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THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY History USOC, also known as the Unitarian Church of Orange County (or UCOC) was formed as a fcUowship of religious liberals in the faU of 1958. It initially held meetings at Chapman College (now Chapman University.) By November of 1959, we had installed Robert Lehman as our minister, and in August of 1962 we moved to our first location at 1120 W. Santa Ana St, a two-acre site in Anaheim next to the Santa Ana Freeway. Members of the congregation built our modest faculties: the sanctuary, the Religious Education building, and a third smaU building for the minister's office and other offices. Our property was purchased by Caltrans in 1995, and we held our meetings temporarily at the Washington Community Center in Anaheim. In 1998 we purchased our present property at 511 S. Harbor Blvd. USOC is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) with headquarters in Boston, Mass. We have congregational autonomy and select our own rninister. We have - ~- ^cial creed, but we do have 0 0 A seven recognized principles (at* ^ ^ ™»-°" - - • -—• * Qg ^^ orientation meeting and signing our membership b( As enunciated in our Principles isues of social concern. As one member wrote many years tarianism has always been geared to the betterment of (ou >f our Sunday morning services have dealt with the bu knowledgeable about various social issues are regula j pecial meetings. We have a Social Concerns Committee, which is elected by the congregation and may speak in its own name. The Board and Congregation may also pass resolutions on social issues. Some of the issues on which we have taken action include the Fair Housing Initiative, opposition to the death penalty, the fight for civil rights in the 60s, the 1963 Test Ban Treaty, and opposition to the Vietnam War. Our newsletters of this period reflect a livery open debate on these issues. Our minister at the time, Paul Killinger, went to Washington to lobby against the Vietnam War in 1965, and members of our congregation went on a peace walk through downtown Anaheim. Our church also hosted peace walkers who were marching through the state. • • • • For many years we hosted the Orange County Feminist Theater, directed by member Rosalie Abrams, which produced a number of plays related to women's issues and other themes of social significance. Some years ago our church served as a sanctuary for undocumented parents from El Salvador. They are now citizens and their American-born daughter recently graduated from law school. For many years we housed the Orange County Welfare Coalition, an organization of law students, assisting the poor and disabled in acquiring welfare or social security benefits. We have also been a distribution center for federal surplus foods. .... Recently, in commemoration of Hiroshima Day, our current rninister, Dr. James E. Bodman, preached a sermon against the proposed National Missile Defense (NMD) and called for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Our congregation has been a part of the Anaheim community for more than 40 years and we hope to enjoy many more productive years as a force for peace and justice locally and globaUy. Social Concerns Committee The Social Concerns Committee of the Unitarian Society of Orange County is elected by the Congregation annually. Since USOC was established more than forty years ago, the committee has been involved in peace and justice issues, locally, nationally and worldwide. • 'l^v. • 'vrri?s^H^1': ^'"-^^^ ~& ;'^i:- The current chair of the committee, Gary Akers, is a member of the church Board of Trustees and is active in a number of social concerns areas. He does volunteer work, as a representative of the church, for United Neighborhoods LuLac 3016 — picking up food from the Crystal Cathedral and delivering it to the Jeffrey- Lynn neighborhood. He also assists Josie Montoya in operating the Los Amigos Club in the Jeffrey-Lynn area on Saturday mornings. Gary attends breakfast meetings of the Latino advocacy group, Los Amigos, on Wednesday mornings, and meetings of the Catholic Charities of the National Interfaith Committee for Workers Justice. He is on the Board of Directors of the Inteifaith Peace Ministries, meeting monthly at St. Joseph's Center in Orange. Gary also is a member of the Orange County Friends of Pacifica and the KPFK Listener's Group. He coUects donated hats jackets, socks and non-perishable food for La Resistencia at USOC and delivers then to their San Diego office. Two years ago we hosted a Christmas party at our church for the poor families of the neighborhood, and "Santa Clans" distributed presents to the children. In 1998 we received a letter from Amin David, Chair of Los Amigos, thanking us for our friendship to the local Latino community, especially the Jeffrey-Lynn