First Unitarian Church of Honolulu

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21°19.799′N 157°50.678′W / 21.329983°N 157.844633°W / 21.329983; -157.844633

Address2500 Pali Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii
CountryUSA
DenominationUnitarian Universalist
First Unitarian Church of Honolulu
First Unitarian Church of Honolulu
21°19.799′N 157°50.678′W / 21.329983°N 157.844633°W / 21.329983; -157.844633
Address2500 Pali Highway, Honolulu, Hawaii
CountryUSA
DenominationUnitarian Universalist
Websiteuuhonolulu.org
History
Founded1952
Clergy
MinisterRev. Deborah Bond-Upson

The First Unitarian Church of Honolulu is the largest Hawaii-based congregation within the Unitarian Universalist Association. It is located at 2500 Pali Highway in the Nu'uanu Valley.

The congregation was founded in 1952 as a lay fellowship. The fellowship was unusual for its time because its leadership consisted of women (Rosemary Mattson as chairwoman and Ruth Iams as program director) and because it made efforts to engage in interfaith dialogue with Jewish and Buddhist congregations in Honolulu.[1]

In September 1969, the church made national headlines when it offered refuge to U.S. service members protesting the war in Vietnam. The service members were arrested by military police within the church grounds. The resulting action brought about an unsuccessful lawsuit filed by the church against the military - Bridges v. Davis, 443 F.2d 970 (9th Cir., 1971).[2] The private memorial service for Madelyn Dunham, grandmother of US President Barack Obama, was held there in December 2008.[3] It is also where President Obama attended Sunday School during his youth.[4]

A new mission statement was adopted on April 15, 2012, to "boldly grow compassion, justice, and joy."

References

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