| A Word from Our Members |
Here you may read what Unitarian Universalism and our church mean to members of our congregation.
Perhaps something here will resonate with you. Perhaps this is the sort of church you have been looking
for.
---------
I guess you could say my religious beliefs have run the gamut from a fundamental Christian steadfastness in
my youth, to a conscience effort to ignore religion during my middle years, to a discovery of the Unitarian
Universalist concepts in my “golden years”. But, my journey to Unitarian Univeralism started when I was in
college and fell in love with a man who was a Roman Catholic. Forty-five years ago someone who had been
brought up as a devout Baptist simply did not marry a Roman Catholic!!
The issue of religion was not a problem for the two of us, but a BIG concern for our families. I kept asking
the question why was it so wrong to want to spend my life with someone who had been brought up in a religion
that was different from my own. Weren’t we both Christians? Wasn’t religion supposed to be a good thing that
brought people together? Perhaps religion wasn’t so good and necessary after all.
When it finally became a choice between my religion and the man I loved, religion as a formal exercise
disappeared from my life. This was easy to do. I worked and lived in an area of the country populated by a
very diverse group of people from all over the world. At any given time the person sitting next to me at work
might be a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, a Muslim, an Atheist etc. Religious beliefs and politics were never topics
for discussion. My religion sat on the shelf and I didn’t miss it at all (or so I thought at the time).
All of that changed when my husband (yes that same Catholic guy whose ideas about religion were very
much like my own) and I retired. We chose to make our home in a small southern town and found things were
different. Suddenly, religion was very much a part of everyday activities. It was discussed around the dinner
table and was at the center of social activities. Perhaps there had been something missing in my life after all.
So, when in Rome ……., we became active in a local church. I began to discuss religion with my husband and
with others (something I had never done before.) I began to really think about my faith. What did I believe and
how did that belief shaped the way I lived my life and interacted with others? I started to explore the history of
the Christian faith and to read many different commentaries on the nature of religion.
Unfortunately, I soon discovered that I was not like everyone else in church. You see, at the church I was
attending, everyone was the same. They all looked the same, they all dressed the same, they all had pretty
much the same childhood, they all believed in the same things. Anything that was different presented a
problem, and I was different. Here I was again, back in that same environment which had so long ago
pronounced that Baptists and Catholics could not successfully come together to find unity out of their diversity. I
was not ready to embrace a rigid ideology when I had so many questions no one was willing to entertain. I
couldn’t understand how everyone could be so sure they had all the answers when every answer that was
given just generated more questions in my mind.
And so I walked with my husband through the doors of a little Unitarian Univeralist Church. I had done a little
reading about Unitarian Universalism, but I did not really know what to expect. What I discovered was diversity
and great humility. The people who made up this small congregation came from all different parts of the world
and from different religious backgrounds. They had come together to form unity from their very diversity. They
sought to learn and grow from each others’ experiences and knowledge, because they realized they did not
have all the answers about life and faith and the world around them. They were not afraid to discuss their
ideas no matter how different from each other they were.
I wanted to be part of this learning experience. I did not have the truth I thought I had when I was young, and
I could not continue to ignore the impact of religious belief. There were great unanswered questions waiting to
be discussed and reconciled in my mind. Finally here was a place where I could express myself as I really was.
A place where being different was an asset; where diversity was welcomed and cherished. A place where
Roman Catholic beliefs and Baptist beliefs and so many other beliefs could find a common ground for growth
and understanding. I guess I had been headed in this direction for all of my life, and I had finally arrived.
Trudy Northway
----------
Through the years, I have never found any comfort at any church. They always demanded something of me:
beliefs, repentance, subservience, time and/or money. It was always about what I must do to be worthy of being
included, and there seemed an underlying disdain and/or pity for everyone else. This always troubled me
greatly.
Therefore, I went my own way. I researched and educated myself in many different religions, beliefs, and
philosophies, and found my very own spirituality. I have tried to live by the philosophies and beliefs I had
developed and they continued to grow and change as does everything in nature.
When I met my now wife, she asked if I had heard of the Unitarian Universalists, and I hadn't. So, she hopped
on line and instantly found the closest six congregations. We discussed each and chose the small church in
Tullahoma to try.
That first day was amazing. Everyone was so welcoming and warm hearted. No one tried to sell me on
anything, or demanded anything of me other than please be respectful and courteous of everyone and their
differing beliefs. I could do that.
In that first service, and in each subsequent one, I was amazed to find there was no hellfire, no brimstone, and
no eternal damnation. It was all about love, what we could do to make our lives better, and the possibilities of
making the world a better place.
