Walnut Creek
California
Add an Article
Add an Event
Edit
Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
History
FELLOWSHIP BEGUN
Almost 56 years ago a group of families in this area came together to share their liberal religious beliefs. The nearest Unitarian churches were in Oakland and Berkeley. They wanted a congregation of their own. In 1951 the group officially became a Fellowship, with Dr. Glen Kent as President. When they outgrew meeting homes, then rented a little house on Pine Street, no longer in existence.
The property, almost 14 acres, was purchased and the congregation raised money to develop the site. In 1965 they engaged architect Frank Ehrenthal to build five buildings, a sanctuary on the hill and four for classrooms. Unable to obtain financing, members borrowed money from themselves to erect the first two buildings - for the office, minister's study, and sanctuary; the other for religious education rooms. The oth-ers were never built.
YEARS OF ACTION
From its inception the Fellowship was deeply involved in social action, locally and in-ternationally. The church entered a period of in-tense social action in 1964. The Mt. Diablo Peace Center was founded when Andy Baltzo gave up a teaching career to devote his life to working for world peace. It became the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center, and in 2005 separated from the church to do more work in the schools. It is affiliated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
YEARS OF GROWTH
When Aron Gilmartin resigned in 1974, Josiah Bartlett, former President of Starr King School for the Ministry, was appointed Interim Minister. The following year Til Evans became Director of Religious Education and was or-dained by the church. Peter Christiansen was called as Minister in 1976, serving five years. Til Evans served as minister for several months until her appointment as Professor of Religious Education at Starr King. Bob Forbes, Til's hus-band, became Interim Minister. It was his only ministry, as he died of cancer in 1984. The Memorial Garden fountain is dedicated to him.
MDUUC TODAY
We have welcomed Dr. Diane Miller, our Interim Minister who will be with us as we make the transition to a new minister.
We are raising money to build a Fellow-ship Hall adjoining the sanctuary kitchen. A full-time private day care center occupies much of the Dorothy White Building, replacing the Co-op Nursery begun by church members in 1974.
We continue to support vital social ac-tion programs - Interfaith Council, UU Service Committee, the Food Bank, UU Legislative committee, homeless shelter programs, the sum-mer Peace Camp, Habitat for Humanity,etc. We "Share the Plate" with charities one Sunday each month and have a partner church in Transylva-nia.
Our talented staff has grown to 13 full and part-time members. Much of the work is done by dedicated volunteers, our members and friends who sustain the vision and the work of our church community.
FELLOWSHIP BEGUN
Almost 56 years ago a group of families in this area came together to share their liberal religious beliefs. The nearest Unitarian churches were in Oakland and Berkeley. They wanted a congregation of their own. In 1951 the group officially became a Fellowship, with Dr. Glen Kent as President. When they outgrew meeting homes, then rented a little house on Pine Street, no longer in existence.
The property, almost 14 acres, was purchased and the congregation raised money to develop the site. In 1965 they engaged architect Frank Ehrenthal to build five buildings, a sanctuary on the hill and four for classrooms. Unable to obtain financing, members borrowed money from themselves to erect the first two buildings - for the office, minister's study, and sanctuary; the other for religious education rooms. The oth-ers were never built.
YEARS OF ACTION
From its inception the Fellowship was deeply involved in social action, locally and in-ternationally. The church entered a period of in-tense social action in 1964. The Mt. Diablo Peace Center was founded when Andy Baltzo gave up a teaching career to devote his life to working for world peace. It became the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center, and in 2005 separated from the church to do more work in the schools. It is affiliated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation.
YEARS OF GROWTH
When Aron Gilmartin resigned in 1974, Josiah Bartlett, former President of Starr King School for the Ministry, was appointed Interim Minister. The following year Til Evans became Director of Religious Education and was or-dained by the church. Peter Christiansen was called as Minister in 1976, serving five years. Til Evans served as minister for several months until her appointment as Professor of Religious Education at Starr King. Bob Forbes, Til's hus-band, became Interim Minister. It was his only ministry, as he died of cancer in 1984. The Memorial Garden fountain is dedicated to him.
MDUUC TODAY
We have welcomed Dr. Diane Miller, our Interim Minister who will be with us as we make the transition to a new minister.
We are raising money to build a Fellow-ship Hall adjoining the sanctuary kitchen. A full-time private day care center occupies much of the Dorothy White Building, replacing the Co-op Nursery begun by church members in 1974.
We continue to support vital social ac-tion programs - Interfaith Council, UU Service Committee, the Food Bank, UU Legislative committee, homeless shelter programs, the sum-mer Peace Camp, Habitat for Humanity,etc. We "Share the Plate" with charities one Sunday each month and have a partner church in Transylva-nia.
Our talented staff has grown to 13 full and part-time members. Much of the work is done by dedicated volunteers, our members and friends who sustain the vision and the work of our church community.