Universalist Herald

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"Universalist Heritage and Spirit Today" and "The Oldest Continuously Published Liberal Religious Periodical in North America" are the subtitles of the modern Universalist Herald.

Founded in 1847 as the "Religious Reformer" by C. F. R. Shehane of Wetumpka, Alabama, for many years it was strictly a regional publication, serving the Southeastern United States. Beginning January 1, 1850 it became The Universalist Herald and was edited by John Crenshaw Buruss.

For a while after 1896 the Herald was published in Canon, Georgia with a succession of local editors, notably John Bowers, Nellie Mann Opdale, and Haynie Summers. Then it began to broaden its focus more with William Balkan from 1985 to 1991, followed by Vernon Chandler and then Justin Lapoint. Since the end of 2003 the editor has been Richard Koster, who currently lives in Winterset, Iowa.

The Herald's main church connection was the Universalist Church of America, and then since 1961 with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Churches. But today it has a broader outlook and has subscribers from all over the U.S. and around the world. The corporate office is in Seven Springs, North Carolina, and the business office is in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

The Universalist Herald is published by-monthly, is owned by the Universalist Herald Publishing Company, and is governed by an 11-person Board of Directors. The website is www.universalist-herald.net.