What I found is an amazingly wonderful spiritual family that graciously accepted me for me, and my beliefs and
with interest. They have demanded nothing of me, in fact quite the opposite. They have offered respect, love,
community, and a place to worship or not as I like. I, like everyone else, am encouraged to respectfully speak
my mind and voice my beliefs. I never had any idea there could be such a congregation, and I am eternally
grateful that our son can grow to be a man in such an atmosphere.
My wife and I have now found a community/family that is honest, caring, respectful, diverse and beautiful. I
now find the same comfort at church that I find at home, and that is very very special.
Bob Webster
----------
The Tullahoma Unitarian Universalist Church is a unique place, an oasis of free thought and honest expression.
I was drawn to it by the need for a caring church family, one that does not prejudge people, but invites different
beliefs and encourages self-discovery. I found all that and more in this warm, inviting church home.
Bill Davis
----------
I joined the Unitarian Church 50 years ago in May of 1959 in Davenport, IA. I support most of the causes of the
UUA--civil rights, equal justice, environmental causes and the seven basic principles. I find our services
interesting, stimulating, and educational. I enjoy the variety and the chance to hear viewpoints different from
my own. Our church members are friendly, open, honest, and encouraging. I know that if I am the only one
with a certain point of view, I will still be accepted and welcomed and no one will ostracize me because of my
beliefs. Our church family is wonderful and has stood by me when I was going through some difficult times and
rough circumstances in my life. I like our new members and feel that we can attract more by being involved in
community activities rather than proselytizing. Our church is my home and I would not feel comfortable in any
other church.
Barbara Snyder
----------
Prior to moving to Tullahoma in November 2006 I lived in Dyersburg, TN for five years. From a religious
standpoint Dyersburg is a rather oppressive Christian community. At my medical practice, at the hospital, and
at the Kiwanis Club I had to endure prayers to Jesus. When I mentioned to our practice administrative director
that three of the doctors objected to the prayers, I was given the usual "you can leave the room" reply,
emphasizing the typical divisive nature of religion. At the high school commencement one of the student
speakers literally delivered a sermon. I attended a funeral where the speaker was from the Church of Christ. He
did not once mention the deceased and managed to make a statement insulting anyone who was not Christian.
Constant appeals came from the local Boy Scouts asking for money. Since I am a nonbeliever and my daughter
is gay, I had no interest in supporting an organization which has a "merit badge" in bigotry. The primary reason
for moving from Dyersburg was that my two Pediatrician colleagues were not respectable human beings despite
their overt professed Christianity.
After living in Tullahoma for a year I had a sudden thought. I am a member of the Freedom From Religion
Foundation, and I sent an email to their co-President, Annie Laurie Gaylor, asking her if any other members
lived in my area. She asked me to send her a brief biography that she would send to the appropriate people
who could then decide to call/email me. Bill Boss sent me an email, we met at the Hands-On Science Center,
and during our time together, he mentioned the UU Church.
I was delighted to meet the people who attend the church, a place where being non religious is not a crime
and is supported - along with everyone else's approach to spirituality. Since I grew up in a Jewish family, I had
attended synagogue/temple. I had also attended a Catholic wedding where, as had occurred at the Dyersburg
funeral, the couple getting married was never mentioned. The entire ceremony was about Jesus. The UU format
of weekly talks followed by discussion fosters an entirely different attitude of inclusion and a celebration of the
participating human beings rather than focusing on a particular dogma. Marvelous group therapy.
Lee D. Mockrin
--------
After searching for years " trying-out " other peoples religions and churches, I have gratefully,found my place at
the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma. This church is spiritual, intellectual, friendly and loving A
completely warm and safe place to worship. I am truly grateful.
Chucky Condon
----------
I have attended the Tullahoma UU church for almost 30 years. I have never joined as I don't like the trappings
of a church, however, I have given many talks, served as head of building and grounds several years, and
provided financial support. I have built many of the decorative items in the building plus installed siding on the
exterior. I enjoying being a friend of the church.
The reasons I attend:
- I like to consider new and different ideas based on reason.
- Each week there is a completely different presentation, often by visitors or church members.
- The members have widely different backgrounds and beliefs but we like, tolerate, and listen to one another.
- The church is small enough so that everyone gets to know each other and have a chance to express their
views without fear of being judged.
- The church is paid for, and everyone pitches in to do what needs to be done to keep things clean and
welcoming.
- I have an opportunity to develop an idea then give a presentation to a receptive group.
