Our History
A History of The Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Following World War II, the leaders of the American Unitarian Association realized that their small denomination was concentrated in large urban centers or regions, particularly in the Northeast, and set about to widen the Unitarian presence with emphasis on the West. The very first of these small groups, called Fellowships, came into being in Boulder, Colorado, and was followed by hundreds more throughout the United States and Canada. The Boulder Fellowship thrived, built its own building, and became the Unitarian Church of Boulder.
In 1977, a number of members of the Church felt that their spiritual needs were not being met, and began to gather in one another’s homes to hold religious services. The process of separation lasted through much of 1977, all of 1978 and into the spring of 1979. During this period, retired Unitarian Universalist minister, Rev. Rudolph Gilbert, became interested in the group. Rev. Gilbert had “retired” to Boulder in 1972 after a long and distinguished career. Encouraged by his presence and his interest, and inspired by his sermons, the group determined to officially form a new Boulder Unitarian Fellowship. On Easter Sunday, April 15, 1979, these new congregants met at the Niwot farm of Earlene Busch, held their first service, and 42 of them signed a brand new membership book.
In 1980, the congregation determined that it needed a more formal ministry. A survey was conducted within the membership to determine ministerial qualities most desired. A search committee decided that the Rev. Gilbert best exemplified those qualities, and he was called out of retirement to lead the Fellowship through the next two years. Failing health forced him to retire at the end of the 1982/83 year. For the next year, the Board President, Susan Lemp, served as Fellowship Coordinator, arranging for services and
maintaining continuity and the strength of the congregation.
In 1983, the Fellowship Board set up a long-range planning committee. A survey taken in October of 1983 showed that members and friends wanted semi-monthly services conducted by a part-time minister. A second search committee presented Nan Hobart to the congregation as a ministerial candidate. On October 21, 1984, Ms. Hobart was called by the congregation. The Fellowship continued its slow but steady growth both in number of members and friends, and in attendance at services as the new minister took over.
Important events in Nan’s first few years included the establishment of a Forum in the 1986/87 church year to meet on alternate Sundays to make the Fellowship available to the community every Sunday and to accommodate those who wanted both ministerial and lay speakers. In addition, an All-Fellowship Retreat was held in June, 1987, in which members and friends examined various aspects of Fellowship life and decided to establish a Religious Education program for children. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s the members set up an Endowment Fund and a Building Fund which would serve to strengthen the financial structure of the Fellowship and make its future more secure.
The Fellowship ordained Nan Hobart on May 14, 1989. With her leadership, The Fellowship outgrew two temporary locations and began renting the Masonic Hall in Boulder in March of 1990. The Fellowship called the Rev. Robert M. Eddy as interim minister from September 9, 1992 – June, 1993.
The Rev. Catharine Harris as part-time minister in September, 1993 and full-time in May, 1994. Catharine Harris came to the ministry in mid-life. She graduated in 1985 from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne called her as their first minister and ordained her in 1986. She served that congregation for seven years before the UU Fellowship of Boulder called her as minister.
When the Rev. Catharine Harris was called by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Boulder, the congregation had 86 members and fifteen children. The average age of the congregation was 62. The congregation asked Catharine Harris to focus on creating a caring community, developing the Religious Education program, and pastoral care. In Sept. 1994, the growing congregation hired its first part-time Office Manager, Carol Presley. In about 1996, the congregation hired its first paid part-time Director of Religious Education Director, Max Briggs, followed by Katie Erslev in 2000. The congregation began hiring part-time Singers Directors about 1999 followed by Marlys Brinkman.
Programs added as the congregation expanded its ministry include: a service auction to create community and to raise funds, becoming a Teaching Congregation for ministerial interns, becoming a Welcoming Congregation to extend the reach of our liberal religion into the GLBT community, and an Adult Religious Education Program. The congregation helped ordain The Rev. Kit Ketcham, the Rev. Jude La Follette, and the Rev. Barbara Molfese. Beginning in 1999, the Fellowship Singers became a continuing and growing part of our music program. In 1997, the congregation decided to hold two services every Sunday. In 2001, as a prelude to a new Strategic Plan, the congregation chose as their vision, “The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship: bringing love and reason to Life.”
After having rented space in Boulder for many years, the Fellowship attained its long-term goal of purchasing a home of our own in Lafayette in early 2004. The name was changed to a temporary one, The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. The Rev. Bill Sinkford, President of the UUA, preached at the Service of Dedication for our new home on March 6, 2004. In the Fall of 2005, we began holding two services. A part-time Youth Coordinator was hired in 2005, and the Rev. Penny Rather became affiliate minister with the Fellowship in the fall of 2005.
The Rev. Catharine Harris retired July 1, 2006. On June 4, 2006, the Congregation voted to make her Minister Emerita. On August 1, 2006, Arthur G. Severance became the interim minister for the 2006-2007 Fellowship year, and the Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry was called as permanent minister with the fellowship effective August 1, 2007.
In the Spring of 2007, the Fellowship took a new name “Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. By the spring of 2008, the membership had grown to 260 members. One hundred seventy five children were enrolled in religious education for the Winter 2008 session. Average attendance is now about 70 children a week.
Revised Spring 2008