About Us
Our Founding
This Congregation was founded in 1987. Our Founders wrote the covenant to determine the nature of our relationships and our mission. We were chartered with the Unitarian Universalist Association in April 1988.
We have been at the current location, the corner of Cedar & Parrish Avenue, since 1988. Previous locations include the Darnek club and Brescia.
UUCO Covenant- prepared by our founders in 1987
We come together in fellowship and love open to each other's beliefs. As a congregation, we create a place for open dialogue, search for truth, meaning, spiritual growth, and justice. To these ends we commit to each other and to the larger community our selves and our talents.
Our Mission- affirmed in 2018
Building healthy interfaith relationships through education, dialogue, and service.
Governance
Unitarian Universalism considers the covenant as the founding statement of a congregation. Our Congregation’s covenant was composed for us by our founders in 1987 and is used in every Sunday service. For us, a covenant affirms our promises to each other and establishes us as a community in this specific place.
Our congregational mission grows out of our commitment to each other and describes what difference we plan to make in the larger community. Our bylaws are the legal and ethical constitution of the congregation and are written by the Congregation (i.e. they vary from place to place.)
Unitarianism grew out of Congregationalism and retained its polity. Churches with congregational polity are often called “free churches” or “churches of liberal religion.” This is because congregational polity means that we make our own decisions about local structure, leadership, ministry and bylaws rather than accept a structure handed to us. It also means we choose to be interdependent with other congregations in the Association.
We were chartered with the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1988. As a member Congregation of the Association, we agree to uphold the Association’s Principles and Purposes and accept the Sources of Inspiration as well as be guided by our own covenant and bylaws. We send delegates to regional and national assemblies, our minister participates in a support group with other UU ministers from Kentucky, and we occasionally plan events with other UU congregations.
Membership
All persons who affirm our covenant and pledge to support this Congregation are invited to seek membership. Talk with any Board Member or the Minister about becoming a member.
Our Minister: Rev. Dr. Claudia A. Ramisch
Lourdes College: BARS, Scripture/BIS, Psychology -
Loyola University Chicago: MA, Theology -
Eden Theological Seminary: DMin, Adult Formation -
Claudia is originally from Maumee, OH and has been in Owensboro since 1991. She has been at UUCO since 1999 beginning as a guest speaker once a month and adding duties until being called and ordained by the Congregation in 2008.
She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis (Adult Formation), a Master of Arts in Theology from Loyola of Chicago (Systematics), a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies (Scripture) and a Bachelor of Individualized Studies (Psychology) from Lourdes College, Sylvania OH.
Claudia has been in ministry since 1981 working with all ages from pre-school to adult, doing everything from shoveling the roof (in Sault Ste. Marie) to teaching college (OCTC) all in the name of community life and growth.
Her service has been throughout the middle states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee).
Claudia has also managed a dental practice, worked in a grocery store accounting office, and worked in an independent bookstore to continue the habit of eating.
Currently, Claudia lives in a converted garage with a Boxarotdor (Boxer-Rotweiller/Labrador mix) named Solomon; someday it will be a hermitage.
Claudia will be on a much needed and well-earned sabbatical 26 Jan - 4 Aug 2020. The Congregation and guest speakers will be providing Sunday services.
Contact: 270-683-1462 or hermitstuff@bellsouth.net