The project got underway with a $50 donation of Equal Exchange fair-traded coffee which was to be served after Sunday services. To keep the project funded, Scoop asked for donations of a quarter or two per cup. 

Scoop supported the project for several years by funding the coffee purchases with the money dropped in the donation cup and donating any excess funds to the church, sometimes as much as $500 annually. He dropped his involvement when a member threw out the donation cup.

Kay Bebout, who along with her husband Ross has taken over the ordering of Equal Exchange coffee, says the end of the donation cup coincided with an ongoing conversation about pledging. Some felt that members were being asked to pay for too many additional items that should be the responsibility of the church. They said that this, in turn, resulted in decreased pledges.

Ross and Kay took up the ordering of the coffee because they had attended the UU Horizon Church in Dallas where a number of Equal Exchange products were routinely sold to congregants.

Current information about the international service project: "Through a long-standing collaboration between UUSC and Equal Exchange, we support people helping to secure the human rights and dignity of those made most vulnerable in trade relationships. Equal Exchange is a 100 percent fair-trade worker-owned cooperative that partners with small farmer cooperatives to offer fairly traded coffee, chocolate, tea, and snacks. UUSC’s Economic Justice Program supports and strengthens the movement for workers’ rights in the United States and overseas by partnering with grassroots groups that are developing innovative strategies to improve wages and working conditions for workers, farmers, traders, and their families."  UU Service Committee

On a recent Sunday, Jim Broadstreet, now 94 years old and a member of First UU for 66 years, brought me a bag of stories that weren't published in his 2002 book History and Memories. Today's article adds to the earlier Church Blogger stories about our early days.

In a 2016 message to the church, Jim introduced himself as follows: "I joined the forerunner of this church, the Unitarian Fellowship, in early 1958, after moving to Springfield from Finland. New in town, my wife, expecting our first child, read a notice in the newspaper that a Quaker lady from Pennsylvania was to speak to the fellowship on a topic having to do, somehow, with infants. I remember nothing of the talk, but we received a delightful note a few days later from Lee Kinsey inviting us back. I've been here ever since."

One of Jim's papers listed some interesting facts and observations about the people on the above list. Jim affirmed that Marjorie Hill and Fred Kieferndorf were the spark that actually got the church started. 

Rolland Comstock, who was known as Ronnie, was the youngest to sign at the age of 27. He was a brand new attorney. He left to become an Episcopalian because he calculated that would help him in his planned political future. Many years later, he was murdered in his home library.

Norma Johnson was a former professional dancer with every matter of her life revolving around dance.

Vic Bovee was a journalist with the local newspaper who, with his wife Lois, defied the prevailing norms.

Leota Barnett was a delightful character who could be described as "salty."  Jim says she became "Mother Superior" of the group. Once when a guest speaker announced that when the letter D is removed from devil what remains is evil, Leota noisily stomped out of the room and skipped her cup of UU coffee.

Barbara Rosen had five children and therefore was the mother to more than half of the early Sunday School. Her husband Dr. Max Rosen was a very important friend to the church, but he did not join because he "wanted to continue playing poker at the Temple with a clear conscience."

Jim notes that there were others who remained friends of the church rather than join as members.  Friend of the church, Don Cadle, didn't join because he wanted to retain his membership in a Catholic church "just in case."

Dr. Kenneth Chinburg was a psychiatrist at the Federal Medical Center.

Rose Miyahara had been detained in a Japanese internment camp, and her husband Tom was a food chemist for Hiland Dairy.

Charter members Vic Bovee and Martin (Boomer) Gentry will each have future stories written about them.

In a 2009 message to the congregation, Jim Broadstreet listed three events in church history that are worth relating "because they indicate what group efforts can accomplish and how much satisfaction and fun the accomplishing can bring."

In the book History and Memories, Marjorie Hill (no relation to the Leslie Hill of this story) says that the Unitarian Fellowship was less than two years old when the Springfield News-Leader announced the dismissal of Leslie Hill, science teacher at Pipkin Junior High, for "Atheistic" beliefs. A student had asked if he believed in God, and Hill answered, "No, I don't." He went on to add that he couldn't talk further about religious beliefs in the classroom, but he would be glad to talk to anyone who wished to stay after school. Twenty-five students took him up on the offer. Superintendent Willard Graff received irate phone calls the next day, and Hill was fired immediately. 

The Fellowship thought the dismissal was a clear violation of the separation of church and state and found the courage to speak out. They wrote a carefully prepared statement on behalf of Leslie Hill and presented it to the school board. Their stand gained some new members, but it also garnered some hate mail as well.

Leslie's case drew national attention, but his teaching position in Springfield was not saved. His wife said that his firing led to greater determination to be a teacher; he held some "lovely positions" in other schools.

Hill, who had long been affiliated with the Baptist Church, became a Unitarian and remained so until his death in 1998.

The other two events that Jim listed as important? The building of our current sanctuary and the play The Normal Heart. Stories to come.

Jim Broadstreet tells two tales about Boomer Gentry, already elderly when he joined the group as a charter member.

Jim: Boomer was, I believe, an agnostic who had been forced to read and memorize much of the Bible as a youth--which made him a formidable opponent in any argument with a Christian. One of Boomer's favorite Biblical episodes was the story of Balaam and his much maligned and recalcitrant ass, who was constantly being subjected to Balaam's verbal abuse, but who God gave the power to speak her mind back. In an off-beat service, Boomer had a one-man play in which he portrayed both Balaam and the ass as well as King Balak and an angel of the lord. The performance included the ass crunching Balaam's leg against a wall and Balaam cursing the animal and falling to the ground--which is even more remarkable when Boomer's age and wooden leg are taken into consideration.

The other story that Jim tells regards Boomer's funeral. Jim asks us to picture a house in Monett, white frame with exterior stairs to the second story in the rear of the house. It is occupied by Gentry's daughter, described as decidedly un-Unitarian, straight-laced, tea-totaling, and in her seventies.