Name withheld by request
Perhaps something here will resonate with you. Perhaps this is the sort of church you have been looking
for.
---------
I guess you could say my religious beliefs have run the gamut from a fundamental Christian steadfastness in
my youth, to a conscience effort to ignore religion during my middle years, to a discovery of the Unitarian
Universalist concepts in my “golden years”. But, my journey to Unitarian Univeralism started when I was in
college and fell in love with a man who was a Roman Catholic. Forty-five years ago someone who had been
brought up as a devout Baptist simply did not marry a Roman Catholic!!
The issue of religion was not a problem for the two of us, but a BIG concern for our families. I kept asking
the question why was it so wrong to want to spend my life with someone who had been brought up in a religion
that was different from my own. Weren’t we both Christians? Wasn’t religion supposed to be a good thing that
brought people together? Perhaps religion wasn’t so good and necessary after all.
When it finally became a choice between my religion and the man I loved, religion as a formal exercise
disappeared from my life. This was easy to do. I worked and lived in an area of the country populated by a
very diverse group of people from all over the world. At any given time the person sitting next to me at work
might be a Christian, a Jew, a Hindu, a Muslim, an Atheist etc. Religious beliefs and politics were never topics
for discussion. My religion sat on the shelf and I didn’t miss it at all (or so I thought at the time).
All of that changed when my husband (yes that same Catholic guy whose ideas about religion were very
much like my own) and I retired. We chose to make our home in a small southern town and found things were
different. Suddenly, religion was very much a part of everyday activities. It was discussed around the dinner
table and was at the center of social activities. Perhaps there had been something missing in my life after all.
So, when in Rome ……., we became active in a local church. I began to discuss religion with my husband and
with others (something I had never done before.) I began to really think about my faith. What did I believe and
how did that belief shaped the way I lived my life and interacted with others? I started to explore the history of
the Christian faith and to read many different commentaries on the nature of religion.
Unfortunately, I soon discovered that I was not like everyone else in church. You see, at the church I was
attending, everyone was the same. They all looked the same, they all dressed the same, they all had pretty
much the same childhood, they all believed in the same things. Anything that was different presented a
problem, and I was different. Here I was again, back in that same environment which had so long ago
pronounced that Baptists and Catholics could not successfully come together to find unity out of their diversity. I
was not ready to embrace a rigid ideology when I had so many questions no one was willing to entertain. I
couldn’t understand how everyone could be so sure they had all the answers when every answer that was
given just generated more questions in my mind.
And so I walked with my husband through the doors of a little Unitarian Univeralist Church. I had done a little
reading about Unitarian Universalism, but I did not really know what to expect. What I discovered was diversity
and great humility. The people who made up this small congregation came from all different parts of the world
and from different religious backgrounds. They had come together to form unity from their very diversity. They
sought to learn and grow from each others’ experiences and knowledge, because they realized they did not
have all the answers about life and faith and the world around them. They were not afraid to discuss their
ideas no matter how different from each other they were.
I wanted to be part of this learning experience. I did not have the truth I thought I had when I was young, and
I could not continue to ignore the impact of religious belief. There were great unanswered questions waiting to
be discussed and reconciled in my mind. Finally here was a place where I could express myself as I really was.
A place where being different was an asset; where diversity was welcomed and cherished. A place where
Roman Catholic beliefs and Baptist beliefs and so many other beliefs could find a common ground for growth
and understanding. I guess I had been headed in this direction for all of my life, and I had finally arrived.
Trudy Northway
----------
Through the years, I have never found any comfort at any church. They always demanded something of me:
beliefs, repentance, subservience, time and/or money. It was always about what I must do to be worthy of being
included, and there seemed an underlying disdain and/or pity for everyone else. This always troubled me
greatly.
Therefore, I went my own way. I researched and educated myself in many different religions, beliefs, and
philosophies, and found my very own spirituality. I have tried to live by the philosophies and beliefs I had
developed and they continued to grow and change as does everything in nature.
When I met my now wife, she asked if I had heard of the Unitarian Universalists, and I hadn't. So, she hopped
on line and instantly found the closest six congregations. We discussed each and chose the small church in
Tullahoma to try.
That first day was amazing. Everyone was so welcoming and warm hearted. No one tried to sell me on
anything, or demanded anything of me other than please be respectful and courteous of everyone and their
differing beliefs. I could do that.
In that first service, and in each subsequent one, I was amazed to find there was no hellfire, no brimstone, and
no eternal damnation. It was all about love, what we could do to make our lives better, and the possibilities of
making the world a better place.
