Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbus, Indiana

I was raised Catholic but got away from going to church. I tried to go back a few times, but it just didn’t work for me. I went to lots of churches looking for a church home. Then someone told me about the [Unitarian Universalist] Seven Principles. I went to a service at the old church on Eighth Street, and I’ve been at home here ever since. I stay because it’s a different breed of people. In fact, I woke up just this morning and said, “Those are the people I need to be with.”

When I started coming to UUCCI, I had only been to another UU church a couple of times. And I was returning to the community after being away for more than six years. I thought it would be a good way for my wife and I to get reconnected with the community. Here I found a group of like-minded individuals that I never knew existed in Columbus, Indiana. Within the first few years, I was singing in the choir, then served on the Board. After that I joined the Sunday Service Team. There is much more, of course, but the short version is: I have found a home here.

A few years back, I attended an "Americana concert" here. The concert was great, featuring some of the talented church members. Looking around afterwards, I noticed the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Seven Principles on the wall and thought, “Wow, why had I never heard of this place?” So I attended a few services and was pleasantly surprised. The UU church seems to embody what I want to see in our world. A place of spiritual richness that has its arms open wide. There is no "I'm right and you're wrong" here. This is a place where we can discuss and accept and even celebrate our differences. A place of "spiritual seekers" trying to make sense of this world without pushing an agenda or creed. A place of mutual acceptance and respect for each other that I am proud to be a part of.

I came to UUCCI after prior experience at other Unitarian Universalist churches. While living in California I went church-shopping, and the UU church seemed to suit my needs best. Later, moving to Knoxville, Tennessee, I felt sure that the UU church would be the only place I would feel comfortable. I stay because it’s great to be part of a community that wants to make the world a better place. In some ways it’s similar to the Catholic Church I grew up in, but more welcoming and inclusive, and especially more fair to women. I was always a feminist, even before I knew what the word meant.

After being invited to visit several times over the years, we finally attended a service. I remember a display of paintings by Gretchen Marks, and a duet sung by artist Bob Pulley and his wife, poet Nancy Pulley. Being very visually oriented, these things in combination with the beautiful building had great appeal for me. We were not unhappy at our previous church, but UUCCI has become a very important part of life for us and our grandsons.