Jim: Before Boomer's death he had planned, typewritten, and sealed in an envelope what he wished to be read as a substantial last portion of his service to be held in a Monett funeral home. The envelope was to be opened at the service and read by a Unitarian member, the late attorney Ralph Hunt. Now Ralph had an incredible ability allowing him, when speaking publicly, to read a sentence or two ahead of speaking the words. Along toward the end of this written segment of the service, at a rare portion of the writing that was not humorous, Ralph began to smile and then emitted a slight giggle. The next words from his mouth were an invitation to all attendees to retire to the rear yard of his daughter's house where he had arranged for a couple of barrels of iced beer to be delivered and placed below the stairs while the service was in progress.

Source: Jim Broadstreet's message to the congregation in April of 2016.

This year we're celebrating the 40th anniversary of the construction of our building on East Battlefield. Jim Broadstreet calls this the second significant event in our church history. The following are Jim's words delivered to the congregation in 2018. I'll share more details in a future article. The picture above is architect Jack Taylor.

In late 1969, both groups [The Young Turks and the Old Guard, see article "The Split"] voted to merge. It took courage and some eating-of-crow, but old friendships were soon re-established. Jack Taylor, who had held off joining either group because he had friends in both of them and didn't want to take sides, joined and soon became our president AND went on to DONATE the plans and specifications for our building. We soon hired our first full-time minister and began the process of building.

Securing the required financing to build was a major undertaking. We had barely enough to award a contract to the company who submitted the lowest bid for the construction of a very stripped-down, unpainted building, and we voted to save the expense of the contractor furnishing a performance bond. As it turned out, that was a bad decision. That company went bankrupt before the building was completed and, believe it or not, we completed it ourselves. 

I can assure you that everyone affiliated with our church in 1983 contributed. We painted, did finish carpentry work, ran wires, built toilet stall partitions, transported stuff we bought from Habitat for Humanity ReStore and Tony Tarrasche's dental clinic, planted trees, seeded, built the storage shed, prepared food and, not unimportantly, furnished lots of beer.

I remember Walt Gaska and Bud Waller grumbling to themselves that if they had stuff like that to do at home, they'd HIRE it done.

Actually, the work continued for several years. I remember Ross Bebout and Ken Murray working on the ceiling slats and the divider screen in 1985.

I was the leader of the lay construction crew. I also made and donated a bunch of things you see around us like the formica-clad cube plant stands and the publit extender. A gentleman living across the fence was transferred out of town and, rather than move it, he gave us a bunch of beautiful seasoned walnut lumber from which I made the desks, cabinets, shelves, and trim in the two offices.

NEVER, before or since, has there been such comradeship. Even with all the hours of labor there was a whole lot of FUN! 

Tomorrow night I am a member of an interfaith panel sharing our faith experiences. One of the questions I will be addressing is What would you say are the most important religious virtues in your faith? 

I found most of my answer to this question in a 2005 newsletter article by Dean Bliss, who was president of our congregation at the time.

He wrote that he was given the opportunity to visit with some university students who attended a worship service as part of a class requirement. He answered their prepared questions, but it was a final, off-script question that prompted him to think more deeply after the students left. They had asked why, if our church is not promoting any particular set of beliefs and if an individual is allowed to develop their own set of beliefs, would anyone want to continue to attend our church?

Here’s what Dean wrote in the article: 

Our church is a place where those of us who are proud of our liberalism, in terms of religion and otherwise, can be assured of acceptance.

It is a place where those seeking to define their religious beliefs have the opportunity to explore by listening to the variety of Sunday sermons, by attending several covenant groups to see if one is a fit, or just by using coffee time and other social occasions to chat with members and bounce ideas around with the comfort that nothing they say or think will be ridiculed.

From earliest times, human beings have developed communities for mutual support. In today’s world, communities are so large it is necessary to find sub groups where one can have a sense of belonging and support. For many of us, First UU is the only sub community in which we can feel truly at home. Ours offers relief from the fear and guilt that are the stock in trade of so many churches…We have a lot to offer and should not be hesitant about promoting it.

Our resident storyteller Jim Broadstreet has a great story to tell about the building First UU occupied before moving to our current location. Here’s the way he told the tale in a message to the congregation on April 2016.

“We had to sell the old building on Seminole Street to be able to build. A couple of local entrepreneurs decided it would be a good location for the city’s first adult daycare center. They secured financing and entered into several contractural agreements before they had possession of the property. (I didn’t say they were astute businessmen.) Somehow, accidentally, I got word of just how far out on a limb they had gone. It was too far for them to turn back. A meeting was called to negotiate with the prospective buyers, telphonically, the price. We needed 50 grand -- they wanted to give us 40. We were calling back and forth using the time between calls to consult with our committees, much to the horror of our minister, Rev. Carl Bierman, who thought we were going to lose the sale (and the money we had to have) and who was willing to settle for the 40 grand.

“After several calls of getting nowhere the buyers took a new approach and informed me that they had had the building inspected, and it was found to be in such bad shape that it was not even worth the 40 thousand they were so generously offering. My response was that Lee Kinsey, Brice Lipscomb, and I had been all over, around, through, and below the building, and I could assure them that its condition was worse than they knew, and it was, as a matter of fact, about to fall down. (Remember that I was privy to the buyer’s situation.) I remember as if it was yesterday the expression on poor Carl’s face when, in answer to Gordon Eliot’s asking why I had told him that my answer was because it was the truth. The $50,000 sale was consummated the next day, a Thursday.”

The Rest of the Story

“Living across Seminole and east a couple of houses was a cabinet shop owner by the name of Jake Winters who seemed not to like me and he certainly didn’t like what he thought he knew of Unitarians.

“Remember that the closing day of the sale was a Thursday. The new owners had a crew begin work on the old structure the next day, Friday. Their first action was to prepare the tops of the east and west exterior walls with a cable, some stiff-backs, and a come-along to pull them back plumb because they were leaning out. (I was later told by a workman who had been there that by quitting time that day their efforts had caused considerable creaking and groaning, and one of the walls had become fairly straight-up-and-down.)

