Heritage UU Church

Celebrating Life
Creating Community
Seeking Justice

  • Home
  • About
    • History
      • Heritage UU Church History
      • Clara Barton Guild History
      • History Archives
    • Beliefs
      • Principles and Sources
      • Mission and Vision
      • Our Pledge for Living in the Spirit of Community
      • Special Congregational Recognition
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Ministers and Staff
    • Governance
      • Constitution
      • Affiliations
      • Board of Trustees
    • Membership
    • The Wider UU World
  • Worship
    • Sunday Morning Worship
    • Other Worship
    • Worship Services
    • Reflections Archive
  • Education
    • Religious Exploration Overview
    • Special Programs for Children and Youth
    • Child and Youth Classes
    • Education Documents
  • Faith in Action
    • Faith in Action Initiatives
    • Social Justice
    • End-of-Life Ministry
    • Outreach Offerings
  • Congregational Life
    • Columns and Essays
    • Events and Meetings
    • Announcements
    • News Articles
    • Members’ area

Human Rights Then, Human Rights Now

by Mike Roberts, Church Historian

As the Civil Rights movement was heating up in the 1950’s, churches across the nation were thrust into the position of deciding their own stance on issues of race relations. The arguments around these issues became quite volatile at times. The central theme of these debates was integration of individual churches who belonged to national church organizations. During this period, the Cincinnati Enquirer published a number of articles on integration and the church. The one cited below is representative of what was being discussed and appeared in the August 27, 1955 edition of the paper. The author of the piece was Herman Allen.

“While most of the larger Protestant denominations have accepted the principle of racial desegregation in public schools, a distinguished religious news editor (of the Washington Herald) finds that the move toward an interracial church, particularly at the congregational level, has sturdy sincere opposition.”

Allen goes on to make the point that while many national church authorities supported desegregation of its churches, they lacked the power to enforce such a code at the congregational level. He also stated that government and social agencies were being forced to take the lead in an area that had been in the domain of church and religious authority in times past—namely the espousal of social justice issues and reforms. Some national organizations made powerful statements about their beliefs. That same year, the Episcopalian Church moved its triennial national convention from Houston to Honolulu because Houston could not guarantee that hotels and restaurants would serve all of the Episcopalian membership regardless of color or race.

In Washington DC, the Presbyterian Church of Northern Washington took a pro-integration stance that urged “all our churches to complete desegregation throughout the church and throughout the communities in which our churches work and serve”.

Several weeks later, the Rev. E. Les Weston of the Avondale, Maryland Baptist Church responded, “In the armed forces, in public works, in transportation and in similar things, integration is necessary and feasible. In close social relationships such as schools, churches, social clubs the practical solution would be segregation. I feel there is nothing unchristian or condescending or unAmerican about it.”

These words certainly remind us of the battles being fought today by women, the LGBT community and immigrants. The arguments in opposition to these groups are much the same as those used in the civil rights fights of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

So where did the Universalist Church stand on these issues? First, let us not forget that the Universalist Church ordained its first Black minister, Joseph Jordan, in 1889. Gerherdus Demarest, a former minister of our church, was a member of the seven-person committee that approved Jordan’s ordination.

In 1917, Universalists passed a massive “Declaration of Social Principles.” Part of that declaration stressed the equality of all individuals under God. This Declaration has been reiterated at a number of critical junctures in U.S. history. It was used to call for support of the creation of the United Nations, for example. It read:

“Whereas, Universalists profess to believe in the supreme worth of every human personality, as expressed in the historic Washington avowal of faith; and Whereas, persons of various ethnic and religious backgrounds seek the fellowship of the Liberal church; and Whereas, persons of these ethnic and religious backgrounds may from time to time wish to enter the ministry of the Universalist Church; Therefore, Be It Resolved that we reaffirm our historic position by urging our several churches and peoples to extend a warm welcome to both potential members and potential clergy regardless of race or color.”

Share...Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Filed Under: History Archives

Search

Connection

2710 Newtown Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45244-3511
Phone: 513-231-8634; Fax: 513-231-6438
Map and Directions - Calendar

Sundays

Morning Worship: 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Children’s Religious Education: 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

Office Hours

Core Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday, and some Tuesdays. Schedules can vary; please call ahead.

Community

Latest Heirloom Newsletter

Heirloom Newsletter Sign-Up

Church’s Facebook Page

Church’s Facebook Group

Minister’s Website and Blog

Schedule

Calendar

Detailed List of Events

Sat, 23 Feb 2019
10:00 am Ahn's of Anderson Taekwondo Class
2:00 pm Connie Booth Memorial Service
Sun, 24 Feb 2019
10:30 am Religious Education Classes
10:30 am Sunday Service
1:00 pm Varieties of Gender
6:15 pm We Need Each Other (closed group)
Mon, 25 Feb 2019
7:15 pm Committee on Ministry
Tue, 26 Feb 2019
12:00 pm Healthy Lifestyle
5:30 pm Ahn's of Anderson Taekwondo Class
Wed, 27 Feb 2019
12:30 pm Midweek Mindfulness
7:00 pm Vespers Service
7:30 pm AA Meeting
Thu, 28 Feb 2019
1:00 pm Stitchers
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal
Fri, 1 Mar 2019
7:00 pm Racial Justice Film - "Selma"

Other Links

What’s Happening at Heritage Catalog
Space Rentals
Turpin High School Parking
Church Auction Catalog
‘On Your Own Time’ Sale Fundraising
Site Map

More Links

Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary website
Heritage Acres on Facebook
AmazonSmile
Kroger Plus Card
Glossary
Privacy Policy

Heritage UU Church …

Has Hearing Assist Devices

Is an LGBT+ Welcoming Congregation

Is Wheelchair Accessible

Copyright © 2019 · Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church. All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated · www.huuc.net · Webmaster · Log in