History
The Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church was originally an offspring of the University Unitarian Church of Seattle. Inspired by Rev. Aron Gilmartin, minister of the University Church, a small group organized the Sno-King Unitarian Fellowship in 1957. For two years the group met informally on alternate Sunday evenings.
Desire for a full Sunday morning service with a program for children led to the rental of the Edmonds Masonic Temple. Three years later, in 1962, the Fellowship moved to the Edmonds High School where it met for the next four years. During that time the congregation decided it needed its own building and a part-time professional minister.
Jaco ten Hove, Maybelle Chapman,
and Robert Fulghum
In September, 1966, the new church building opened its doors with The Reverend Robert Fulghum as part-time minister. Rev. Fulghum came for "one year to help the church get its feet on the ground," and stayed for 18, until his retirement in the spring of 1985.
In 1969 the congregation ordained its founding members, Stuart and Maybelle Chapman, as lay ministers. Until Stuart's death the three ministers worked harmoniously and effectively to make the church a strong, liberal religious community.
Maybelle and Rev. Fulghum continued to work as a team until his retirement, after which he continued to serve as Minister Emeritus of the church.
The Reverend Aron Gilmartin came to serve as Interim Minister for the 1985-1986 church year. The Reverend Davis Joyce served as the first full time minister for the 1986-87 church year. Reverend Jaco B. ten Hove was called in June, 1988 and served until July, 1998, at which time he left to pursue a joint ministry with his wife, Rev. Barbara Wells. Reverend Elizabeth Kerman served as Interim Minister for the 1999 church year.
In August of 1999 Reverend Edward Brock was called as our settled minister, and he continued to serve in that position until the summer of 2007. In September of 2007 Reverend Cecilia Kingman Miller became our interim minister while the congregation searched for a new settled minister. During the spring of 2009 we did not suceed in obtaining a settled minister, and we decided to continue with another year of search. In August of 2009 Reverend Charlotte Cowtan became our interim minister for our third year of search.
After three years of searching and preparing for a settled minister, we found someone whose talents and interests fit our congregation perfectly. On May 16, 2010 we were thrilled to call Eric Kaminetzky as our settled minister. We are eager to join with Eric in promoting social and earth justice and in following our Unitarian Universalist spiritual path. Sometime after he begins his work with us on August 1, 2010, we will be honored to ordain him as a Unitarian Universalist minister.