“On the evening of the next day, Saturday, I got a call from a gleeful and excited Jake Winters. He did not know that we had sold the building. “Jimmy,” he said, “do you know what happened to your building last night?

"It fell down!"

Also in his 2016 message to the congregation, Jim Broadstreet tells the following amusing story about our current property.

“On the extreme west end of this property [East Battlefield] stood a large tree which was in the process of dying of old age, and in it was a tree house. An attorney member, Bill Powell, and our member insurers, Bill and Helen White, advised the board the tree house posed a very real liability concern because of its height and unstable-appearing board ladder. My naive thought had been that we were providing neighborhood children with a playhouse and wasn’t that sweet of us? But it fell my lot, by virtue of, once again, being building and grounds chair, to get rid of the damned thing. I found a somewhat unsavory looking and smelling character owning an old pickup truck and various implements-of-destruction. He agreed to a price we could afford.

“Richard climbed the ladder and discovered the door securely installed and locked with a large Master padlock which prompted him to up his price due to unforeseen circumstances. I reluctantly agreed. Richard finally gained entrance, climbed in and remained there, silently, for several minutes. Finally, I climbed up there myself and found the space to be larger than it looked, carpeted and furnished with cushions and a small, cracked glass-top table. A quart-sized canister almost full with some sweet smelling weeds sat on the table along with some bongs and various other paraphernalia. A lack of experience in such matters, you understand, prevented me from making a quick assessment of value.

“It was agreed that Richard would remove everything, and I mean everything, from the site. No money exchanged hands or was even discussed. Now I am not proud of our brief foray into illicit drug trade BUT, to quote the good Rev. Johnson, we really needed the money.”

Jim Broadstreet says the following story is a third moment in time, along with the support of science teacher Leslie Hill and the construction of our current building, of which First UU can be especially proud. In the 2002 printing of History and Memories, he recalls the event with these words:

“I have alluded to the fact that UU’s usually can’t vote unanimously on anything other than to adjourn a meeting. Here’s an exception: In 1989, the drama department at what was then Southwest Missouri State University chose to present the Larry Kramer play The Normal Heart.

“At that time the Fundamentalists and Pentecostals were railing against “secular humanism” and homosexuality. They were losing “Godless Communism” as their primary hate subject with the collapse of the USSR well under way. Secular Humanism wasn’t getting much traffic because there were so few of us so homsexuality became their hate monster. Some were declaring that AIDS was their god’s way of punishing those who “choose the homosexual lifestyle.” The AIDS epidemic had become a very major disaster by then.

“The Normal Heart has this subject matter as its main theme and Kramer surely felt that he should attempt to educate as many as possible about the developing tragedy.

“Somehow, the conservatives learned what was going on and immediately raised a hue-and-cry so loud that it was heard near and far. “This ungodly play should not be allowed to be performed!” they shouted. “Especially in a public university with actors still in their formularize years.” (a direct quote) There were editorials and letters to the editor in the News-Leader spouting ugly words of paranoia and hate that people had heard from their church pulpits and read in multitudinous religious tracts widely dispersed throught the area on car windshields and the like.

“There followed editorials and letters urging SMSU to go on with the play and not be intimidated. These rebuttals were disproportionately written by members of this church.

“It happened that a yearly congregational meeting was coming up. One item on the agenda was asking if a consensus could be reached for us, as a church, to take a public stand in support of the play being performed despite all of the threats.

“It is a pleasure for me to relate to you that a motion was made and seconded, a vote of raised hands was taken, and there was a unanimous vote, without even an abstention, to issue a pronouncement to that effect to the various news outlets. The media, to the one, published it for all to read and hear.

“Seven productions were planned from Nov. 15 through the 20th. When tickets went on sale, there were already long lines. It took just 2 ½ hours for all tickets to be sold. The dress rehearsal was made into a full-fledged production for SMS students and was performed to a full house. All of this unprecedented interest and sold-out houses was attributable, of course, to the plethora of publicity -- much of which was generated by us.”

image above from the Springfield-Greene County Library

Normal Heart Stirs Up the Heartland LA Times

The following story illustrates an attitude of abundance and a willingness to take risks in the name of growth.  The source of this story is History and Memories and is told by Jim Broadstreet. I have omitted some portions for the sake of brevity, but the words that remain are his.

"With the two UU groups successfully merged and with a minister, Carl Bierman, who was a dynamic speaker, and with good leadership, the group was outgrowing the little, old building on East Seminole. The "Drury" group had acquired a piece of prime property of over three acres on East Battlefield on which there was an outstanding mortgage.

"While almost everyone wanted a new church home, we were also aware that money was really tight, and it was about all we could do to pay our minister's salary every month. A committee was formed to investigate possible sources of financing. It was learned that an organization within the UU was making very low interest loans. Local banks were willing to talk to us if the bank could hold the first mortgage.

"The Veach Committee, with its money derived from North Shore oil rights stock, loaned us $70,000 at 5% and the UUA loaned us another $10,000.

"We UU's are truly blessed people! Let me relate to you these incidents as proof:

"Don and Laure' Young stepped forward and paid the outstanding loan on the building site.

"Walt Gaska had acquired a building lot in an upscale area in southwest Springfield which he decided he would not use. He sold it and donated the proceeds to us.

"Jack Taylor, who is widely recognized as one of the truly great architects in our area, was going into a period of being less busy than usual and offered to render architectural services free-of-cost if we could get everything else in order.

"A long distance friend of the church, Dan Cover, owned a lumber company in Thayer, Missouri. Dan decided to help the cause of liberal religion by offering to give us the framing lumber needed to build a wood building. He also agreed to allow us to purchase certain items from local wholesale houses at his cost.

"A gentleman whose name has been lost moved to Springfield and brought with him about 3000 bd. feet of high-grade walnut lumber which he had piled in the garage of the house he had purchased adjacent to our church property to the east. He was not a UU but had some interest. Before he could get settled into his new home, he was transferred again to Arizona and gave the walnut to us. For this reason, you will see walnut, instead of the fir used elsewhere, in the office areas. 

