How the Unitarian Universalist PEACE Fellowship began, what shaped our early years, and key milestones along the way.
The Beginning
The idea to have a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in North Raleigh was born during a knitting group which included
Sue Hansen and Sue Timmons, who then brought Abbie Modjeska into their discussions.
Note: These three women are known as the Founding Mothers of our fellowship.
After determining that others were interested, a group of about 40 dreamers met on a Saturday morning in January 2003 for an organizational meeting. Other brainstorming meetings followed and several common themes emerged:
- A small and caring community where members cared for each other and did not push for growth for growth’s sake
- Enough financial stability to be comfortable as a congregation without putting undue pressure on members to raise money
- A welcoming community where all were welcomed, especially children
- A community where social action was a priority
- A community where music was important
- An aesthetically pleasing environment in the sanctuary
- A connection with nature
- Lay-led leadership where no one person was more important than any other and everyone’s voice was heard
The intent was to focus less on finances, have fun, and be loving. A core group of about 30 to 40 people began making their dream a reality. They agreed decisions would be made by consensus, they volunteered to be on committees, and they got to work.
At a Town Hall Meeting on July 8, 2003, the group agreed on the name Unitarian Universalist PEACE Fellowship.
PEACE is always capitalized because it stands for peace, education, action, community, and environment.
It was decided that Pullen House would be a suitable place for regular meetings until a more permanent location could be found.
The first service was held on September 14, 2003.
Church in a Box
Services were held at Pullen House from September 2003 through April 2011. Hymnals and other materials had to be placed into a box, carried downstairs before a service, and then carried back upstairs after each service.
Watkins Street Location
This location was first discovered in 2009. Renovations were extensive and took a lot of time, mainly done by church members. Dedication of the new building was on April 16, 2011.
20-Year Anniversary
A celebration was held on September 17, 2023.
Note
More information will be added to this section when our historian is able to dig into, learn, and write more about our history.