EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH
Celebrating 50 years of liberalism

By Rev. Mike Young

In 1953, a small group organized a unique religious community, the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu.

Fifty years. Until a few generations ago, that's longer than most people lived. Few marriages last this long.

Compared to some churches, 50 years is no big deal. But, 50 years ago in Hawai'i, there was no church that asked prospective members, "What are your commitments?" rather than "Do you believe the right things?"

First Unitarian, from the outset, was a religious community dedicated to keeping each other alive and growing intellectually, emotionally, spiritually. It was to be both nurturing and challenging. And it has been, both to its members and friends, and to the larger community.

Name a struggle for freedom, conscience and compassion and Unitarians are there. Our members have served in government and fought with it. From interfaith cooperation to environmental activism, individual rights and responsible citizenship, our religious community has preached it, and lived it.

Among early members was the author of the residential fee-conversion legislation. This was one of the first communities where mixed marriages, gays and lesbians found welcome. The first Metropolitan Community Church, an openly gay friendly congregation met in our building for many years. At the time, nobody else would have them.

Congregation Sof Ma'Arav, a conservative Jewish group, has been sharing our facility for more than 30 years. When we celebrated Rosh Hashana together two years ago, Rabbi Avi Magid next door at Temple Emanu-El told me that, as far as he knew, the relationship was unprecedented.

The League of Women Voters in Hawaii, and the local chapter of the ACLU started here. Our people were in the forefront of the struggle to legalize abortion. Congregants helped start Planned Parenthood Hawaii; we've been active in protecting a woman's right to choose ever since.

One of the more curious days was hosting Madeline Murray O'Hare when she was in Hawai'i. She's responsible for the federal Supreme Court case that declared government written and sponsored prayer in the public schools to be unconstitutional. She stayed in the church building.

We were part of the group of congregations that started the Nu'uanu Valley Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service 40 years ago, and part of the organizing committee that created Faith Action for Community Equity, a local faith-based community organizing project. It was our IRS number that launched the Save Our Constitution organization that fought the constitutional amendment against same-sex marriages. Our minister, who had been marrying gay and lesbian couples for 20 years, was vice president of the group.

And, more recently, it was our church that sponsored the poll in the Death with Dignity issue that almost passed the Legislature last session.

Not bad for a small liberal congregation out here in the middle of the Pacific!

The Rev. Mike Young heads First Unitarian. On Feb. 2 and 9, the church will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its 10:15 a.m. Sunday services.