"I was in semi-retirement after having sold my woodworking business so it seemed reasonable for me to volunteer to do the field administration of the project--particularly since that is what I was engaged in, on a part-time basis, for a local architectural firm. I had no idea what was in store for me!

This is a continuation of the earlier blog story from History and Memories.  The words are Jim's. I made some edits for the sake of brevity.

"Jack executed plans which were exciting and which drew unanimous approval, and they were 'put on the street' for general contractors to use to prepare bids. He, in turn, hired engineer Bob Bare to design the heating and electrical systems.

"As I recall we received five proposals. The lowest bid was in the amount of $308,000 from a contracting firm owned by Ridley Thomas who was also an ordained Assembly of God minister. Shirley Morton was the only one among us who knew him, having gone to high school with him.

"The second lowest bid came from the old, established, and highly regarded firm of Bramer Construction Company, a company I had done much business with over the years.

"The difference in the two quotes was not significant, but our board decided that we were so strapped for money that we really had no choice but to accept the very lowest one and pray-in-our-own-way that the decision was sound. It was still necessary to negotiate with Mr. Thomas to leave out some items that seemed within reason to do ourselves with volunteer labor.

"As soon as the hole for the lower level of the building was dug there came a rain. That's not a surprising development for anyone in the construction industry, but what was surprising was the discovery of a subterranean wet-weather river flowing into the center of the north basement wall. Care was taken to place perimeter drainage tiling and waterproofing to counteract the water pressure.

"As the project progressed, Mr. Thomas would submit applications for payment which would be accompanied by the required waivers-of-lien. About half-way through the construction period, however, he asked that the requirement be dropped. I did not feel that we could gamble with our scarce dollars by doing that, and Bill Powell and Jack Taylor concurred.

"Mr. Thomas complained to me about Jack and our 'conflict of interest' lawyer Bill Powell, and complained to Jack about everything pertaining to me. He called Jack one day to ask him if he believed in God. Jack, in his diplomatic and gentle way, answered 'probably not in the same way as you' which brought on a tirade about his having supposed he was dealing with Christians and that if he had known what this Unitarian business was, he would never have bid the job in the first place.

"Just before the building was ready for siding there was flood in the Thayer/Mammoth Springs area which washed a bund of Mr. Cover's lumber out of his lumber yard and down the Spring River. The vertical wood siding was installed by the contractor, but Dan Cover gave us the material which his crew had been able to recover from a downstream farmer's field. It was installed wet-as-sop.

"What actually broke Thomas's business was not our contract. He had several other contracts going simultaneously. We paid a number of invoices with two-party checks made out to his business and whatever sub-contractor or supplier he owed. We didn't end up paying for anything twice, but there was a lot of work to be finished when our contractor left. Perhaps we had not prayed strongly enough."

Next installment: the volunteers who finished the job

The rest of Jim's story about the construction of First UU's current building:

"In counting our blessings in achieving a new physical facility, the largest one came in the form of volunteer labor. Almost every living member and friend put hours into sawing and installing trim on windows, doors, soffit, fascia, etc.; sanding and painting; laying floor tiles and donated carpet; landscaping; building toilet stalls, and more. Many people cooked food and furnished coffee and cold drinks. (Brewing company stocks probaly rose at that time.) There are many snapshots of various people working in evenings and on weekends--one of my favorite being of the Rev. Carl Bierman painting over his head with a long-handled roller wearing his ubiquitous felt hat covered with a plastic bag.

"People complained when I would call two or three times a week announcing work periods, but I do believe that this was the time of the greates camaraderie and fellowship in the history of the organization.

"The building is generally well built and we got our money's worth. There were, however, a few glitches. For one, the interior of the masonry block fireplace mass was laid up in such an unsightly manner that Jack and I rejected it. Jack agreed to allow the mason to remedy it rather than tear it down and start over. That is why the interesting 8 inch square veneer graces the wall.

"The gypsum board ceiling could not be painted well enough to hide the joints. That is why we went ahead with Jack's ceiling trim pattern which not only masks the rough finish but also adds to the beauty of the structure. The detail at the top joints had to be changed to accommodate for the less than professional installation, but I believe even Jack approves.

"It should also be recorded that some years after the completion of the building, during one of the periods when Jim Skalecke was chair of Buildings and Grounds, he and some other members fabricated parking lot light poles and installed fixtures to Jack's specifications and ran wiring to them from the building.

"Since the completion of the building, there have been various suggestions and offers to 'spruce it up'. At one point a group wanted to paint or cover the masonry blocks which are a strong element of Jack's design. At other times, the idea of 'sponge-painting' the walls of the sanctuary multi-colored was put forward. Jack Taylor spoke to the Board and was video-taped explaining his design concept and the importance of maintaining the purity of the building. Everyone should endeavor to maintain the architectural integrity of this handsome structure."

Source: History and Memories 2002

The following is taken from a speech delivered by Vic Bovee at First UU's 25th anniversary celebration in December 1979.

You--all of you--are a recurring surprise and gratification to Lois and me. The reason: When we first came to Springfield in 1952, we couldn't find even one Unitarian. When we left, in 1956, Unitarians here were a small, lay-led group without their own meeting place.

When we returned to Springfield in 1976, we found you thus: a full-fledged church with a membership of about 150, a minister, a complex of buildings of your own, and half a parking lot. 

I have been asked to tell you tonight our memories of the beginnings of the original fellowship. These memories, of course, are imperfect; 25 years is a long time.

It is probably impossible in a few words to re-create the political and religious climate in which this first Springfield fellowship was born. It was the height of the McCarthy era, and religious dissenters were assumed by many to be atheists and hence automatically Communists.

I'm sure all of you are aware of the religious climate that is prevalent in Springfield today. But in the early 1950's, Bible-belt Christianity here was not merely active but aggressive, not merely prevalent but dominant, and not merely powerful but threatening. I recall that a powerful fundamentalist group threatened to withhold its support from the United Appeal unless the YWCA eliminated square dancing. So--the YWCA eliminated square dancing.

