In the 15th century, during the Reformation, Unitarianism emerged in eastern Europe as a Protestant theology. It reached England and the American colonies in the late 1700's. Universalism was strong in England and the United States during the 1800's. They became one denomination in 1961. (To learn more about Unitarian Universalism in general, see What is Unitarian Universalism?)
Our church began in 1954 on the campus of the University of Maryland as an outgrowth of All Souls-Unitarian, located in downtown Washington, DC. In 1957 we welcomed our first minister, David Osborn. The Religious Education building was completed in 1965, at which time the name Paint Branch was taken from the stream that flows nearby. Our meeting house was completed and dedicated in 1991. We treasure our five acres of woodland and work to preserve its beauty.
The church is governed entirely by the congregation through its elected Board of Trustees. Major decisions are made at the annual congregational meeting, or at special meetings called by the Trustees.
PBUUC is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association, composed of some 1,000 churches and fellowships in the U.S. and Canada. We are part of the Joseph Priestley District, the mid-eastern region of the association. We are also affiliated with the Greater Washington Association of Unitarian Universalist Congregations.
Most of this section have been adapted from The First Twenty-Five Years of Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church and Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church 1979-1994, both of which were written by Walker and Emily Dawson.
Early 1950's--There was an increase in membership of All Souls-Unitarian Church. Many in the congregation lived in the suburbs, yet chose to drive to downtown Washington, DC each Sunday morning to attend services. Then-minister Rev. Dr. A. Powell Davies felt that it would be good for the Unitarian movement in the long run if more churches were established in the surrounding suburbs. To facilitate their development, Dr. Davies organized the Greater Washington Committee for Unitarian Advance (now known as the Greater Washington Association of Unitarian Universalist Congregations) whose goal would be to subsidize new Unitarian congregations in the suburbs and to find ways to encourage the current members of All Souls to form these new congregations. Many members enthusiastically embraced this idea and over the next few years, approximately 30 congregations began to form in suburban neighborhoods around the Capital Beltway. One group of All Souls members wanted to start a congregation near their homes in the Maryland suburbs. This group initially wanted to be based in the Silver Spring-Takoma Park area, but found no suitable place to hold their meetings.
1954--The same group that couldn't find a location in the Silver Spring-Takoma Park area, finally decided to start a congregation at the University of Maryland in College Park when the University agreed to rent space in one of its temporary buildings on campus. With the approval of All Souls, the College Park Unitarian Center at the University of Maryland was established. The first Sunday service of this new congregation was held on October 17, 1954 on campus in Temporary Building EE. (October 17 is celebrated every year at PBUUC as "Founder's Day.") For the next few years, Sunday services would be conducted like this: The congregation would sing hymns and conduct readings. Midway through the service, a phone call would be made to All Souls Church at the precise time when Dr. A. Powell Davies would begin his sermon. The congregation would listen to the sermon through an intercom speaker that was attached to the phone. After the sermon, the congregation would finish the service. Religious Education classes for children were held concurrently with the Sunday services. Betty Larson was appointed as the first Director of the School of Religion.
1955--The College Park congregation adopted a set of bylaws under which a Board of Trustees, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Nominating Committee were elected.
1956--The congregation voted to incorporate as the College Park Unitarian Church. The articles of incorporation were signed and registered soon after with the State of Maryland. The Church held its first Christening ceremony involving 14 children.
1957--The congregation called Rev. David Osborn to be its first resident minister. A fund raising drive was held to accumulate money to buy or build a parsonage. Rev. Dr. A. Powell Davies died. Al Herling and Bruno Schiro served short stints as Music Directors. Brinley Lewis would eventually become acting Music Director.
1958-1959--The parsonage was built and the Osborns moved in. The congregation purchased five acres of wooded land in Adelphi that's located between Powder Mill Road and the banks of the Paint Branch (which the congregation would later derive its name from).
1960--On the national level, the Unitarian denomination merged with the Universalist denomination, forming the Unitarian Universalist Association. On the local level, the College Park congregation changed its name to the Paint Branch Unitarian Church. David Osborn was elected president of the Greater Washington Association of Unitarian Universalist Congregations. Jean Mohr became the first permanent Director of Music. A professional fund raiser was employed to help with the canvass to raise money for both operating expenses and building the new building on the property in Adelphi.
1961--Betty Larson resigned as Director of the School of Religion. Marjorie Owens replaced her as the new director. The congregation hired Cohen, Haft and Associates as the architects for the new building.
1962--The congregation accepted the architects' general conception of the new building. The congregation paid off the loan on the Adelphi building site.
