CHURCH HISTORY
adapted from a history as told by John LaBotz

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Park Forest originated with Georgiana Raygor and Elaine Garretson, two free-thinking women who wanted to establish a liberal religious Sunday School, looking for adult liberal identification, a Unitarian Fellowship came into being. In 1954 the Fellowship incorporated and sought to acquire church status. In August, 1955, the church welcomed its first minister, Rev. Lex Crane; and, under his capable leadership, the church continued to expand in both new programs and membership.

From 1952 through 1961 the Sunday School and congregation were always housed in rented quarters - mostly schools and churches. Although our own church owned five acres of land, the congregation, rather than build, voted to buy the Temple Anshe Sholom in Chicago Heights.

In 1963 the congregation called the Rev. David Baumbaugh to help weather the civil rights storms of the 60’s and early 70’s. As a leader in social causes our church took a very active role in our community to achieve racial integration in housing, schools, and access to public facilities. In the late 60’s Rev. Baumbaugh accepted another call, and his successor, the Rev. James Hobart, resigned after a short tenure.

With the absence of a minister and an increasingly troublesome building, enthusiasm and attendance began to lag. In 1977 the congregation called the newly ordained Rev. Ellen Dohner. Besieged with more building problems and an irreversible financial situation, the congregation voted to sell the church building. From 1977 to 1982 we were once more obliged to rent wherever we could find space.

In 1982, Rev. Dohner, in cooperation with architect, Nick Livingston, proposed plans for the erection of a new church on our woodland property in Park Forest. The congregation voted to accept the proposal, and with renewed vigor and enthusiasm the new church was built and dedicated in the fall of 1982.

In 1987, Rev. Dohner-Livingston resigned to accept a call in the San Bernardino area.

In 1988, Rev. Edgar Peara came to us from the Wilmette area, and under his leadership and guidance our church grew consistently in membership, financial strength and outreach. In December of 1997, after ten years of service, Rev. Peara retired from the ministry and was designated our Minister Emeritus.

In August of 1998, our church unanimously called to its ministry Rev. Valerie Mapstone Ackerman of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The emphasis during her tenure was on growth, i.e., to increase the numbers in our adult membership and to enlarge enrollment in the Religious Education Department. This was effectively achieved with the initiation of a two-services agenda. At the conclusion of the 2001 church year, Rev. Ackerman resigned to accept a call in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Pursuant to Rev. Ackerman’s departure, the Interim Ministerial Search Committee voted to call the Rev. Martin E. Woulfe to be our minister for a period of two years.

In 2003, after a nationawide search by an elected Search Committee, the congregation as a whole called the Rev. Dr. Randolph W.B. Becker to be its settled minister. Dr. Becker came to Park Forest after 30 years in the active ministry including serving the thirteen Unitarian Universalist congregations on Long Island, New York as their Area Council Executive and congregations in WIsconsin, Rhode Island, Massachuetts, and most recently Williamsburg, Virginia.

During Dr. Becker's ministry, the congregation worked on envisioning its future within its resources while expanding its offerings to the wider community. In 2006, Dr. Becker left the successful implementation of many of those visions, called away by needs of his aging parents.

In the wake of Dr. Becker's departure, the congregation entered into deep reflection about its future and its resources, asking the profound questions of location, leadership, programming, and more. In the end, the congregation voted to proceed with a part-time ministry which would be dedicated to the preservation of a liberal religious voice in the South Suburbs. It is expected that an exciting new professional ministry will begin in Setpember 2007. Stay tuned!

The congregation now continues to honor its proud history (e.g., facilitating the racial integration of Park Forest; being a Welcoming Congregation affording inclusion of gays, lesbians, bi-sexual, and transgendered individuals; helping to establish the PADS support system for our homeless, etc.) and to strive to fulfill its vision (e.g., programs of education on same-sex marriage issues; mobilizing for peace; direct involvement in numerous agency of equality and social change.)

We continue to be governed in the congregational tradition, and all decisions about the life of the UU Community Church are made by our own membership.

Central to our life as a congregation has been the core of intellectually challenging and spiritually enriching worship coupled with insightful religious education for children, youth, and adults.