Thus it required a special characteristic to join a Unitarian organization in Springfield in the early 1950's. You may call it folly or wisdom, bull-headedness or determination, naivety or courage, as you will. Whatever it was, it was needed.

How, then, did a Unitarian organization come about?

The Unitarian Association, with headquarters in Boston, had a Fellowship Director, Munroe Husbands. It was his task to gather unattached Unitarians into self-sustaining, lay-led groups. He made lengthy tours twice a year for that purpose.

In 1953, we obtained from Mr. Husbands a list of Springfield area persons who had inquired about Unitarianism. Of ten on the list, eight proved to be no longer prospects. Unable to reach the other two by  phone, we wrote the ninth, and one fall day we stopped at the residence of the tenth and met Miss Marjorie Hill.

Marjorie, it turned out, did know some Unitarians. Throug her, we met Fred and Midge Kieferndorf. The letter produced Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Chinburg. All of us had had previous association with one or more Unitarian churches. We met to see what could be done about forming a fellowship.

There had been other stirrings in Springfield, but none had resulted in an organization. Neither did this one, directly. We could not muster the ten persons needed to qualify for membership in the Unitarian Association. The stirrings did, however, prompt Mr. Husbands to include Springfield on his 1954 spring tour for a one-night lecture.

Mr. Husbands addressed a public meeting on Unitarianism on Friday, April 16, at the Kentwood Arms Hotel. A surprising 47 persons--some merely curious--showed up. Mr. Husbands explained what Unitarianism is and how to start a fellowship, appointed a steering committee, and passed around a sheet to be signed by persons who would be interested further.

Twenty-three persons signed the sheet. Among them, in addition to Marjorie Hill, the Kieferndorfs, the Chinburgs, the Bovees and their daughter Barbara, were Max and Barbara Rosen, Norma Johnson, Leota Barnett, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Gentry, Edward Corrigan and Rolland Comstock.

Marjorie, Ken Chinburg, Roberta Bobbe, and I were named to a steering committee. We expanded the committee at once to include the others who had been meeting with us. We set our first fellowship meeting for May 2 at the YMCA.

(continued in the next article)

More from Vic Bovee's speech:

Our first meetings, well through the summer, were devoted to getting acquainted and organizing to seek a charter. By September, we had elected officers, approved bylaws and had a list of about fifteen charter members, and so we applied to the Unitarian Association for membership. The association's board met that fall, and I received a letter dated December 4, 1954, notifying us that we had been granted a charter as the Unitarian Fellowship of Springfield, Missouri.

People who join an established church, I'm sure, have little idea what is involved in starting a religious organization. Lois and I noticed that when we left Springfield and joined the First Parish Church - Unitarian in Needham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1711, the church had a bell crafted by Paul Revere. What to do and how to do it had been established decades ago.

But in Springfield, we started from scratch. Everything we did was an experiment. There were various levels of religious comprehension. Dr. Chinburg, a psychiatrist, wanted to talk about why Unitarians deviate from the norms. Dear Mr. Gentry, in his 80's, was at his most articulate explaining that the story of Noah's Ark was impossible. One member, fresh from bolting from the Catholic Church, had abandoned the pope but was not ready to give up the theology. We had one theoretical Marxist who wanted to impress us with the danger of a capitalistic plot; when we did not respond enthusiastically, he decided we were too dull-witted for him and he quit.

Mostly our members did not want formality. They had had it with churches. They resisted any rigid order of service. They did not want hyms, but they did accept recorded music. They didn't want prayers, but accepted meditations. They didn't want benedictions, but accepted closing words. Most of all, they liked discussions.

We had to learn some things any minister could have told us. When we instituted a coffee hour, we set it at 10 a.m., a half hour before meeting time. Then we couldn't get the coffee hour stopped and the meeting started. Once we did get the meeting started, we couldn't get the discussions stopped. We learned to reschedule the coffee hour after the meeting.

We always held our Sunday meetings in public places, never in homes, but we had problems from time to time finding suitable meeting places where we were welcome. At one point, Marjorie and I were ready to recommend meeting in the chapel of a new funeral home until we learned that caskets were often open for viewing there on Sunday!

One of the foremost considerations in forming a fellowship, for some of us, was the religious education of our children. I think the first group that got together to begin planning for a church school consisted of Barbara Rosen, Midge Kieferndorf and Lois Bovee. Barbara, who had experience in religious education at the famous Riverside Community Church in New York City, took the lead.

Just as the RE program was about to start, the fellowship had its first traumatic experience. The Chinburgs' three-year-old daughter died unexpectedly in the night. By the time we learned of her death, it was too late to call off the first church school session so it went on as scheduled. But we were stricken; the fellowship had not been prepared to encounter death.

The church school flourished, and the fellowship was finding its way when we found ourselves suddenly involved in a community controversy. A junior high school science teacher was summarily dismissed by the superintendent on grounds that he was "teaching atheistic beliefs in the public schools."  (See earlier article "SPS says there's no room for atheists here.")

Unitarians at large and our fellowship in particular were attacked verbally during this period from the pulpits of major Springfield churches and in letters to the editor. The Bovee's, I know, received numerous obscene telephone calls, postal cards and letters--all anonymous, of course.

The case galvanized the fellowship, however, and won us new members and strengthened us to go on with a new feeling of unity.

The file folder labeled UU Women contains only one item, but it claims its importance with the title "Special Bulletin." Here's what it had to say:

The officers of the UU Women met on Dec. 22 at the home of the president, Cynthia Griggs. "Organization" was the purpose of the meeting and the following things are the result:

1. The PURPOSE of the UU Women will be to further the cause of liberal religions, furnish stimulating programs concerning social needs in the church and community, and to sponsor related projects.

2. Projects now in process are paying for telephone service for an indigent semi-invalid and adopting an 83 year old lady for whom they have furnished needed clothing and whom they will continue to assist in every practical way possible.

3. Suggested projects for 1971 for the group are 1) to work in close conjunction with the Executive Board and various committees of our church; 2) to conduct a White Elephant Sale, a Rummage Sale, a Baked Goods Sale and Bazaar; and 3) to sponsor monthly Pot Luck Suppers with programs of current interest and with socializing.

