The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Movement, by Ann Stebbins

During the economic boom of the mid-20th century, the Unitarian Universalist Association launched a bold experiment, starting up hundreds of small lay-led congregations across the United States.  Unitarian Universalism shifted from its more traditional Christian roots to congregational activism in response to the civil rights movement, the fight for women’s rights, concerns for the environment, and anti-war protest.  The baby boom and university expansion in in this period also accelerated fellowship start-ups, especially in the western states.  A third of current UUA congregations were founded during this movement.  The UUFMC was founded in 1978.  UU scholars disagree on whether the Fellowship Movement was a grand success or a complete disaster.  Nevertheless, here we are today: we are a Fellowship.  What does that mean?  How is that different from a church?  Come join what promises to be a great discussion!