Unitarian Universalist Bay de Noc Fellowship 
Mission Statement

Our mission is to foster spiritual community where any individual can experience fellowship and acceptance; 
Cultivate a sense of connectedness and responsibility to all creation; And to find support in a journey toward spiritual truth. 
Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles
1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
History

“Prehistory” and origins of the current fellowship:

 The origins of our fellowship go back to the early 1980s when a group of about 20 individuals, mostly those originally from outside the area who were part of other UU congregations, met regularly for Sunday services at Bay College. A Sunday School was offered for children along with the services. Paul Bradfield was an instructor at Bay College, so was able to arrange for the meeting space, and he and Claudia Bradfield did most of the organizing for the group. These services lasted two or three years. 

In 2003 the part time minister of the Marquette UU congregation, Rev. Kayle Rice, reached out to Kathryn Morski, who regularly provided music for their services, about the possibility of starting a UU group in Escanaba. Kathryn contacted several people, and her efforts and word-of-mouth led to the first meetings to discuss forming a UU congregation. These became more regular UU services, first in the evenings at people’s homes, then at the 8th Street Coffee house on Sunday mornings. 

Formalizing the fellowship and new meeting place: 

by 2005, a Mission Statement was developed, and in May 2005 the first “Administrative Board,” consisting of the chairpersons of the five committees, met. The name adopted formally at that meeting was the “Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bay de Noc.” Later that year the fellowship voted to move their services to the Bonifas Arts Center, where we remain. 

Growth and UUA membership: In December 2014, the fellowship applied for UUA membership. There were 48 charter members noted on the application. In May 2015 the fellowship application was accepted by the UUA. 

Commitment to social justice and activism:

Our Fellowship has always had a strong commitment to social activism, both in the community and world-wide. For a small congregation, we often have a big impact! Organizations and causes we have actively supported either financially and/or in kind include Walk for Warmth, Delta County Youth Assistance Program, Escanaba Pride Picnic, Salvation Army luncheons and food drives, RAICES, UU The Vote, Delta County Foster Closet, Bay College Monday night student meals, Bay College Food Pantry, Hope at the Inn, Tri-County Safe Harbor, and numerous community improvement projects such as clean-ups and painting. Not to mention countless “pass the basket” donations, auctions, and other fundraisers held in conjunction with our services. 

Formal Milestones: 

  • UUA Membership, 2015 

  • Welcoming Congregation designation, May 2021 

  • Good Trouble Congregation, 2022 


Present and future: 

When the pandemic hit, like many congregations we pivoted to virtual Zoom services. Since 2021, we have held services in virtual, hybrid, and in-person formats in response to both Covid surges and presenter availability. In March 2021, we joined with congregations in Petoskey and Marquette, MI for virtual “Triangle Services” that we continue to participate in, along with our own in-person or hybrid services. 

As we look ahead, we hope to strengthen our fellowship, not just in numbers, but in our sense of shared purpose and spiritual growth. We continue our commitment to social justice and activism. We strive to get our message out to those who do not feel welcome in other spiritual communities and welcome them into ours.

Unitarian Universalist Bay de Noc Fellowship Bylaws
Bylaws can be found HERE
Unitarian Universalism has made a commitment to opening its doors to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The Welcoming Congregation Program is a volunteer program for congregations that want to take intentional steps to be more welcoming and inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities (UUA.org).
The requirements for recognition as a Welcoming Congregation are:  Measurable achievements in the areas of education, congregational life, and community outreach, using the Welcoming Congregation Guidelines and Action Steps as a guide.
A congregational vote in affirmation of being recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) as a Welcoming Congregation was passed before the formal application was submitted.
The Fellowship's application was formally approved by the UUA on May 10th, 2021. “While for many, religion and faith can be a source of comfort, beauty, and meaning, however and unfortunately, many LBGTQ+ people have been told by their families or faith communities that there is something wrong or even sinful about how they experience romantic love or how they live in terms of gender.
This becomes a safety and mental health issue. The suicide rate among the LGBTQ+ youth is nearly triple of that of other teens and young adults”, according to The Trevor Project.  Welcoming Committee member Gus Olson notes that “with our support, we can be a beacon of hope and acceptance to the LGBTQ+ community – right here in Delta  County.”