In the past the group has been a pledging unit to the church budget and last summer sent one-half of the net profit from the Rummage Sale to the UUA. This was a separate donation from the church's Annual Fund payment. Picnics have been held during the summer months which have kept the church members and friends in social contact. 

Membership in this group is open to all women, members and friends. There are no dues. Aware that knowledge of this group's activities have not been highly publicized, it is the hope of these women that more women will join with them in the spirit of unitarianism.

Next article: The January 1971 meeting

Again, from the article in the UU Women file folder:

The January meeting of the UU Women will be Tuesday evening, January 12, 7:30 pm at the home of Cynthia Griggs. This year it is the hope of this group to have entertaining and educational programs at their meetings. The program for this meetings will be "Old Wives Tales - Fact or Fiction" with a review of two books: What Every Young Husband Should Know and What Every Young Wife Should Know, both copyrighted in 1901. If the interest in the first book reviewed should stimulate prolonged discussion, the second book will be reviewed at the February meeting. YOU are URGED to attend this enlightening review!

The January Potluck Supper will be held Wednesday evening January 13, 6:30 pm, at the Fellowship Hall, 1461 E. Seminole. This year the UU Women hope to furnish stimulating programs at each supper. Generally the programs will be on an item of current interest and will include a discussion period.

Dr. Frank Kendrick, chairman of the Political Science Dept. at Drury College and a member of the board of Planned Parenthood, Springfield chapter, will give a talk on "Planned Parenthood-World Population."

Bring a covered dish, service for your family, 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for children over 6, and under 6 FREE. The Potluck Supper helps to support our various church and community projects.

Eunice Wallar offers the following correction to the article "Generosity Builds a Church":  It is erroneous that Don and Laure' Young donated the land on Battlefield.  It was purchased with a donation from a man in Lebanon. 

What Don and Laure' did was purchase the mortgage on the Seminole property from Max and Barbara Rosen and then forgave the church owing anymore so the church then owned that property free and clear.

Thanks, Eunice. This and the next few articles will come straight from the minutes of the building committee. 

The meeting was held November 27, 1979. Twelve of the fifteen members of the committee were present. (Current members Jim Broadstreet and Eunice Wallar were on the committee.)

As the meeting was convened, Bud Wallar, Chairman of the Church Board, reviewed the history behind the selection of the Building Committee. He indicated that the Church had now achieved some financial security and that we now had $14,000 in the Building Fund. He also felt that we had membership support behind the concept of a new building. The Battlefield site had been studied by the members of the Long Range Planning Committee and had been recommended as the best site for our new Church. At this time, the Building Committee is charged with developing a building program with preliminary architectural plans and a preliminary cost estimate. It is charged with evaluating the current financial position of the Church and suggesting a method of financing a Church building. ...The Building Committee would ask Chairpersons to submit to the Committee a statement of need to indicate what each Chairperson felt would be the current need for their designated committee and how that need might change in 5 and 10 years. After that material has been studied by the Building Committee, a consensus of need will be formulated which will then be presented to the Church Membership. [Following more input as instructed by the minutes], a final consensus of need will be delivered to Jack Taylor for his use in initial drawings and specifications for the new church building.

A Finance Committee Chairperson, Ty Bellamy, was selected this evening, and he is charged with determining the value of the current Church property with the possibility of the initiation of some type of fund-raising program. He is also to study other sources of money wich might be available to our Church, including the Veatch Committee and the UUA Central Committee. It is also suggested that a possible source of additional funds will be designated gifts from the congregation and interest-free loans from members of the Church. Another suggestion made to the Finance Chairperson was that the new Church Budget might contain some provision for funds to be set aside specifically for the Church Building Fund.

Other items that were discussed this evening included the need for study of parking requirements, the need for study of playground facilities, drive-way, the advantages and disadvantages of a basement and the early development of a site plan.

Because the current membership of First UU is working to reinvigorate the RE program, you might be interested in what the RE Committee submitted in December of 1979 in response to the Building Committee's request for input.

Enrollment:

• 1978-79: 23 students

• 1979-1980: 41 students (with 6 more attending but not enrolled)

• Projected growth: 15 children yearly (conservative figure)

• Enrollment in five years: 120

• Enrollment in ten years: 195

Classrooms needed: There is a need for eight oversized classrooms plus an all purpose room. Oversized meaning the possibility of dividing them into more classrooms for future growth.

• baby nursery

• toddler class (nursery) 

• 4-5 year olds

• 1-2 grades

• 3-4 grades

• 5-6 grades

• Jr. High

• 9th grade and above

Classroom specifics were given for all of the above and included items like sinks, shelves, carpeted areas, chalk and bulletin boards.

Needs of all classrooms:

• good lighting 

• warm

• dry

Concerns of using basement:

• heating and/or air conditioning

• lack of windows

• number of fire exits

• good lighting

The RE Committee feels we should keep in mind the possibility of dual use of classrooms as a day care center, meeting rooms, and Mother's Day Out.

Eunice Wallar provided three sets of building committee minutes. This is the second set, written in February of 1980.

The Building Committee met at 1:15 in the church hall. Eight members  [whose names are provided] of the committee were present. Four additional First UU members were also present.

The meeting began with a presentation by Jack Taylor of his recently completed architectural plans. The proposed church has 13,500 square feet of space. It is constructed of two levels. Jack felt that the two level construction was justified in at least three points: 1) cost, 2), conservation of space on our lot, 3) heating considerations. He felt that although duct work would be present, there would be no particular plans for air conditioning at this time. The plans were carefully studied and reviewed and the site plan for the new  church was also reviewed. Jack asked that we take copies of the plan home and study them and to return in two weeks for a critique of the plans. 

Carl Bierman reported on his recent minister's meeting in which he found access to loans in several areas. The Veach Foundation is capable of making a $20,000 loan. The UUA also agreed to a $20,000 loan, and the Tulsa Church is also capable of loaning us $10,000. In addition to these loans, the UUA will, under proper circumstances guarantee an additional loan of $100,000. These facts were passed on to Ty Bellamy, the Chairman of the Church Building Committee.

