Universalists search for answers
SLIPPERY ROCK — They might not have all the answers but believe the search for them is just as important.
They don't have one creed, but welcome people of many beliefs and backgrounds, people who believe in a God and people who don't.
During their regular potluck dinner this week members of the Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 174 S. Main St., reflected on its founding 15 years ago.
Terry Sendek, a founding member, said while the exact date Ginger Hill became a part of the Unitarian Universalist Association was April 18, 2004, members marked the anniversary June 16 with a service and a celebratory potluck.
“We do like to eat,” said Bob Madjaric, noting Ginger Hill has regular Tuesday night potluck dinners.
“There was a group that went to the North Hills (Unitarians) and we decided to start a congregation,” said Sendek.
“We had to have a certain number of members and show that we were familiar with what the Unitarian Universalist stood for,” said Lois Ament.
But it was different from joining a traditional church.
“The Unitarian Universalist Association is not creeded, it doesn't have creeds. But there are seven principles we adhere to,” said Ament.
She added, “The Unitarian Universalist Association encompasses a wide range of beliefs.”
Ginger Hill welcomes Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, humanists, Jews, Muslims, pagans, atheists and agnostics, believers in God, and more.
The congregation prides itself on being on the forefront of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer inclusion for more than 40 years.
Ament said, “We are also a green sanctuary” meaning ecological concerns are at the forefront.
“And we are very into social justice,” said Caron Carnahan.
“We are lay led,” said Madjaric. “We don't employ a minister.”
Carnahan has become a commissioned lay minister for the congregation
“We don't take up a collection, which means we are very poor,” he added.
At first, the new congregation met in the Newman Center on the Slippery Rock University campus.
But later, the congregation acquired its building on South Main, said Ament.
“It used to be the Slippery Rock Grange hall,” said Ament.
Ament said, “Ginger Hill was the name used for this area. There are differing stories, one was wild ginger was used to flavor booze.”“We frequently get phone calls asking for our hours,” she said from callers mistaking Ginger Hill Unitarian Universalist for the nearby Ginger Hill Tavern.As part of the Unitarian Universalist ecologically friendly mission, many of the banners and other decorations were made by congregants.Madjaric created the metal chalice, symbol of the Unitarian Universalists, that sits on the altar.Carnahan said, “We do a Christmas Eve service, we do an Easter service. We have a solstice celebration.”There are four communion services in the church year that reflects the changes of the seasons, according to Carnahan.“The first one, in September, is the ingathering or the water communion which formally brings the congregation back together again,” said Carnahan.She said around Thanksgiving there is the bread communion that is an expression of gratitude for the harvest, and in January there is the fire communion that celebrates community during the darkest days of winter.Finally in the spring there is the flower communion.“The flower communion was started in the early 20th century by a Czechoslovakian Unitarian minister asking for peace in a time of war,” said Carnahan.The congregation also has full moon services and drumming sessions that reflect the diverse beliefs of its members.At present, the congregation numbers about 20 but the membership waxes and wanes.“This is a college community. Oft times people move onto other jobs and other congregations,” said Ament.“It kind of ebbs and flows. We are not a big congregation, but we are close knit,” said Sendek.“We have people come to us from as far away as Harmony and New Castle,” said Kristin Park.“The closest other one (Unitarian Universalist congregation) is in Meadville. We fill a need in this particular area,” said Sendek.Madjaric said, “We are very respectful of each other. We all listen to each other.'“This is like a family except I like everyone here,” he said.“This is for people for whom organized religion hasn't worked. They are seeking spirituality and community, ” said Carnahan.
