Aiken UU Church receives grant for a minister
The Aiken UU Church has been awarded $28,000 in matching funds for the hiring of their first minister.
The part-time consulting Unitarian Universalist minister will be valuable in providing assistance with Sunday worship services, serving as a public representative for the liberal UU faith in the larger Aiken community.
The minister will also consult with the AUUC Board of Trustees as they move from a family to a pastoral congregation, provide pastoral care and train lay members as ministerial associates for shared ministry.
In November 2000, 24 interested Unitarian Universalists, including some from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta, met and decided to form a fellowship. Charter members of the first Unitarian Fellowship of Aiken, 1953-78, were present and, in January 2001, held their first public worship service.
In December 2003, the congregation voted unanimously to purchase a small church building on a one acre lot located at 115 Gregg Ave.
In April 2004, weekly Sunday services began in the new building, including nursery and children's religious exploration. In June 2004, with 31 members, they received their charter from the UUA.
In September 2008, they purchased and installed a mobile classroom building to allow for five religious exploration classes and hired a youth coordinator for expanding youth program.
The religious exploration program is the fastest growing section of the congregation. Their programs span all ages, from nursery through youth, OWL and a variety of adult groups. Currently the teens are volunteering at a local soup kitchen for their social justice project.
The AUUC congregation includes lifelong Unitarian Universalists, as well as members with UU experience in multiple congregations, in addition to dedicated and highly skilled newcomers to the faith. The sanctuary seats approximately 60, and members anticipate building additional sanctuary space within five years.