Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Northwest) was organized in 1969. The organization of Northwest was the result of action taken by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA) to establish a new congregation in the northwest suburbs of Atlanta.
Sunday services and religious education programs were initially held in rented spaces. In 1976 the congregation moved to its newly constructed facility on a five-acre wooded lot in Sandy Springs, Georgia. In 1987, an additional building called the Chalice House was built to support the congregation's religious education program.
In 2000, Northwest was designated as a Welcoming Congregation ensuring that the LGBTQ community could find a spiritual home at Northwest. In 2011, Northwest was recognized as an Accredited Green Sanctuary.
Northwest is a Fair Share Congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
History Growth at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta In January 1966, when the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA) moved into its newly built facility at 1911 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday attendance reached 480 with 391 children enrolled in the religious education program. Over the next several months, membership growth continued. On September 11 of that same year, two Sunday services were implemented. The second Sunday service was considered only an interim step to address overcrowding with the ultimate solution being the establishment of another congregation or fellowship.
It was anticipated that this two Sunday service configuration would accommodate a congregation of 800 – 1000 members. In March 1967, UUCA minister Rev. Eugene Pickett reported that membership stood at 781.
To accommodate anticipated future growth, the Long Range Planning Committee investigated holding a third Sunday service. However, to minimize impact on the new facility and reduce scheduling complications, it was recommended that a third service be held off site and be the basis for establishing a new Unitarian Universalist society.
In the fall of 1967 with UUCA Sunday attendance averaging 750900, a new society called the Central Unitarian Society was established. This new society initially met at the Georgia Tech YMCA on 10th Street, but later relocated to the Fulton County Medical Building at 875 West Peachtree Street. This new society, however, failed to relieve growth pressures at UUCA.
At a congregational meeting in January 1968, the following resolution offered by the Long Range Planning Committee was adopted:
"The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta should establish another service for the congregation to be held in the Northwest area of Fulton County. The purpose of such a service would be (1) to meet the expanding demand for a Unitarian Universalist service convenient to a large number of existing and potential members and (2) to provide the basis for the eventual establishment of an independent congregation. The new service should be targeted to begin in February, 1968."
Northwest initial organization On February 25, 1968, the first Northwest Service was held in rented space at Liberty Guinn School at 4829 Long Island Drive, Sandy Springs. UUCA ministers Rev. Eugene Pickett and Rev. Toby Van Buren provided pulpit support along with third party outside speakers. The religious education program was held in a nearby day care center owned by a church member, Helen Correl. As was the custom at this time, there were no Sunday services during the summer. Northwest resumed Sunday services and its religious education program in September in rented space at Sandy Springs High School, 227 Sandy Springs Place NE. Services continued at this location until the congregation moved into its own church facility.
Bylaws were adopted in January 1969 with the new society being named Northwest Unitarian Church by a majority vote. Northwest Unitarian Church, Inc. was formally chartered in Fulton County, Georgia on May 29, 1969. Northwest was soon recognized as an independent congregation by the UUA. The mission of Northwest was “to foster liberal religious attitudes and living through worship, group study, cultural activity, service, work and recreation.”
First ministers Northwest's first minister was Rev. William DeWolfe (January 29 – March 18, 1969) who served under a Minister-on-Loan program from the First Unitarian Church of San Antonio, Texas. Northwest Unitarian Church, Inc. was formally chartered in Fulton County, Georgia on May 29, 1969. DeWolfe noted in his departing words that the new congregation was still "psychologically a child of Cliff Valley" and encouraged Northwest to seek a more independent identity from UUCA.
Northwest continued to evolve into a separate religious entity holding regular board of trustees and committee meetings as well as fund raising. The congregation called Rev. John Burciaga (19691971) as its first full-time minister.
Land purchased and new building At a May 17, 1970 congregational meeting a motion carried by a two-thirds vote to start a $30,000 capital campaign to purchase property for a church building. At that time Northwest was considering a lot at 3584 Mill Creek Road, NE, Atlanta. Efforts to purchase this property were abandoned when it was not possible to secure a zoning variance to re-purpose the existing structures on the property as a church.
In June 1971, an alternate five-acre wooded site was purchased at 1024 Mt. Vernon Highway NW in Atlanta (now Sandy Springs). The new building was dedicated in March 1976.
Centuries-old historic stained glass windows In 1974 when Northwest called its second minister, Rev. Bob Karnan (19741983), did not have its own church facility. A church-themed restaurant called the Abbey was selected for Rev. Karnan's installation in part due to the restaurant's historic significance. Located on West Peachtree Street in Atlanta, the Abbey occupied the church building initially erected by the Unitarians in 1915. Located at the west end of the building were stained glass windows known as the Founders' Windows. These windows were dedicated to Rev. George Leonard Chaney and his wife Caroline Isabel Chaney for their successful efforts in establishing the first Unitarian church in Atlanta in 1883.