1963--The congregation secured the neccessary bank loans and other financial sources to begin building the new building. The congregation had planned on building two buildings on the site--one for Religious Education classes and the other for adult services. For financial reasons, the congregation decided to build the Religious Education building first and include temporary quarters for the adult services. The second building would be built at a later date. The congregation held a ground breaking ceremony at the Adelphi property. David Osborn and other members of Paint Branch Unitarian Church joined in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and were among the thousands of people who heard the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., give his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Marge Owens resigned as Director of the School of Religion. Lillian Lee replaced her as the new director.
1964--The building company Wrathall and Ovalle began earthwork on the new Religious Education building on the Adelphi property.
1965--The Religious Education building was completed and a special Service of Dedication was held. Both Religious Education classes and adult Sunday services would be held in the same building for many years to come. David Osborn and 10 members of Paint Branch joined in the Freedom March on Montgomery Alabama, which was led by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jean Mohr resigned as Music Director and was replaced by Dixon Redditt.
1966--The School of Religion planted 30 dogwood trees on the property at Easter. (Each Religious Education class planted its own tree.) The congregation voted to initiate a fund raising drive to build an adult services building. The church started to display paintings by local artists (including both members and non-members) in the room where Sunday services were held. Every three weeks, new paintings would be hung for the congregation to enjoy while engaging in worship. These art exhibitions were so popular that they still continue to this day.
1967--The church projected that by 1970 it would raise enough money to start building the adult services building.
1968--Plans for the adult auditorium and associated rooms were approved by the congregation. Dixon Redditt resigned as Music Director and was replaced by Bob Holloway. Paint Branch gave money, food, and supplies to people who became homeless as a result of riots in Washington, DC, that came in the aftermath of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Paint Branch members took into their homes college students who were barred from their dormitories at Bowie State College during Easter vacation. The Religious Education building received an award of mention in the 1968 biennial program for architectural awards of the Potomac Valley Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The comments of the judges included this description: "Admirable respect for site and its preservation while displaying a sense of being a special kind of place."
1969--A list of artists whose work was exhibited in the building was compiled, and a statement was made that "as long as the congregation enjoys the show, they should be continued." (The art exhibits still go on at PBUUC today.) The church was forced to borrow some money from the building fund to pay operating expenses.
1970--The congregation authorized taking money from the building fund for roof repairs, carpeting, repairs to the parking lot, and air conditioning or dehumidifying the lower level of the Religious Education building. Later that year at the annual meeting, it was reported that 65% of the building fund pledges had been converted to operating fund pledges.
1971--Rev. David Osborn resigned as minister of Paint Branch Unitarian Church. The congregation called Rev. Rick Kelley as the new minister. The bylaws were changed to allow members as young as 16 years old to vote at congregational meetings. The congregation voted to concur with the Board of Trustees and invest a substantial portion of the building fund in Black Affairs Council bonds. This decision resulted in postponing the building of the adult services building for the next several years.
1972--Lillian Lee resigned as Director of Religious Education. She was replaced by Penny Chapin (later known as Penny Chapin Nemser). Rick Kelley introduced the annual tradition of holding a candlelight service on Christmas Eve (which is still held every year).
1973--Penny Chapin Nemser resigned as Director of Religious Education in December of that year.
1974--Constance Howe served a four-month stint as Director of Religious Education. She was replaced by ministerial student Carolyn Rosenthal as Acting Director of Religious Education.
1975--Rental of classroom space in the Religious Education building was made available to the Paint Branch Montessori School (which still rents space in that building on weekdays during the school year). Marjory Donn became Director of Religious Education. Mary Ann Kelley, Rick's wife, was instrumental in starting the Women's Center, which was housed in the Religious Education Building.
1978--On the recommendation of the Membership Committee, new members were formally welcomed. Certificates of Membership were given to the 38 persons who had joined the congregation since Fall, 1977.
1979--Paint Branch Unitarian Church celebrated its Silver Jubilee in October with a special art exhibit, special Sunday services, a special music concert led by Robert Holloway, and a special birthday party that also served as a reunion of current and former members of the congregation.
1980--Both the parsonage and the church building are paid off so the congregation held a Mortgage Burning Party. The first All Church Retreat was held at Camp Letts. The retreat was such a success that it became an annual event. The roof on the Religious Education building was rebuilt. Paint Branch member Ottilie Van Allen was chosen as the recipient of the Joseph Priestly District "Unsung Unitarian-Universalist" award.
1981--Paint Branch member Ruth Bond was nominated for the "Unsung Unitarian Universalist" award by the Joseph Priestly District to the Unitarian Universalist Association.
1983--Members of Paint Branch participated in the 20th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s March on Washington celebrations, which included a service at All Souls-Unitarian Church and a march to the Mall.
1984--The Building Expansion Committee presented a discussion on "To Build or Not to Build." Paint Branch held its first New Year's Eve party. That event was such a success that it became an annual end-of-the-year tradition.