Sue Clifton's appraisal was presenyed. She felt that a realistic value for the Church, the parking lot, the West building and the East house [the property on Seminole] was $41,500. She felt that the property could possibly bring a bigger price, perhaps close to $50,000, and she felt that at the time the property was placed on the market, an asking price of $55,000 should be applied. 

Bud Wallar suggested that one means of obtaining funds might be a letter campaign to the 200,000 American Unitarians asking for a $1.00 donation from each to be applied towards the building of our Church. It was felt that this was a novel approach and could be successful if a proper letter could be designed. It was felt that perhaps at least a letter could be sent out to a test sample of regional Unitarians to see what type of response could be elicited.

Respectfully submitted,
Walt Gaska, M.D.

Meeting began at 5:10 P.M. Members of the Committee present were Mark Sharp, Eunice Wallar, Tom Kinsey, Charlene Skidmore, Jim Broadstreet, Ty Bellamy, Jim Pike, and Walter Gaska. Also present were [Minister] Carl Bierman, Jack Taylor, and Bud Wallar.

The purpose of this meeting was to allow Jack Taylor to present his proposed cost figures for the proposed Church Building. Jack's estimate for the total cost was $321,500. This averaged our at $31.00 per square foot. Rough sub-figures are as follows:

• site work $23,000

• concrete     39,000

• masonry           7,500

• structural metals    24,000

• carpenter work     66,500

• roofing/insulation   14,500

• door/window/glass   9,800

• windows     30,000

• finishing       10,000

• plumbing       25,000

• heating/ventilation 40,000

• electrical       40,000

In summary then, the general contracting work would be in the range of $216,500. Mechanical engineering $40,000. Electrical engineering $40,000. These figures were discussed in some detail. Jack felt that with some sharp cuts and reducing the overall area of the Church 10%, we could get down to a realistic figure of $270,000, with which he felt we could complete the building in a very usable condition. He also felt that this figure was within reach of the Church budget.

Some discussion was then directed towards financing of this Church. It was felt that our current property is worth $40-50 thousand and we currently have approximately $20,000 in the bank. It was felt that approximately $90,000 or roughly 1/3 of the overall cost of this building would have to be raised in a capital fund drive. General discussion was had regarding methods or raising monies. It was felt that the building could not be started any sooner than one year fomr this Spring of 1980. The Building Committee felt that we had reached our maximum level of expertise with regard to the possible funding of such a building project and therefore Dr. Gaska was directed to contact Lynn Cofer and arrange a meeting with him so that the financing of the Church could be further clarified.

All business being completed, the meeting was adjourned at 6:15 P.M.

Upcoming: One more set of minutes and a final report.

The Building Committee has completed its study and is prepared to present its findings and submit its recommendations.

Mr. Jack Taylor, a member of our Church, was selected to design a new Church building and a complete Church facility, to be erected on the Church property site on Battlefield Road. Prior to beginning the drawings, the Building Committee made a survey of the Church membership and of the various Church committees in an attempt to identify the anticipated current and future needs of the Church. After this study was completed, the facts were collated and presented to Mr. Taylor. He then proceeded to design a building which he and we felt served the needs expressed in a very responsible and esthetically pleasing manner. 

The initial plan had 13,000 sq. feet of floor space. It's design and traffic flow, we felt, was ideal. There were no strong objections to the initial drawing. The building was then evaluated with regard to its proposed cost, and it was felt a minimum of $320,000 would be necessary to complete it at its proposed size. Since it was felt that this expense was prohibitive, Mr. Taylor revised his estimates and reduced the overall size of the church to approximately 12,000 sq. feet. Following his revision, we felt that the buklding could be completed for approximately $280,000. It was recognized that this cost would not give us a completely finished building, and that some allowance would have to be made for a delay on some of the finishing work.

The current assets of the Church were studied and they include the following:

1. $20,000 cash in the Building Fund, earning approximately 12% interest

2. the Church building and associate lots, valued at between $45-50,000

3. value of property and proposed building site on Battlefield Road, valued at $25,000

Two major plans for financing the proposed Church building were studied and presented as follows.

Mr. Lin Cofer, a friend of the Church and an officer at Commerce Bank, was asked to offer his financial expertise and guidance with regard to building financing. Under his plan, the proposed financing of the new building would incorporate the $65,000 of current liquid assets, and we would anticipate a capital fund drive to raise approximately 1/3 of the proposed new building costs, this being currently estimated at $90,000. We would anticipate having to borrow approximately $120,000, and of this, $20,000 could be borrowed from the Veach  Foundation; $20,000 from the UUA; and $10,000 from the Tulsa Church. We would anticipate the interest rate on these loans to be approximately half of the prime rate. This would leave us a balance of approximately $70,000 to be borrowed from a local lending institution. At this time, lending institutions in the Springfield area would consider this type of loan a commercial venture. The notes would be written for a 15 year life span, and the interest rate would be 1% over prime rate with renegotiation of the interest rate each quarter. Mr. Cofer indicated to us that any bank would study in some detail the financial stability of our Church prior to entering into any type of loan agreement. The bank would be interested in our past budgets and the success of funding these budgets. It would also study very carefully what our current budget could be applied to debt retirement and debt service. Any loan notes that the Church obtained would be necessarily co-signed by Church members. Mr. Cofer noted that in this current financial climate, debt service and debt retirement under this type of plan would be prohibitive.

to be continued...

