Unitarian Universalist History in Black Hawk County

Universalism came to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area in the late 1800's. There was a Universalist Society in Cedar Falls from 1863 until 1915. In Waterloo, there was a Universalist Society from 1874 until the merger in 1962. The Waterloo church had two periods of great success: 1904-1916 under the dynamic leadership of Rev. Effie McCollumn Jones, and 1931-1940 with Rev. Edna Bruner. Both were extraordinary women who built membership to high levels and improved our community standing.

Unitarianism is more recent. The first Unitarian Fellowship was started in 1950 in Cedar Falls with encouragement and support from the National Unitarian Association. There were 20 charter members, many of whom were affiliated in some way with Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa). A number of members were from other states and had attended Unitarian churches or fellowships prior to settling in Cedar Falls. They met in a variety of buildings: houses, schools, and a downtown office building. The new group had great energy and vitality. The Fellowship was lay-led with a bare minimum of ritual, and covered a variety of mostly secular topics. It had an organized Sunday School.

Shortly after the Unitarians and Universalists merged at the national level to form the UUA, merger talks started between the Cedar Falls Unitarians and the Waterloo Universalists. The merger was accomplished in 1962, and the new group became the Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County. The Universalists sold their church building and parsonage, which raised the seed money for our present building. The Society spent several years getting used to one another's ways and working out new traditions. This included our tradition of alternating minister and lay-led services. We moved into our present building in 1966.

After several good years of lay leadership, the need for professional guidance became apparent. From 1972 to 1980, a series of support ministers, ministers on loan and lay ministers served the Society. In 1980 a five-member committee began the process of searching for a full-time professional minister, and in November Michael Hennon began his ministry with the Society. During his four and one-half years, 1980-1985, the group grew and gained strength. A part-time religious education director was employed, as well as a part-time church secretary.

In the mid-eighties, with growth in membership and religious education requirements, the need for an addition to the building became evident. Plans were drawn, construction began, and in the fall of 1987, the addition was complete, with classroom space, a kitchen area and a fellowship hall.

The Reverends Dwight Smith and Carol Hilton were our co-ministers from 1986 to 1992. With two ministers serving concurrently, we had the benefit of different talents and styles. Reverends Smith and Hilton resigned in 1992 to take a position in California.

After the departure of our co-ministers, the congregation decided to delay the search for our next minister for one year, providing us with the opportunity to replenish our financial resources. But things were a struggle and we had to cut back on staff. We called Rev. Rod Debs in 1994. He and Jeannette were an important part of the community and stayed until 2003 wheb they moved to Florida to serve another congregation.

We called an interim minister is Rev. Mark Allstrom, while we conducted a search for a new minister, and then called the Rev Eva Cameron in 2005.

Since Rev. Cameron has started all kinds of great things have been happening! Nearly 50 people have joined since she started. Wednesday programming has been added, a Buddhist group, First Friday, the list goes on!