White Bear Unitarian Church came into existence in late 1955 as a lay-led suburban branch of St. Paul’s Unity Church-Unitarian, where extraordinary growth was taking place under the le adership of the Reverend Arthur Foote.  From the outset the members were self-reliant, with a strong participatory spirit.

A small church building was purchased in Mahtomedi in 1958, with meeting room space for about 100, and several rooms for children’s classes and committees. In 1963 Richard Sykes was called to be part-time minister, and he stayed for two years.

From time to time afterwards the congregation engaged full or part-time ministers; at other times it preferred lay leadership.  In 1990, when adult membership was at about 90, a larger building on Maple Street was purchased; it was renovated and expanded in 1995.

The congregation is distinguished in style by its informality and active lay participation.  A vigorous and visible Social Action Committee leads the group in putting into practice its vision of social justice for the wider community and the world; deep concern for the environment and humanity’s balance with nature has long affected adult education programming, Sunday services, classes for children and the congregation’s careful stewardship of its 4.5 acre parcel of woodland and protected marsh.

A Member Congregation
White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, headquarted in Boston, Massachusetts.
The UUA, representing more than 1000 Unitarian Universlaist congregations in North America, grew out of the consolidation, in 1961, of two liberal religious denominations: the Universalists, organized in 1793, and the Unitarians, organized in 1825.

Unitarian Universalism places the responsibility for religion squarely upon each individual. Thus we require allegiance to no creed, and set up no theological conditions of membership. We are a community of searchers, building upon a rich foundation of many sources of spiritual and religious wisdom.   The Principles and Purposes of our Association, were adopted in 1985 and revised in 1993.

A LITTLE CHALICE HISTORY
by Karen Dahl

The chalice that appears on this web site, as well as the the current WBUUC tee shirts has a history. It was created by Dick Perlich in the early 80's for use on a tee shirt. In those days tee shirts were silk screened. Dick made the tee shirt template and then printed the shirts! I believe we were going to sell them but it proved cumbersome. It is a timeless design that has found its way on to our stationary, newsletters, invitations, most recently on a new sign at the corner of Maple and Mahtomedi Avene directing newcomers to our building. And it is used on tee shirts*. Thank Dick when you see him for creating this unique, durable and artistic symbol of our faith and our church.

Have a question about our church history?  Submit it to the Newsletter box in the office.

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