Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City

In 1568, John II Sigismund declared “…preachers shall preach and explain the Gospel according to their understanding of it, and if the congregation likes it, fine. If not, no one shall compel them …but they shall be permitted to keep a preacher whose teaching they approve."

This began a tradition of liberal religion that continued as the first pioneers moved across the plains of Iowa. “One thing you’ve got to give this church credit for, we were always on the liberal front,” commented Edna Wilson, an early member of our congregation.

Such liberal religion has often involved social activism at a national level. Universalists called for the abolition of slavery and, after the Civil War, supported the 15th Amendment and the Freedman's Act.

They advocated for the separation of church and state, and promoted women’s rights at an early date, most notably in 1863 when they ordained Olympia Brown, the first woman to graduate from a theological college, as well as the first full-time, ordained female minister.

From the 1930s on, ministers and lay leaders of our congregation helped end segregation in downtown Iowa City. More recently, in 1997 we became a Welcoming Congregation, formally welcoming bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people. (Look for more about these activities in future issues.)

In the mid-1980s, UUSIC inaugurated two committees, the Social Action Committee and the Community Services Committee. By 2001, these had evolved into our current Social Justice Coordinating Committee (SJCC.

During the ‘80s, committee-led activities invited the congregation to consider such issues as women’s pension rights in cases of divorce, environmental concerns, AIDS, emergency housing, and whether Iowa City should become a Nuclear Free Zone.

The 1990s saw the committee becomes increasingly focused on community services. In 1991, it responded to the Gulf War by developing an education and counseling program to offer informed advice to those seeking conscientious objector

status. In the same year, the committee developed the process we still use for determining which community service organizations we will support as a congregation. As part of this process, the congregation is periodically polled to identify specific organizations that will receive funding.

Until recently, about half of these organizations were then invited to make “special solicitations” during Sunday services, explaining their activities and asking for financial support; the other organizations identified by the congregation received cash donations. Now, each year four organizations present “special solicitations,” and about eight receive cash donations.

SJCC also supports other activities that reach out to the community, among them our Partner Church relationship (see the February newsletter) and, on the second Friday of every month, Free Lunch, prepared and served by UUs at the Wesley Center.

In 2000, the committee sponsored a Social Justice Workshop to identify a significant, society-wide social action project, and this led to our current focus on homelessness. Since then, the SJCC has hosted several events each year to raise money for Iowa City’s Shelter House.

In 2006 the SJCC initiated a new program for "direct donations." On Sundays when no organization is making a special solicitation, cash contributions from Sunday service collections go to support local service organizations. In 2007, more than $7,000 was collected and distributed to community service organizations in our community.

In the 1940s and '50s, Unitarian Arthur Powell Davies led Unitarian Advance, a reform movement that supported civilian oversight of our nuclear technology, opposed racial segregation, and condemned both Communism and McCarthyism.

Here in Iowa City, our congregation was active in the community from the earliest days, beginning with spirited public debates -- about such topics as marriage, equality, evolution, social welfare, the roles of science and religion -- often to the dismay of Iowa City's more conservative clergy.

Even our building, celebrating its 100th birthday this year, was purposely designed to be home to an organization that would “prove a source of good to all the city.” Living up to this goal, members of our congregation helped Iowa City confront the ravages of the flu epidemic in 1918, and sent clothing to war-torn Europe after the first and second World Wars.

Special thanks to Marilyn Jennewein, Gay Mikelson,
and Sue Eberly for preparing this article.

Plan to attend
Clarence Darrow:
The Search for Justice
Friday, April 11, 2008

Social activist Clarence Darrow (on the left in this newspaper photo) visited both Iowa City and Des Moines in the 1930s, stirring up controversy and debate wherever he appeared -- including an address before the Iowa Unitarian Convention. Perhaps best known for his participation in the Scopes Monkey Trial, Darrow is also remembered for his opposition to the death penalty, his battle against racism, his support of civil liberties, and his consummate skill as an orator.

As part of the celebration of our Building Centennial, UUSIC and the American Constitution Society are co-sponsoring a special, one-night event: Clarence Darrow: The Search for Justice.

This dramatization of Darrow’s legal career stars Gary Anderson, nationally recognized Darrow portrayer. The curtain will rise at 7:30 PM on Friday, April 11, 2008, at Levitt Auditorium, Boyd Law Building. Tickets ($25 general admission, $10 for students and UUSIC members) are available at the door, or by phoning Mark Yuskis at 319-321-2296.

Gary Anderson portrays Darrow

Admission includes a 6:30 reception with light refreshments, hosted by “Clarence Darrow” himself along with co-sponsors UUSIC and ACS. Please join us for a fascinating and informative evening.

Check it out …

From Within These Walls is a project of the UUSIC Building Centennial Team: Jeanette Carter, Susan Eberly, Marilyn Jennewein, David Martin, Betty McKray, Charity Rowley, Faye Strayer, and Mark Yuskis, with the help of many others in our UUSIC community.

UUSIC historical resources available at the State Historical Society of Iowa.

Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City
10 S. Gilbert Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
319-337-3443
Email Us

Standing together, inclusive and free -- the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City,
a liberal religious congregation since 1841.