First Unitarian Society
About the Society
Our Purposes and Principles
We, the congregation of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis,covenant to affirm and promote:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
Our Mission
The First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, established in 1881 and affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association of North America, is an ethical and liberal religious community dedicated to promoting the ongoing search for truth and to affirming the inherent worth of the individual.
We understand reality through human experience, enlightened reason, scientific method, and the democratic process, and we find the central source of power and goodness within the human heart, mind, and spirit. Individually and collectively, we assume responsibility for our future, our community, our children, and our interdependent world.
Our growth and actions as thoughful, compassionate, and ethical human beings advance our humanist vision of a world of peace and love, dignity and equality, freedom and justice.
Our Congregational Covenant
It is the intention of the First Unitarian Society to create a culture of mutual respect and personal safety that supports the growth of individuals and community. For more on this, see our congregational covenant:
Statement of Values and Expectations
Our History
The First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis was founded in 1881. At that time Minneapolis had a population of about 50,000 and had no paved streets. On November 18, 1881, the first meeting of the Society was held in the old Adventist Hall at Third Street and Nicollet Avenue. Among its first articles of incorporation was this statement: "Where people without regard to thelogical differences may unite for mutual helpfulness in the intellectual, moral and religious culture and humane work. And that all persons whatsoever who sympathize with these aims shall be welcome to the Society." The first minister was Henry M. Simmons, who served for 24 years. During his tenure the Society very quickly outgrew the old Adventist Hall and in late 1881 began to hold services in the Jewish Synagogue at Eight Street and Marquette Avenue. The construction of a new church building was finally begun in 1885. Located at St. Mary's Place, now Eighth Street and La Salle Avenue, this handsome building was designed by a prominent architect of the time, L.S. Buffington. The new church was dedicated in June 1887. Mr. Simmons, known to be a powerful and provocative minister, established a standard of excellence that has been the hallmark of the Society's ministers ever since. The Society continued to grow in size and stature during the successive ministries of E. Stanton Hodgin (1905-1909) and Wilson Backus (1910-1916).The fourth minister was Dr. John H. Dietrich, who proved to be a major figure in the development of the Society and of Unitarianism in the upper Midwest and throughout the nation. Dr. Dietrich professed religious humanism. In his many sermons and lectures over the years he never shied from addressing what he considered to be the social needs of the day, no matter how controversial.
During Dietrich's long tenure (1916-1938), the Society experienced a rapid and exciting growth. Dietrich's sermons proved to be so popular that Sunday services were moved to the Garrick Theater in downtown Minneapolis, and later to another larger auditorium to accommodate audiences that regularly exceeded 1,000. Eventually, his sermons were broadcast extensively on radio and published in leaflets that were mailed to religious liberals throughout the world. Thus, during the 1920s and 1930s, the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis became the center of religious liberalism in the Upper Midwest.
In 1926, the Society moved from downtown Minneapolis to the Unitarian Center at 1526 Harmon Place. Sunday Assembly services were still held in the theaters to accommodate larger audiences while the Center itself became the scene of innovative programs such as the 10 a.m. Forum and progressive Sunday school instruction. When Dr. Dietrich retired in 1938, his assistant, Raymond B. Bragg, succeeded him. Mr Bragg served through the difficult war years up to 1947 when Carl Storm became minister. During the late 1940s a serious effort was made to find a new and permanent home for the Society which would accommodate both large audiences and other needs: Sunday school, conference room space, administrative offices, and social gatherings such as Coffee Hour and fundraising dinners.
It was during Carl Storm's ministry that the Society moved to is present quarters at 900 Mt. Curve Avenue. The building, a classical modernist edifice designed by architect Roy N. Thorshov, was dedicated in 1951. In 1965, Carl Storm left his position and was succeeded by Robert Lehman, who served through 1978.
During Khoren Arisian's years of service (1979-1997) the Dietrich tradition of religious humanists and other past leaders of the Society was strenghtened. Arisian brought other prominent Unitarian ministers and liberal religious leaders, such as F. Forrester Church and Rabbi Sherwin Wine, to speak and visit at the Society, as well as liberal secular figures like linguist Noam Chomsky, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, and others. Arisian was also instrumental in the formation of the North American Committee for Humanism and the establishment, by the Committee, of the Humanist Institute, which has its headquarters in the Meeting House of the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Arisian, a native of Boston and a graduate of Tufts University, also studied at Harvard and at Oxford. Before coming to Minneapolis, he served in Unitarian Universalist ministries in Iowa and Florida. A recipient of the American Humanist Association's 1995 Humanist Pioneer Award, Mr. Arisian has also served as President of the Friends of Religious Humanism (a UUA affiliate).
In 1998, The Society called the Reverend Dr. Kendyl Gibbons to be its minister. The Reverend Dr. Kendyl Gibbons is the ninth senior minister of the First Unitarian Society. She is a life-long Unitarian Universalist, and a recognized leader in our continental Association. Gibbons is a 1976 graduate of the College of William and Mary, with B.A.s in Religion and Sociology. She holds a Master degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and a Doctorate of Ministry from our UU seminary, Meadville/Lombard Theological School. For more information about Reverend Gibbons click here.
Through its membership, the Society has been intermittently a strong force in the Twin Cities community. A number of civic and social organizations - such as the Minnesota Memorial Society, the Humanist Credit Union, Person to Person, and Health Partners - largely had their beginnings and leadership direction from members of the First Unitarian Society.