In 1977 the Abbey was purchased by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and identified for demolition as part of Atlanta's construction of a rapid rail transportation system. Prior to the building's demolition, Rev. Karnan secured on indefinite loan from MARTA the Founders’ Windows. In his letter of thanks to MARTA on October 31, 1978, Rev. Karnan commented that the windows provide a “historical link to our heritage and history in the Atlanta Area.”
In November 1979, the lower section of the Founders’ Windows that include the inscription “In Honor of George Leonard Chaney Carolina Isabel Chaney” was installed in Northwest's sanctuary.
Name change and Chalice House At the October 23, 1977 Congregational Meeting, Northwest replaced the term "Church" in its name with "Congregation." At the May 20, 1990 Congregational Meeting, Northwest again changed its name, adding "Universalist" becoming known as Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
By the early 1980s, growth in membership and the Religious Education as well as renter utilization of the building required an expansion of the facilities. A new structure was erected on the property to support the religious education program. In 1987 the building was dedicated as the Chalice House, providing a chapel and needed classroom space.
Financial challenge The construction of the Chalice House, however, ushered in an era of financial instability. By 1990, the funds generated by the three-year capital campaign for the Chalice House had been collected and applied to debt service. Nonetheless, the congregation's total indebtedness was nearly $300,000. The fiscal challenges arose from remaining debt on the construction of the original sanctuary main building, unfunded costs for the construction of the Chalice House, higher than anticipated non-payment of annual member pledges compounded by the loss of a long time renter, Gateway School. Due to several factors, Northwest was unable to secure a continuing rental agreement with the Gateway School. Through congregation-wide efforts including an extended capital fund drive, member loan program, Miracle Sunday and an increase in pledging, the congregation regained its financial footing. By 2007, the congregation was debt-free.
The fiscal difficulties in the early 1990s gave rise to a renewal of congregational commitment. A women's group was formed and a retreat to The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, a Unitarian Universalist associated entity, was held with a vow "Northwest will not fail." Such retreats continued for several years. During the ministry of Rev. Roy Reynolds (1992–2000) the congregation revised its mission to "Promoting religious freedom, spiritual growth and ethical action." In 1996, the main sanctuary building was remodeled providing, additional kitchen and bookstore space.
Religious education From its founding, Northwest has placed an emphasis on religious education. The original January 1969 by-laws of the congregation included the position of director of religious education (DRE) and a Religious Education (RE) Committee. Martha Spencer was the first lay leader to chair the RE Committee that oversaw youth religious education and nursery activities. Two year later in November 1971, the RE Committee, now chaired by Joyce Buis, reported that 20 adults had volunteered as RE teachers and the RE program had a youth enrollment of 126 with an average Sunday RE attendance of 78.
A brief recounting of these early days of the Northwest RE program was prepared in 2010 by the then DRE Elizabeth Hickman, the daughter of Joyce Buis.
"When we began, we had no building, of course, so we met in Liberty Guinn Elementary School, which is between here (Sandy Springs, Georgia) and downtown Atlanta. Adult services took place in the cafeteria and RE around the corner in Helen Correll's kindergarten and the daycare center on Roswell Road. Helen was a member of our group. We weren't at Liberty Guinn long, maybe a few months, when we moved to Sandy Springs High School. Some of you may know where that building was, up the hill a little way behind Dunkin' Doughnuts on Roswell Road. Once again, we had services in the cafeteria, but now RE classes met in the schoolrooms."
After the 1976 dedication of new church building, the RE program moved to their new dedicated classroom space. Seven years later in December 1983 it was reported by DRE Joan Armstrong that the RE program had grown faster than the congregation's membership. With RE registration at 140 children and room for only 100 students, a call was made by President Robert Styron at the December 11, 1983 Annual Meeting for more classroom space. The RE space problem was again a topic of the December 1984 Annual Meeting. The RE Committee reported that 50% of the RE enrollment was in grades seven to twelve. The use of mobile classroom space was discussed as one potential solution. The vice-president of the RE Committee, Dave Rigg, reported, "As we close out 1984 and look ahead to 1985, we must address some issues not as a Religious Education Committee, but as a Congregation." By March 1985, RE enrollment was 160 with an average Sunday attendance of 100. RE space allocation was further complicated by the weekday rental of classroom space in the church building to Gateway, a private school.