What I found is an amazingly wonderful spiritual family that graciously accepted me for me, and my beliefs and
with interest. They have demanded nothing of me, in fact quite the opposite. They have offered respect, love,
community, and a place to worship or not as I like. I, like everyone else, am encouraged to respectfully speak
my mind and voice my beliefs. I never had any idea there could be such a congregation, and I am eternally
grateful that our son can grow to be a man in such an atmosphere.
My wife and I have now found a community/family that is honest, caring, respectful, diverse and beautiful. I
now find the same comfort at church that I find at home, and that is very very special.
Bob Webster
----------
The Tullahoma Unitarian Universalist Church is a unique place, an oasis of free thought and honest expression.
I was drawn to it by the need for a caring church family, one that does not prejudge people, but invites different
beliefs and encourages self-discovery. I found all that and more in this warm, inviting church home.
Bill Davis
----------
I joined the Unitarian Church 50 years ago in May of 1959 in Davenport, IA. I support most of the causes of the
UUA--civil rights, equal justice, environmental causes and the seven basic principles. I find our services
interesting, stimulating, and educational. I enjoy the variety and the chance to hear viewpoints different from
my own. Our church members are friendly, open, honest, and encouraging. I know that if I am the only one
with a certain point of view, I will still be accepted and welcomed and no one will ostracize me because of my
beliefs. Our church family is wonderful and has stood by me when I was going through some difficult times and
rough circumstances in my life. I like our new members and feel that we can attract more by being involved in
community activities rather than proselytizing. Our church is my home and I would not feel comfortable in any
other church.
Barbara Snyder
----------
Prior to moving to Tullahoma in November 2006 I lived in Dyersburg, TN for five years. From a religious
standpoint Dyersburg is a rather oppressive Christian community. At my medical practice, at the hospital, and
at the Kiwanis Club I had to endure prayers to Jesus. When I mentioned to our practice administrative director
that three of the doctors objected to the prayers, I was given the usual "you can leave the room" reply,
emphasizing the typical divisive nature of religion. At the high school commencement one of the student
speakers literally delivered a sermon. I attended a funeral where the speaker was from the Church of Christ. He
did not once mention the deceased and managed to make a statement insulting anyone who was not Christian.
Constant appeals came from the local Boy Scouts asking for money. Since I am a nonbeliever and my daughter
is gay, I had no interest in supporting an organization which has a "merit badge" in bigotry. The primary reason
for moving from Dyersburg was that my two Pediatrician colleagues were not respectable human beings despite
their overt professed Christianity.
After living in Tullahoma for a year I had a sudden thought. I am a member of the Freedom From Religion
Foundation, and I sent an email to their co-President, Annie Laurie Gaylor, asking her if any other members
lived in my area. She asked me to send her a brief biography that she would send to the appropriate people
who could then decide to call/email me. Bill Boss sent me an email, we met at the Hands-On Science Center,
and during our time together, he mentioned the UU Church.
I was delighted to meet the people who attend the church, a place where being non religious is not a crime
and is supported - along with everyone else's approach to spirituality. Since I grew up in a Jewish family, I had
attended synagogue/temple. I had also attended a Catholic wedding where, as had occurred at the Dyersburg
funeral, the couple getting married was never mentioned. The entire ceremony was about Jesus. The UU format
of weekly talks followed by discussion fosters an entirely different attitude of inclusion and a celebration of the
participating human beings rather than focusing on a particular dogma. Marvelous group therapy.
Lee D. Mockrin
--------
After searching for years " trying-out " other peoples religions and churches, I have gratefully,found my place at
the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tullahoma. This church is spiritual, intellectual, friendly and loving A
completely warm and safe place to worship. I am truly grateful.
Chucky Condon
----------
I have attended the Tullahoma UU church for almost 30 years. I have never joined as I don't like the trappings
of a church, however, I have given many talks, served as head of building and grounds several years, and
provided financial support. I have built many of the decorative items in the building plus installed siding on the
exterior. I enjoying being a friend of the church.
The reasons I attend:
- I like to consider new and different ideas based on reason.
- Each week there is a completely different presentation, often by visitors or church members.
- The members have widely different backgrounds and beliefs but we like, tolerate, and listen to one another.
- The church is small enough so that everyone gets to know each other and have a chance to express their
views without fear of being judged.
- The church is paid for, and everyone pitches in to do what needs to be done to keep things clean and
welcoming.
- I have an opportunity to develop an idea then give a presentation to a receptive group.
Name withheld by request