There's no place like a home of your own.
To the members of the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Rocky Mount, those words have a special meaning. After 10 years of relying on other organizations to have a place to meet, they are about to dedicate a new building of their own, said Leonard Wiggins, a fellowship board member.
Telegram photo/Joel Hodges |
Mae Woods Bell checks the measurements for a piece of stained glass she was working on Thursday in the new fellowship hall of the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Rocky Mount. The congregation has bought and renovated the former American Red Cross building on Church Street as its new home. Bell also is the Rocky Mount Telegram's book reviewer.
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"It centers us and gives us a home, gives us a place that we can do what we like. As long as we were renting or staying in some other church or using some other facilities, you sort of have to conform to their rules and their regulations, which is understandable. With your own building, you can do what you like," said Wiggins of Rocky Mount.
The opening of their own building at 516 N. Church St. marks a new beginning for the fellowship. It also means the end of lugging around all their supplies every time they meet and being able to schedule an event any time they want without worrying about having available space.
In short, it means freedom, Wiggins said.
"We were always mindful of the other beliefs of the church that (we) were meeting in. You were trying to tiptoe around sometimes, trying to make sure we didn't offend somebody. Not that we would offend anybody, but it was always something to be concerned about," Wiggins said.
The dedication service will be at 2 p.m. March 16, Wiggins said.
The group purchased the building, which belonged to the American Red Cross, in December for $69,900 and started extensive renovations in January, said Al LaRose, chairman of the building committee. The members have been committed to the project, generously donating time and funds to the renovation.
"The responses to requests for building funds have been really, really gratifying. We'll say we need $300 for paint or something and somebody says, 'I can give you $40 of that,' and somebody else says, 'I can give you $100,' and it works," said LaRose of Rocky Mount.
Mary Ruth Cox, a founding member of the Rocky Mount fellowship, moved to Fargo, N.D., in September for health reasons, but she has already told the other members that she plans to attend the dedication. They have been keeping her updated about the renovations, and she is thrilled with the progress.
"When we saw that building, we knew it was ours. We knew this is it. The location is so perfect. We wanted to be downtown. We wanted to be in the middle of the renewal of the downtown area. So when we saw that decrepit building, we all were so excited," Cox said.
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LaRose equates the members' enthusiasm to their appreciation of the open and welcoming nature of the fellowship.
Unitarian-Universalism has no set dogma, and its members embrace a wide range of beliefs and religious positions, said Mae Woods Bell, another founding member. The denomination's belief structure requires only that its members accept the inherent worth of every human being and have a commitment to responsible living, democratic processes, ethical behavior and environmentally conscious action.
"All individuals should be encouraged to develop their own personal theology and to present openly their religious opinions without fear of censure or reprisal. We believe in the toleration of religious ideas. All religions and every age and culture possess not only intrinsic merit, but also potential value for those who have learned the art of listening," said Bell, who is also the Rocky Mount Telegram's book reviewer.
As a church, Unitarian-Universalism attracts people of different religious backgrounds, including Christians, Buddhists, Wiccans, agnostics and atheists, said LaRose, who was raised Roman Catholic. He discovered Unitarian Universalism in 1960.
"Most of us have left other churches because we find that the required dogma – the things you have to believe to belong – are not acceptable," LaRose said. "We tend to be more based in science and logic, so the miracle stories aren't terribly useful for us.
"We are usually committed to the idea that there is something greater than ourselves, and we have a personal responsibility to find it. That kind of investigation is not warmly welcomed in the mainline churches. Usually they have a set of beliefs to which one has to subscribe."
The group thrives on learning and discussions, Wiggins said. Members currently meet every other Sunday for services, which include singing hymns and listening to a guest speaker or member give a presentation. The speaker for the dedication service will be Annette Marquis, executive of the Thomas Jefferson District of the Unitarian-Universalist Association.
The sharing of ideas was the reason the fellowship was first formed in 1998, LaRose said. Twelve founding members began meeting at N.C. Wesleyan College, where they remained for two years.
The group then met in the parlor of the Church of the Good Shepherd and stayed there until last June. A growing membership and limited space saw them moving to the Battleboro Community Center. The fellowship has about 32 regular members and more who come when they are interested in the program.
