The United Church in Tallahassee reaches back to 1975, when several Tallahassee residents who previously belonged to United Church of Christ (UCC) congregations initiated discussions with Florida Conference representatives of UCC. An initial day-long formation retreat took place to create a new UCC congregation. UCT remains the only church of its denomination in Tallahassee.
Pioneers of UCT
A small group of “pioneers” became the first congregation on April 6, 1975, and began regular meetings on April 20. Betsey Whitman, a math professor at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), was elected the first moderator and Bernice Reeves, an English professor at FAMU, was the first clerk. The group initially met at Temple Israel, where 47 members signed the first charter.
The wider church was enthusiastic about forming a congregation of the United Church of Christ in the capital of Florida, where decisions are made that affect the quality of life for Floridians. The Conference stood ready to help the new congregation. With funding given by members of other UCC churches around the country, it allowed this new spiritual venture to grow and flourish.
Early ministerial leadership was shared by Leo Sandon, John Carey, and Peter Butzin, as well as Christian Educator Marion Plendle. Eventually, John Carey became the acting pastor and Leo Sandon wrote the Covenant. The UCT Covenant was adopted by the congregation in April 1975. One of the hallmarks of the early years of the congregation was the commitment that 50% of locally generated pledges and offerings be devoted to programs outside the church.
1834 Mahan
By 1978, UCT decided to move forward with a building. The present property “way out” on Mahan Drive was purchased, complete with a small house which became the church’s home. Worship was held in the enclosed double carport, which had a fireplace as a focal point.
The new building, erected on the Mahan property after the original church house was razed, was designed by students from FAMU’s School of Architecture. In keeping with the congregation’s original vision of strong community service, the UCT building was designed to be multi-functional and available to groups beyond the congregation. UCT has provided leadership, resources, space, or a combination thereof, to assist several organizations in getting off the ground, including Big Bend Hospice, Planned Parenthood, The Gerontology Program, Feminist Women’s Health Center, Tallahassee Peace Coalition, Tallahassee Housing Foundation, Florida Low Income Housing Coalition, Art Safari, and Big Bend C.A.R.E.S. (formerly Tallahassee AIDS Support Services). As with many other churches, UCT has also been home to many Twelve-Step groups over the years. In addition to these secular organizations, the building has also been shared as a spiritual meeting place for many different yoga classes, as well as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), who met here on Sunday afternoons until they purchased their own building.
Today, with the enthusiasm that comes from a church family that understands the spirit of its original ministry, the guidance of God, and the dedication of its members, UCT continues to be a spiritual home for children and adults, and a witness to the community and the world for justice and peace.