1985--The congregation voted to authorize the Building Expansion Committee to hire an architect and to work with him/her to develop preliminary plans and cost estimates for both the expansion of the existing building and the construction of a new separate building. The congregation decided to use the architectural firm Lawrence Cook and Associates after an extended period of visits to buildings and interviews with architects.
1986--The "Crazy Comet Auction" was held on March 1 and it was such a success that the Church Auction became an annual fund-raising event. The first Passover Seder Dinner was held and it also became an annual tradition. Members of Paint Branch took part in the March for Women's Lives (whose main objective was to keep access to abortion and birth control legal). Paint Branch added "Universalist" to its name in order to recognize the fact that the Universalists have been active members of the denomination since the 1960 merger. The congregation became known formally as Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church. In June the congregation voted in favor of looking into building a new building instead of expanding the old one. The congregation voted in December to proceed with a new building fund drive, to coincide with the spring operating budget canvass.
1987--PBUUC held a Growth Workshop which resulted in the Membership Committee instituting a three-step assimilation process for new members. Kenneth Del Po, a student at the Harvard Divinity School, was hired to serve as a Ministerial Intern for one year. Members of PBUUC took part in two major Marches on Washington--one for Peace, Justice, and Freedom in Central America and South Africa and the other for Gay and Lesbian Rights. The congregation voted to proceed ahead with building the new adult services building and to fix the parking lot. The congregation voted to retain Lawrence Cook as architect for the new building. The congregation also voted to find building contractors to build the new building.
1988--Beth Cox was hired to replace Ken Del Po (who was ordained as a UU minister in his hometown of Boston) as Ministerial Intern for one year. The congregation voted to authorize the Board of Directors to build the new building and parking lot. The first Ethnic Dinner was held in October (it was an Oktoberfest event that emphasized German cuisine). That Ethnic Dinner was such a success that Ethnic Dinners would go on to being held two or three times a year with a different country's cuisine highlighted every time. The Ethnic Dinners would also become one of PBUUC's major fundraisers.
1989--A ground breaking ceremony was held on the site where the new Meeting House building would be constructed. Construction began on both the new building and the parking lot. Beth Cox was ordained a UU minister in her hometown. PBUUC members participated in the Housing Now! march (which called for affordable housing and an end to homelessness) in Washington, DC, while, at the same time, the church housed a large group of demostrators from Florida.
1990--After serving as PBUUC minister for 20 years, Rick Kelley announced his retirement, effective in spring, 1991. PBUUC was selected as the site of the forthcoming 1992 Unitarian Universalist Convocation of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgendered Persons. Members of PBUUC participated in the March on Washington for Women's Rights.
1991--Members of PBUUC took part in the massive March on Washington to Protest the Persian Gulf War. (The march was called during the six-week conflict against Iraq.) The Meeting House building was completed. A special Dedication Week was held on the new building. (Activities included special services, an Open House for people who lived in the surrounding neighborhood, a music concert for children, and a special "Evening with the Arts" that included music and poetry.) Rick Kelley retired as minister and the congregation voted to give him the title "Minister Emeritus." To honor the service of both Rick and Mary Ann Kelley, the congregation decided to rename two rooms in the Religious Education Building. The large room where adult services were held for many years was named The Rick Kelley Room. The room which housed The Women's Center was named The Mary Ann Kelley Room. The congregation called Rev. Dr. Virginia Knowles to serve as Interim Minister for one year. (Virginia Knowles was the first woman to serve as a minister at PBUUC.)
1992--The annual Unitarian Universalist Convocation of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexulas, and Transgendered Persons was held at PBUUC. People from all over North America converged on PBUUC for a weekend of workshops, lectures, and socializing. Virginia Knowles ended her term as Interim Minister. The congregation called Rev. Rod Thompson as minister. Marj Donn retired as the Director of Religious Education and is replaced by Dr. Abby Crowley. The congregation voted to sponsor fellow member Thea Neitfeld in her studies to become a UU minister. Members of PBUUC participated in the March on Washington for Women's Rights.
1993--Members of PBUUC took part in the March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Rights. PBUUC began to get involved in the Community Ministry's "Warm Nights" program where it would open its doors to the homeless for a week every January. (Other churches took turns with housing the homeless through the coldest nights of the year.) The Social Action Committee initiated a new tradition of having a special collection during services once a month for worth causes. PBUUC hosted its first ordination service for fellow member Thea Neitfeld, who became a UU minister. PBUUC hosted the Joseph Priestly District Fall Conference, which was a great success.
1994--PBUUC hosted the Martin Luther King, Jr., Dinner and Commemoration in conjunction with the Sojourner Truth Congregation of DC. That event was such a success that it became an annual event that would expand to include participation by the Greenbelt Baha'is and the Bowie Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Bob Holloway retired as Music Director and he was replaced by Daniel Abraham. PBUUC celebrated its 40th anniversary. (Events included special services and a reunion of current and former members.) The congregation voted unanimously to become a Welcoming Congregation for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people.
