Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF) is a Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation located in Durham, North Carolina. In 2007, over five hundred people were members of ERUUF.[1] It sponsors the UU campus ministry program at Duke University, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship @ Duke.[2]

The Eno River Buddhist Community, founded in 1992, is affiliated with and meets at ERUUF.[3][4] The group, which draws upon a variety of Buddhist traditions, but especially the Insight Meditation (vipassanā) tradition, "considers itself ecumenical."[3][4]

One of the ministers of ERUUF, Mary Grigolia, serves on the steering committee of the North Carolina Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality.[5] The ERUUF is a Welcoming Congregation,[6] which is a specific designation within the Unitarian Universalist Association for congregations that have undergone a program to increase inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and understanding of LGBT issues.[7]

History

Between 1900 and 1925 Universalists had been active in Durham, and, in 1949, a Unitarian fellowship opened in the Durham/Chapel Hill area. In 1966, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durham and Chapel Hill opened; it changed its name in 1978 to Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.[8]

ERUUF has been a recipient of the O. Eugene Pickett Award,[8] which is given annually by the Unitarian Universalist Association "to the congregation that has made an outstanding contribution to the growth of Unitarian Universalism".[9]

Members of ERUUF represent a range of beliefs and interests. In addition to the Buddhist Community, groups include a humanist group, a meditation group, a depression support group, a West African drumming group, A Course in Miracles, and a Taoist t'ai chi group, among others.[10] ERUUF is inclusive of different theologies; many pagans are members.[11] According to Rev. Arvid Straube, "We are a broad umbrella. Freedom of belief is our main tenet."[11]

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship @ Duke

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship @ Duke (UUF@D) is the Duke University UU campus ministry program.[2] It is both sponsored by ERUUF and recognized as a student organization by the university. It holds vespers services twice a month during the school semester.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Eno River makes new appointments, The Chapel Hill News, December 26, 2007
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Unitarian Universalist Fellowship @ Duke
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eno River Buddhist Community
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Eno River Buddhist Community: An Insight Meditation practice group
  5. ↑ Unitarian Universalist fellowship to install minister, by Flo Johnston, The Durham News, December 3, 2005
  6. ↑ Member congregations of the Thomas Jefferson District of the Unitarian Universalist Association
  7. ↑ Welcoming Congregation
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 ERUUF membership and history
  9. ↑ O. Eugene Pickett Award
  10. ↑ Ongoing Activities at ERUUF
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Local Ministers Say Pagan Often Misunderstood Term, WRAL.com, February 4, 2003

Further reading

External links