Congregation's founding history

Our congregation was started when a group of 22 people interested in Unitarianism began meeting in homes, and by 1954 a Religious Education program was started. The children met Sunday mornings in the cafeteria of Brush school, which the congregation rented. By 1956 the Fellowship purchased a building on Elm Street and the first service held in this new space was March 3, 1956.  The official founding date is 3/13/1953.

Ministry at CUF

The congregation was lay-led from its founding until 1999, when CUF learned about the UUA's Extension Ministry Program which aided the congregation in obtaining its first minister, The Reverend Bill Sasso. Rev. Sasso served the Fellowship from August 1999 (having been called to settled ministry in 2001) until retiring in June of 2012. Rev. Sasso received the status of Minister Emeritus on February 24, 2019.

In 2014, The Reverend Sarah Richards became our second settled minister. She will have served 11 years when she leaves the Fellowship on June 31, 2025.

CUF Religious Education

CUF hired a 1⁄4 time RE Coordinator in 1997, then in 1998 increased the position to 1⁄2 time Director of Religious Education. Roy Sumner served as DRE from 1998 until retiring in 2016.

Since 2016, CUF has been served by a few different RE Coordinators at less than 1⁄2 time. The pandemic was difficult for RE, and recently the interest, support, and attendance has rebounded.

Over the years, the RE program has been active in a number of programs in addition to Sunday morning classes.  These include Trick or Treat for UNICEF, bread baking for Women’s Center and Good Samaritan House at Thanksgiving, an annual Parents Night Out, and a Cardboard City to bring attention to homeless needs in the community.

Social Justice Initiatives

During the 1960s and 70s the Fellowship was extremely active in the intense social movements of that era: integration of schools, restaurants, and housing, and opposition to the Vietnam War. Some of our founding members were involved in starting The Women's Center (now known as the Survivor Empowerment Center) in Carbondale over 50 years ago.

CUF has been a Welcoming Congregation since 2000. In 2000, CUF partnered with a UCC church to found Rainbow Cafe, originally a center for LGBTQ youth, which continues as an independent organization providing broad support to the LGBTQ+ community.  It is also a recognized Green Sanctuary.

From 2003 through 2015, the congregation had a significant "AIDS in Africa" social action project supporting Ranchhod Hospice and Orphan Day Care Program in Kabwe, Zambia. We held annual fundraisers, collected supplies, and members visited the hospice to provide direct support.

The congregation was recognized in 2007 by the UUA as a Breakthrough Congregation, largely based on its growth, new facility, and social action efforts.

In recent years the Fellowship has had an annual Social Justice Initiative.  These have included immigration, mental health, VoteLove, and reproductive justice.

The Building

The Fellowship acquired property on the corner of Sunset Drive and Parrish Lane in Carbondale in 1997. After years of planning and fundraising, construction for the current facility began in June, 2003. The first service in the new building was held March 28, 2004. In May of 2021 the mortgage for the North Parrish Lane building was completely paid off.  The roof was replaced in May of 2024 and solar panels were installed.