1995--Congregation members attended the large anti-domestic violence rally on the Mall. PBUUC started going through the "Decisions for Growth," a year-long program established by the Unitarian Universalist Association that is designed to help congregations as they make the transition from being a small-sized to a medium-sized congregaion. One result of the program came when members wrote and voted on a "Statement of Purpose" that explained why PBUUC exists. (The statment reads "The purpose of the Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church is to create an open, nurturing community for ourselves and our children which encourages us to explore our values, both intellectually and spiritually; inspires us to live our Unitarian Universalist principles within our congregation, community, nation, and the world; and beckons others to join us on this journey.") The program also resulted in the congregation identifying four areas that needed work in order to prepare PBUUC for the future.
1996--Sherri Cave (later known as Sherri Cave Puchalski) began a two-year stint as Ministerial Intern. A group from PBUUC witnessed the unfurling of the Names Project's massive AIDS Quilt on the Mall.
1997--Together Time was established during the 9:30 a.m. service as a way of exposing children from grades 1-6 to a Sunday service and serving as a bridge between adult members and Religious Education students. (Together Time is still held today for the first 15 minutes of service every other Sunday. When Together Time ends, the children report to their Sunday school classes.) The Religious Education Committee conducted the first Coming of Age ceremony in the spring for seventh and eight graders after spending the past school year preparing for it. The year-long class and ceremony was based loosely after the traditional Jewish Bar Mitzvah or the Roman Catholic rite of Confirmation, except the emphasis is placed more on the students creating their own personal theologies and honoring their passage from childhood into adolescence. PBUUC established a prescence on the World Wide Web by launching its own site on the free server space company GeoCities. Its URL was www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/9450/.
1998--The congregation voted to sponsor fellow member Mark Hayes as he begins his ministerial intership with Mt. Vernon Unitarian Universalist Church. Sherri Cave Puchalski was ordained as a minister in a ceremony held at her home church, Silver Spring Unitarian Universalist Church. (Many members of PBUUC attended that ceremony.) Rod Thompson resigned as minister. The congregation called John Burciaga to serve a one-year term as Interim Minister. Because of complaints about GeoCities' pop-up ads, the slowness of GeoCities' server, and the hard-to-remember URL, PBUUC's website was moved to a server of its own that was operated by an ISP (Internet Service Provider) company called Corpsite. It also received its own domain name (www.pbuuc.org).
1999--The Women's Center moved out of PBUUC. Mark Hayes was ordained as a minister in a ceremony held at PBUUC. John Burciaga ended his stint as Interim Minister. The parsonage was put up for sale and quickly sold. The congregation called Rev. Barbara Wells and Rev. Jaco ten Hove to be its first husband and wife co-ministry team. In addition, Barbara Wells was chosen as the first woman to serve as a permanent minister.
2000--Barbara Wells and Jaco ten Hove complete their first year as co-ministers at PBUUC. The Religious Education Committee offered the newly revamped Our Whole Lives (formerly known as About Your Sexuality) cirriculum for youths for the first time. The month of April had a major demostration in downtown Washington, DC every weekend (including marches calling for debt forgiveness for the poorest nations, protests against both the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the 2000 Earth Day Rally on the Mall, and the Millennium March for Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered Rights) that members of PBUUC participated in. Members of PBUUC also participated in the Million Mom's March on Washington held on Mother's Day in May to protest the increase in gun violence across the United States. The 25th Ethnic Dinner was held with a large attendance (the chosen cuisine focused on the United States of America). This site underwent a reorganization due to its growth. After a two-year absense, PBUUC held its All-Church Retreat. (This time it was held in September in a new location--the Hashawa Nature Center in Westminister, Maryland.) Abby Crowley resigned as the Director of Religious Education. Jennifer Braun is hired as R.E. assistant. Mandy Jacobson is hired as Youth Ministry Coordinator. Jennifer Brooks begins a stint as Intern Minister.
2001--The annual Unitarian Universalist Convocation of Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgendered Persons was held at Arlington UU Church but a few PBUUC members volunteered to help out at that event. Natalie Fenimore is hired as the new Director of Religious Education. Mandy Jacoboson resigned as Youth Ministry Coordinator and is replaced by Sara Edwards. Dan Abraham takes a year's leave of absence from his position as Music Director and Kerry Kribell fills in for him as Interim Music Director. In the fall PBUUC moves from two Sunday services to just one Sunday service at 10 a.m., which is followed by an Enrichment Hour (which features activities--ranging from arts and crafts to lectures--that are geared towards both children and adults). PBUUC faces its biggest challenges as a congregation in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on both the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the subsequent mailing of anthrax-tainted letters to politicians and the media, and the start of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Search WWW Search www.pbuuc.org