Our History
The Fellowship’s Origins
In November 1992, Tom Chatterton placed an ad in the local paper inviting individuals interested in forming a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship to attend a planning and information meeting at the Seaside Community Center. 27 people showed up on December 3, 1992, and the rest is history. Thanks to an enthusiastic planning group, the first service was held on January 31,1993. 23 (!) suggested names for the new fellowship appeared on a November 6, 1994 ballot. Pacific Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was selected. With 37 charter members, PUUF became affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association in April 1995 and held its charter service on April 29, 1995.
The document found here: pacuuf.org/history-of-PUUF.pdf has a detailed history of PUUF as of January 2018, plus some thoughts about our past challenges and strengths. This document was created as part of a self-study that was implemented by seven “pioneers” (members who have been part of PUUF since the beginning).
In the spring of 2018 a second report focusing on PUUF’s goals was created by seven “astronauts”. This process began with an open discussion about PUUF’s future during the February 4 2018 service. The draft of that document is here: pacuuf.org/goals-for-PUUF.pdf.
The Fellowship’s Many Homes
PUUF has had a variety of meeting places, meeting briefly at the Seaside Community Center before moving to the Cannes Cinema in Seaside. The fellowship moved to the Masonic Temple in Astoria in March 1997. From September 2000-August 2016 we were privileged to share the historic Finnish First Congregational UCC church with their congregation. On September 18, 2016 we moved to the Performing Arts Center and became a Partner of the PAC. In March of 2020 the Fellowship moved to the First Presbyterian Church of Astoria, but the first several services there were cancelled due to the CoVid-19 pandemic.
Our Services
We offer services at 12:00 p.m. every Sunday each month beginning with the Sunday following Labor Day and ending on the second Sunday of June. We are a lay-led fellowship. We also have speakers and programs led by visiting ministers, our members and community leaders. We provide a children’s Religious Education program, and as of 2021 have an active Pagan chapter offering Pagan services. Social hour after each service provides a time to connect with our members and visitors following virtual services during the pandemic. During the summer, our services are more informal. We meet virtually for discussions on various topics led by our members.
Over the years, we have offered mid-week adult R.E. programs, discussion groups, circle suppers and video nights. 2002 was a banner year – we became a Welcoming Congregation and we hosted the ordination of Karen Broenneke, our first Board President. In March 2003 we hosted the PNWD Small Fellowship Retreat at Camp Magruder.
Our Membership
Our members are drawn from as far south as Manzanita, Oregon, and as far north as the Long Beach Peninsula in Washington. As in most UU fellowships, our beliefs are diverse, and we honor and respect that diversity. We have over 50 members and a large following of “friends”, averaging about 30 attendees at our virtual services.
Pacific UU Fellowship Board of Trustees Presidents
Tom Chatterton (Advisory Board Chairman) 1993; Karen Broenneke 1994-95; Tom Chatterton 1995-96; Craig Holt 1996-98; John Overholser 1998-99; Arline LaMear 1999-2004; Claudia Harper 2004-05; Frank Logan 2005-07; Arline LaMear 2007-2008; Craig Holt 2008-2010; Ken Nelson 2010-2011; Cameron Brister 2011-2013; Allison King 2013-2016; Michael Rowe 2016-2017; Tara Geraci 2017-2018; Jimmy Pearson 2018-2020; Laura Gordon 2020-2021; Terri Daniels 2021-present.