neighborhood, and for hosting a meeting between the Anaheim Police Department and the community. He also praised our then minister, Maurice Ogden, for emphasizing problem solving and reconciliation. Allied Organizations Other peace and justice oriented groups meet regularly at the USOC building. These include the Cousin's Club (promoting Isreah-Palestinian friendship), the Pacific Fellowship (a secular Jewish organization) and the Orange County Friends of KPFK. Members of several Unitarian churches in the Southern California area participate in meetings of People for Freedom of Religion, which acts to counter radical right-wing attempts to diminish Constitutional separation of church and state. Allied with the UUA is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, which works to advance human rights and social justice in the Uaited States and throughout the world. •;; • • Congregational Activities Members and friends of our church community participate in a number of social activities for enjoyment and fellowship. We have a church Birthday Party every few months to celebrate the fives of those among us. We have a continuing film and discussion series, which is hosted by Simona Gumpel (who hosts a film series at CLE on the Fullerton University campus.) There is a monthly discussion group on Racism, ledoy our minister, and we have a women's discussion group which also meets monthly. Members and fritnds enjoy international folk dance classes every Wednesday evening. Unitanan Universalist Pmciples We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person Justice, equity and compassion m human relations Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations A free and responsible search for truth and meaning The right of conscience and the use of democratic process within our congregations and in society at large The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. ' VCOC Events Sunday, April 22,5 p.m.: Interfaith Peace Ministry An­ nual Dinner Meeting at Chapman University. Keynote Friday, April 13: Monthly brown bag discussion speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a Baptist minister, group on racism meets at 12 noon at the church. We'll author of a recent book on Martin Luther King, Jr., will continue our discussion of Randall Robinson's book speak on the social, economic and peace agenda of Dr. "The Debt" which deals with America's unpaid debt to King. $16 per person. Reservations: 714-771-2901. African Americans, and discuss the recent segment on 60 Minutes which included Randall Robinson and other Sat., April 28: Christmas in April sponsors a 2001 Re­ commentators on this issue. We'll also consider David building Day. Unitarians and others will meet from 7:00 Horowitz' rebuttal advertisement and Earl Ofari to 7:45 A.M. for a light breakfast and are then assigned Hutchinson's well-reasoned response. All members and work sites to rehabilitate the homes of low friends are invited to join us. income home owners, particularly the elderly and dis­ abled. Office workers are also urgently needed. For more Friday, April 20, 7 p.m.. UCOC Coffee House information call (714) 667-8174. coordinated by Michael Roy. Headline act and "open mike" for music, poetry, etc. so bring in­ April ongoing: The Fullerton Museum Center presents struments and a song or poem to share. A dona­ "Artifacts of Vigilance: The Peace Museum" through tion of $3.00 will be asked to cover the cost of April 27. Focus is on the history of the peace movement, coffee and refreshments. mcluding activists such as Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Dalai Lama, Mohandas Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Al­ Sunday, April 22: Board meeting at the church follow­ bert Schweitzer, and Fullerton's own Ralph Kennedy. The museum is open Wed. through Sun. 12-4 p.m. (Th. ing the service. Members and friends are welcome. until 8) at 301 N. Pomona Ave. (714) 738-6545. Sun., May 6: The Women's Discussion Group meets after church. Bring a brown bag lunch. The topic is "communication." How can we improve communication May 18-20: PSWD Annual Meeting in Pasadena with our loved ones? What other problems do we as Our district annual meetings are very exciting women have in the area of communication? Ruth events. If you've never been to one, try to attend Shapin will facilitate the discussion. For information, this one that is so close by, at least on Saturday! call Frankie Kirshner at (714)821-3111. Dr. Rebecca Parker, renowned theologian and presi­ dent of Starr King School for the Ministry, will be Every Wednesday: International Folk Dancing at our keynote speaker at Neighborhood Church on the Church every Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M. Saturday. Dr. Parker's address is entitled: "We've All dances are taught by teacher Carol Maybrier.

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