April, 2025
by Rev. Bill Gupton
Friends, I can think of no better subject to write about in my penultimate (one of my favorite words) Heirloom column, than an ordination. An ordination by and at Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church, for that matter!
I hope you will join me on the afternoon of Sunday, April 13, as HUUC – along with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington, Kentucky – proudly ordains Heritage member Bill Lyon to the UU ministry. In our faith tradition, ordination (the act of declaring someone to be a minister) is done by the congregation, or in this case, two congregations, that recognize and affirm the training, the calling, and the readiness of one among them to serve as a Unitarian Universalist minister.
I have such fond memories of my own ordination, on Father’s Day in 1996. Our son Patrick, who was but eight weeks old at the time, was the star of the show, snuggling and squirming in Jennifer’s arms as the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta – the church I consider my “home church” and the place where I had really first felt the calling to ministry – ordained me. I can still recall the profound realization that, while the actual act of ordination lasted but a moment, it would permanently change my life, and my place and role in the world. Though I will be retiring from the Unitarian Universalist ministry at the end of next month, ordination is, in effect, lifelong. I will always be, to many people and communities whom I have served, “Rev. Bill Gupton.”
Thus, as we ministers sometimes say during wedding ceremonies, this is not a ritual “to be entered into lightly.” Wherever he may serve in the future, Heritage (and Lexington) will always be the churches who ordained Bill – who declared that he was “Rev. Bill Lyon.” And that creates a very special relationship. Which is why I do hope you will join us at 4 p.m. on April 13, whether in the sanctuary or on Zoom, as – for the first time ever – we host an ordination at Heritage Church!
Back in 2012, Heritage co-ordained our ministerial intern, Bruce Beisner, along with St. John’s UU Church, but the ceremony was held at St. John’s. Before that, in 1976, the congregation ordained Doak Mansfield (now our Minister Emeritus) at the old Salem Acres building on Apple Hill Road.
As you can see, ordinations do not happen often. What an honor it will be to welcome not only Bill’s family and loved ones, but various clergy, UU leaders, folks from the Lexington church, and many of Bill’s teachers and mentors to Heritage on this joyful and auspicious occasion.
See you there!
Blessings,
Bill