History of UUCLV

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Our Story Begins

We were founded in 1952. On May 1st of that year, we became the 75th fellowship of the American Unitarian Association, which 10 years later became the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Emil Kolben was our first President. Of the other early founders, the Bruners and Breezes were of the most importance. Elmo Bruner served on the Board on and off until his death in 1973. Dean and Joan Breeze were also involved for many years. Dean, a local lawyer, was legal council for the church until his death in 1997. He and Robert Throckmorton, our president from 1956-1958, also helped found the local ACLU.

In 1959, we called our first minister, Rev. Francis Schlater, who died after only six months. We bought our first home, at Tamarus and Tropicana, in 1960, through the generosity of Raymond Baumgardner. We kept the property for seven years. In 1961 we hired a new part-time minister, Heinz Rettig, who had moved from New Jersey. Rettig continued as our part time minister until 1963, when Rev. Gorden Newell was hired. He served us for a year, returning east at the end of the contract.

A Place to Call Home

Keeping up payments on the church’s property became impossible, and the property was sold to the Bruners in 1967. In 1968 we were involved in social justice causes ranging from collecting clothing for the West Side Neighborhood Council, to reviewing whether apartment complexes would rent to black residents.

In 1969, we moved to Gudmundssen Hall, a part of the First Congregational Church at 1200 N. Eastern, meeting there on Sunday afternoons. The seventies were a time of social action, from sending funds to the Black Affairs Council of the UUA, to money to help the Sioux at Wounded Knee. We were also involved in local issues, such as the protest over conditions at the Madison Terrace Apartments, a 1950s public housing area in Las Vegas.

In 1978, we moved to the Center for Religion and Life for our services, to provide room for our children. In 1985, we started a weekend ministry program, hiring Rev. Vernon Curry. After his retirement in 1986, we hired Rev. Sandra Szelag. 1987 was a year of events, with UUA President Bill Schulz here for the American Peace Test and the UU Desert Witness I.

In 1992 we moved to the Las Vegas Masonic Hall, and held our first Service Auction. We began meeting throughout the summer. Rev.Bill DeWolfe came in October, and again in February as minister on loan. He was also our Ministerial Consultant from December 1993 until April 1994.

From Fellowship to Congregation

We became a Congregation in 1993, and purchased property on the corner of O’Bannon and Lindell for a future home. During this time, the church underwent rapid growth, with membership over 100. We were also moving toward a full-time ministry, something that had been sought for many years. In 1994 Rev. Suzanne Dougherty began her three years with us, weathering a difficult transition from a lay-led congregation to a minister-led one.

We purchased the North Las Vegas Moose Hall in 1996, which has been our home since. The purchase led to growth for the Congregation, but also the departure of 15 members who started another UU fellowship in the valley, the Unitarian Universalist Community of Southern Nevada, which disbanded in 2002.

On Sunday, February 7, 1997, UUs, including UUA President John Buehrens, came and celebrated with us, as we dedicated our new home. Later that year Rev. Pat Bowen became our minister, for a two-year interim period. Rev. Judy Cohen, became our interim minister in 1999-2000, followed by Rev. Gail Collins-Ranadive for 2000-2001. We called and settled our former minister, Rev. Paul Daniel, in 2001.

In 2002 we celebrated a great milestone, burning the last of the mortgages. We now own our home. In 2003, we also hired our DRE, or DFD (Director of Lifespan Faith Development, the current name of the position), Kevin Drewery.

In 2006, Rev. Daniel decided to move on, and resigned, being replaced by interim minister, Rev. Roberta Haskin. Our home, at 3616 East Lake Mead Boulevard, Las Vegas, continues to serve the congregation, but efforts are now underway to find a new home for our rapidly expanding congregation.

The Spiral Outward

The church began September 2007 by welcoming back another former minister, Rev. Gail Collins-Ranadive, who had served as interim minister 2000-2001. She is UUCLV's 3rd settled minister, installed on May 10, 2008 in a ceremony attended by Unitarian Universalist Association’s President William G. Sinkford.

We are the only UU congregation in Southern Nevada, and include members from Northern Arizona and Southwestern Utah.

Mark P. Hall-Patton
Church Historian