2. Congregation Histories : Iowa

Dubuque

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Dubuque began in November 1982 when Dave and Lisa Fryxell, who had been UUs in Minneapolis before moving to Dubuque, contacted Boston about Unitarian possibilities in Dubuque. This resulted in learning of Jan and Bill Ternent who had been members of the Fairfax Unitarian Church in Reston, Virginia before coming to Dubuque. The Ternents in turn knew Craig and Betty Scott, originally UUs from Maryland.

The first meeting of the UUs in Dubuque came in January 1984 at the Fryxell’s home. Rev. Alan Egly came from Davenport and brought Rev. Martha Newman from Clinton, who would ultimately become the first minister. Present were the Fryxells, Scotts, Ternents, the Scotts, and from nearby Galena, Illinois, Jeanne Pitz. (The Scotts, Ternents, and Fitzs were employed by Catholic Clarke College while the Fryxells were employed by the city newspaper.)

After a couple more meetings at the Scott’s home, the first service was held on February 19, 1984 at Comisky Park, a city park building. Martha Newman, minister of the Murray Society in Clinton spoke on “Why are we Unitarian Universalists?” Dave Fryxell recalled, “I remember we all lit little candles, then from those multiple flames we lit one large candle. The facilities were crude; the sunlight through inadequate blinds bothered our eyes; the piano was hopelessly out of tune, but we made a beginning. I believe about a dozen people would become committed members, others never came back.”

A high point as well as a low point came that first Easter Sunday, when the acting executive director from Minneapolis came to give us advice and to preside over an Easter service. On that snowy Easter morning he was presented with an audience of six adults. He could not have held out much hope for the fledging congregation.

After the summer break, meetings returned to the Fryxell’s residence where they had started. At one meeting we elected our first officers. Jery Clark, President, found a new meeting place for us upstairs in an old brick home downtown. The many hours of fixing up this “upper room” were traded for rent. Soon we gathered our 20 signatures needed for membership in the UUA. On January 25, 1985, the Fellowship received its charter.

Beginning in Sept. 1985, we started meeting weekly at the Masonic Temple downtown. We also had a room for the children’s Sunday School. Classes averaged four youth, ages two to four. Chalice Lighter’s money enabled Rev. Martha Newman to become our part-time minister providing services on the first and fifth Sundays. She also continued to serve the Clinton Church.

Our first fundraiser was a garage sale held at the Fryxell’s in May 1985 that netted $227.60. Our first public action was President Frank Potter writing a letter to the editor of the Dubuque newspaper criticizing the Boy Scouts of America for ejecting a scout who when standing for Eagle rank would not state that he believed in a supreme being. Our first public function was hosting a successful celebration on Jan. 20, 1986, honoring Martin Luther King on his birthday.

As of March 1986, there is an active membership of 20 with an average attendance of 13.

(Author not noted)

This history has been updated.