Don Young, another Church friend, also met with members of the Committee and outlined an alternate plan for raising funds. He noted that approximately $200,000 would have to be raised at the time of the fund drive for our proposed building plan. All dollars which could be pledge in a capital gift fund drive could be accumulated and the balance of the money could then be collected as "shares." These "shares" would in fact be in increments of approximately $500 and would be loans to the Church, which would be given by varying individuals, friends, Church members, organizations, other Churches, as a tax-free loan for the first 5 years after the inception of the Church building project. After 5 years, these loans would be repaid in installments with 5% interest. During the 5 year interval, while no interest is being paid, and while the principle is not being reduced, it would be necessary to collect a cash pool. This would be funded by a Church budget contribution of approximately $10,000 per year, with anticipated interest earnings being approximately 10%. The $10,000 per year contribution would have to be contributed each year for approximately 20 years. This cash pool and its accumulating interest would then be used to reduce the debt and pay the interest as noted above. Mr. Young felt that it would be of great benefit to the Church if members could be convinced to donate as a tax-free contribution their share debt retirement installment as it is paid from year 6 through 22.

It is clear that both these plans require a significant contribution in the Church budget that can be used to generate cash flow which can be applied either immediately or in a delayed fashion towards debt service and debt retirement. The Building Committee believes the Church has yet to demonstrate its ability to sustain a level of cash flow that could be used for this purpose. We therefore feel that as an initial step, the current 1980-81 budget should be revised and should be increased by 25%. Each pledging member should be asked to increase his pledge by 25%. In this manner, we should be able to apply in this fiscal year approximately $8,000 to our building fund. We feel this step is of great importance to our building program. Secondly, we would anticipate a capital fund drive and/or "share selling drive," but we do not feel that this fund drive should begin until further plans have been finalized regarding the actual method of funding the entire Church building project. Thirdly, we recognize that a building project in the current economic condition of this country could not be financed with the incredibly high interest rates that prevail. We would not anticipate being able to begin any building project before one year from this time. We have not investigated in any great detail other methods of fund raising, although Bud Waller has initiated steps to investigate the possibility of a limited personal contact subscription letter to be mailed to varying Unitarians throughout this area of the country in an attempt to solicit $1.00 per individual. This project is currently under study by Mr. Waller. We also recognize that there would be other types of fund raising projects that could raise small amounts of money to be applied to the Building Fund throughout our current fiscal year.

Walt Gaska, Charman of this Committee, is prepared to present these findings at the Annual Church Meeting on the 13th of April. The tone and the pace of this presentation will be very important if total Church support is to be mobilized. We would recommend not discussing the various financial schemes in great detail at this time and we do not feel that we can suggest an increase in the budget unless the current $32,000 budget has been successfully met.

The Committee feels that our original charge from the Church Board has been successfully completed and plan no further activity at this time.

Respectfully submitted,
Walter J. Gaska, M.D.
Chairman, Building Committee

Many thanks to Eunice Wallar who, when she was moving, was surprised to find the building committee minutes among her files and passed them along to the Church Historian.

Found in the archives--a pledge plea letter written by Board President Sue Cunningham in 1983 in response to a recommendation the church scrap their building plans

To: Members and friends, Unitarian Church
Re: Building Plans

At tomorrow evening's board meeting, a member of the finance committee is going to recommend that we scrap our new building plans because we have not reached our 1983-94 operating budget goal. I see this as a case of  shooting the horse before a diagnosis has been made or remedies sought. I have done a complete analysis of our pledge drive so far, and I do not see such a hopeless situation. On the contrary, I see generous pledges and broadbased support commensurate with ability to pay. I will have a complete breakdown to hand out at the meeting tomorrow night, and members are always welcome to attend these meetings. I have some alternate financing ideas to offer in the hope of heading off the spread of a sense of defeatism which can cloud our minds and cause us to base our decision on incomplete information. One of my  suggestions is that each of us think strongly about increasing our pledges by 10%, this would raise and additional $3,100. We need an additional $6,000 to calm the fears of those worried about our future solvency. I know where I can get $2,000 of that $6,000, plus I have some other ideas (eg: renting the church and house during the summer, monthly fund raisers, etc.)

I would like to go to that meeting tomorrow night with at least part ($1,000?) of the increased pledge amount and urge everyone who can make this commitment and who desire to do so to see me after church or call me at home by 5 p.m. tomorrow evening.

Keep the faith, Sue

Having served as both financial secretary and president on the First UU board, I can appreciate how hard it is to write a plea for money.  I found this 2008 letter from the First UU President at that time in the archives. (I removed the name because this letter serves as an example of the kind of letter so many of us have written.) I found it interesting to read in light of all the fundraising letters I've written and read over the years.

Now is the time when we need to back up our members (ourselves!) and ideals with a bit of the green. It is always a difficult time. Our American culture does not teach us to give freely. It teaches us that more is better, and it is the nature of all beings with a survival instinct to desire that the 'more' in question be theirs. Certainly we like to give gifts to others, but let us be honest. Outside of our children and perhaps our partners, how willing are we to SUP:PORT another? In America we are taught to stand on our own two feet and support ourselves! And the more grand the style in which we are able to support ourselves, the more successful we are as citizens. Asking for money is downright shameful, is it not?

But here we are doing it. Why? Because it is right and just to do so. 

Our church is our child. We need to stop thinking of our church as an institution and start seeing it as what it should be. The church is the youngest member of our Unitarian Universalist family. Of all the members of our community, it is our church that is the most vulnerable and least able to feed itself. Like a baby, it will only live and thrive if we feed it. It is only with good feeding (funds) and parenting (stewardship) that our baby will grow up to support us in our old age.

We have all seen adult churches with their extensive grounds and programs and staff. We admire them for their brawny endowments and trust funds and community ties. Of course we want our child to grow up and be like them! But we are not there yet. We still have a few years of careful feeding and parenting before we can sit back and proudly watch our church compete with the older kids. Our church is a bit more intellectual than many others It is not quite ready to play with that rough crowd yet. Our church will not get a football scholarship. We might need to take out a loan for grad school.

But that is still a ways off. THIS year, we need to step up just a wee bit to fulfill a new sort of budget -- a growth budget. Previously we have been scrimping and saving so we could get ourselves a minister. Well, we have GOT one, and now it is time to celebrate by adding a bit to last year's contributions.

[The author offered some suggestions on where to make some cuts in personal budgets in order to increase pledges.]

We spend our lives laboring for dollars. Spend them where you want your life to be. Put your power behind your ideals.