2. Congregation Histories : Kansas

Shawnee Mission

Shawnee Mission Unitarian Society (SMUS)
Overland Park, Kansas

SMUS was founded in 1967 with the encouragement of the Rev. Raymond Bragg and his congregation at All Souls Unitarian Church, Kansas City, Missouri. SMUS’s first sixty members came from the All Soul’s congregation.

The newly formed group originally met in a school building; in May 1970, SMUS purchased its present property at 7725 W. 87 Street in the heart of Overland Park. Two buildings—the barn-chapel and Sager House—provide space for worship, administration, and a variety of activities.

Reluctance to leave the fellowship character of SMUS yielded in 1969 to the calling of its first minister. The Rev. Frank Smith served the congregation through 1973.

The Rev. Dr. Vern Barnet was called in 1975 and remained until 1984. He was a proponent of world religions, Eastern thought, and liturgical experimentation. He provided multi-media services that were experiential as well as didactic.

During his tenure, SMUS moved in many exciting and innovative directions; religious education for children was greatly expanded; the church was a pathfinder in initiating a “Coming of Age” program for younger teen-agers; a World Religion Series was offered for adults and the church structure was reorganized, and new by-laws enacted.

The steady growth of the congregation was interrupted twice. The first setback was in 1981 when approximately one-third of the congregation left the society to form a fellowship. The disagreement centered on the administrative style of the minister and the emphasis on ritual and Eastern religions.

In 1983, the expansion of the Religious Education program as well as the growth of the congregation made it necessary to consider a building program.

Disagreements over the program led to a second membership loss, the scrapping of building plans and Dr. Barnet’s resignation.

The Rev. Fred Campbell became interim minister in September 1984. Skilled in conflict resolution, he approached congregational disagreements in the pulpit and individual and group counseling. There was remarkable progress in these efforts.

In September 1985, the Rev. Dr. Dale Robison, SMUS’s second interim minister, assumed the pulpit. During his tenure, membership growth became a top priority for SMUS.

With renewed confidence and enthusiasm as well as the introduction and strengthening of several programs, SMUS believes it is entering a new era.

Carolyn McMahon, Board President, 1985–86

This history has been updated.