Our History
In the late summer and early fall of 2000, Robert Franke––who later
became the first minister of our congregation––passed the word
around the Mt. Pleasant area that he was interested in starting a UU
fellowship in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
Bob was born in Michigan; during WW II he moved to Chicago where he
finished high school and attended community college.
Subsequently he was awarded degrees from Northern Illinois University
(BS) Northwestern (MS) and University of Texas at Austin (Ph D).
He taught biology at five universities, the last being Central Michigan
University where he also served as Provost.
Bob has been a Unitarian Universalist since 1960 and has served as
president of three congregations. He retired from Central Michigan
University to attend Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago
where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 2000. He then returned
to Mount Pleasant to start a UU congregation.
Responding to Bob’s call, twenty-six people showed up at a picnic
pavilion in Deerfield Park, Isabella County on October 26, 2000. We
agreed to begin meeting monthly.
The Wesley Foundation allowed us to use their facilities free and we had
a few meetings and informal services there beginning in early 2001.
Later that year, we began meeting at Art Reach, the community art
center.
In May of 2001 Laura McBride (who later was the first president of the
UUFCM 2002-2003) and Nancy White (second president 2003-2004) attended a workshop sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for
congregations intending to join the UUA.
Bob was ordained as the minister in September 30, 2001.
Read the order
of service for the ordination. (PDF)>
In October 2004 Bob Franke collapsed during a service. He had been
experiencing health problems and unfortunately had to resign as
the minister. The board voted to give him the title of “Founding
Minister Emeritus”. At present, he is living in retirement in
Arkansas.
As part of the process to become a recognized congregation with the UUA
we adopted these statements of mission and vision in 2002.
Read our original mission statement and vision. (PDF)>
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan was recognized
by the UUA in late 2002 or early 2003.
At that time, we had thirty-three charter members.
View the list
of our charter members. (PDF)>
See photographs of our Presidents, Ministers, and Worship Director.
View photos >