Who We Are
For information regarding the principles guiding the Unitarian Universalist religion, please visit our What is UU? page.
Our History
The Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was founded in 1980 when 18 people answered a newspaper ad to gather in a Plymouth home to discuss forming a church. Initially there were 24 charter members and 10 children meeting in member's homes. As the Fellowship grew, we began meeting in a series of rental spaces. In September 1994 our present meetinghouse was dedicated. The Fellowship has grown to over 200 members and friends.
Our first minister was a part-time student minister, Arthur Vaeni who came to the Fellowship in 1986. A year later, The Reverend Vaeni was ordained by the Fellowship and in 1989 became our first full time minister. He served in this capacity until June 2001, when he left to serve as minister to a church in Olympia, Washington.The Reverend Sarah C. Stewart became Minister of our fellowshipin the fall of 2003.Under the Reverend Sarah's Leadership, Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has steadily increased membership, built a large addition to the existing building that includes a spacious Fellowhip Hall, Kitchen, Conference Room and three Religious Education classrooms.
Learn more about:
- What is a Welcoming Congregation?
- Who was Thomas Starr King?
- Our Affiliations
- UUA Recognition
- Our Future
Welcoming Congregation
The Welcoming Congregation program was started in 1989 by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) as an aid to congregations wishing to learn more about bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender persons and their concerns in order to become more inclusive congregations. For two years our Welcoming Congregation Committee at the Fellowship sponsored meetings and workshops designed to educate and enlighten ourselves on these issues. At our Annual Meeting in May 1999, we joined a growing number of Unitarian Universalist Congregations in voting unanimously to become a Welcoming Congregation.As a Welcoming Congregation, the Fellowship officially identifies itself as a secure community for bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people. We, as a Fellowship, accept the UUA guidelines, and strive to:
- Be inclusive and expressive of the concerns of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons at every level of congregational life.
- Nurture ongoing dialogue between gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual persons and create deeper trust and sharing.
- Advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, attending to legislative developments and working to promote justice, freedom and equality in the larger society.
- Engage in a free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- Support the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large;
- Work for the goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
- Speak out when the rights of bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people are at stake.
Who Was Thomas Starr King?
Thomas Starr King
The Fellowship chose the name "Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship" in his honor.
Thomas Starr King Quotation:
"Though I weigh only 120 pounds, when I'm mad, I weigh a ton."More about Thomas Starr King
Our Affiliations
Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)
The Unitarian Universalist Association is a voluntary association of autonomous, self-governing local churches and fellowships, which have freely chosen to pursue common goals together. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles. Visit this site to learn more about Unitarian Universalism.New Hampshire/Vermont District
The District organization serves as a resource for local congregations and helps to extend Unitarian Universalist influence in the larger community.United Campus Ministry
The United Campus Ministry serves the students, faculty and staff at Plymouth State University in Plymouth. The Fellowship supports the Ministry financially and also by service on the Board of Directors. Their mission statement reads: We are an interfaith ministry that provides resources to encourage and empower spiritual growth within the Plymouth State College community. Their program includes spiritual and pastoral counseling, advocacy, informal learning opportunities, fellowship and support by small groups and individuals, and special worship services.Unitarian Universalist Ministry for the Earth
The Ministry for the Earth works to facilitate and support the work of Unitarian Universalists by affirming and promoting the Seventh Principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association, "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." The group promotes the belief that since the Earth is in peril from human activities, this is a moral and spiritual crisis of utmost importance for people of faith. The group sponsors the congregation-based Green Sanctuary Program which provides a framework for study and reflection, and encourages individual and collective action for responding to the call to heal the Earth. The Fellowship has an active Green Sanctuary Program.Our Future
Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship has adopted a Strategic Plan for the congregation, made official on May 22, 2011. The Plan outlines goals for the next five years of Fellowship life. Please see any member of the Governing Board with questions.