Flashback: September 11, 2000 — A Snapshot of UU Lansing in Transition

by Ed Busch, UU Lansing Church Archivist

Looking back at the September 11, 2000 issue of the Liberal Express offers a fascinating snapshot of our church family during a distinct moment of transition — dated exactly one year before September 11 would take on a very different meaning in American memory. Our congregation was navigating its own season of change under interim minister Rev. Dr. Wayne Robinson. As we now know, looking back, this was the first step in a transitional bridge that would include interim Rev. Kimi Riegel before welcoming Rev. Kathryn Bert as our settled minister in 2002.

Rev. Dr. Wayne Robinson

 A Church Family in Motion

That late summer carried its own headlines beyond our walls — the Sydney Olympics were days from opening, and Indiana University’s dismissal of longtime basketball coach Bob Knight was making national news — but inside our own doors at 855 Grove Street, the story was quieter and more personal. The Liberal Express was debuting a "new look" with fresh formatting and typeface. Interim minister Rev. Dr. Wayne Robinson was leading the congregation through a period of deep theological reflection. Writing about his personal journey in his column, Rev. Robinson shared:

"I realized as clearly as anything could be: I didn't believe in God—the Bible's, my parent's and family's, their church's or any other... And then one morning only a few years ago, I joined several others for breakfast with Dr. John Buehrens, president of the UUA... he asked me, 'Wayne, why don't you write a book on spirituality?'... Out of that experience I began the process of writing the book which is also the title of next Sunday's sermon, 'Come back, God: All is forgiven.'"

At the same time, the congregation was actively preparing for its future. Marcus Cheatham was organizing a Congregational Survey to help the newly forming Settled Minister Search Committee discern what the community needed in its next settled leader—a process that set the groundwork for the search journey over the next two years. (This echoes an earlier chapter in our congregation’s search history — see our post, We Have a Candidate! — And Then We Didn’t, on Davidson Loehr’s 1986 candidacy.)

Splinters from the Board

Board President Bob Lovell reported on the annual board retreat at the Leaven Center in Portland, Michigan. Reflecting on both strengths and growth opportunities, Bob wrote:

"With Dr. Robinson acting as a 'new voice,' we considered many issues and came away with a positive feeling about the church year. We have many strengths in the congregation and the church—our wonderful RE program, the music which inspires us weekly, the liberal theology guiding our decisions and our practices, and, of course, the people... The space problem continues to plague us. And as we continue to grow, the space will continue to shrink!"

Board of Trustess Nov. 2000: LtoR: Rev Wayne Robinson, Jim Smith, Jane Whittington, Ed Loomis, Ken Zielinski, Bob Lovell, Marcus Cheatham, Regina Fry, Pearl Ann Miller,Dot Thorburn, David Hill, Lauren Thomas, Chris Clampitt. (2024.0126)

To tackle these challenges, board members committed to concrete actions, including hosting a monthly social activity and greeting on Sunday mornings.

Religious Education & Youth

Director of Religious Education Teresa (along with Vickey Fabbo, who managed summer RE) announced the start of fall RE classes for September 17. Children in grades K–6 gathered in the Social Hall for 15-minute service kickoffs, while nursery staff (Letizia, Lisa, and Jenn) cared for infants and toddlers. The RE program also planned a community Taco Lunch for October 1, while Marcy Christoff announced the start of Youth Choir rehearsals in the Rainbow Room for grades 3 through 8.

Member Spotlight & Local Artistry

The issue featured a special Warehouse Sale by church member Chris Triola, a nationally recognized knitwear designer whose work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Held at her studio on East Mount Hope, 10% of proceeds were generously donated to the UUWF Evening Group.

Social Life, Groups, and Upcoming Events

The newsletter highlighted a packed calendar that showed just how vibrant church life was that fall:

• Water Communion: The congregation was preparing for its annual Water Communion service. Kathy Lovell noted that shifting the service slightly later into October would give members time to "think back on a meaningful experience, and assess the impact on our lives after we have entered into another year" while sharing water gathered over the summer.

• Circle Suppers Return: Coordinator Jackie VanDeventer rallied members for this beloved tradition, writing: "I've come to realize that UUers are the best cooks and conversationalists around... and Circle Suppers thrive on these two ingredients."(For a deeper look into the history of these potluck gatherings, check out our previous post, Looking Back – Circle Suppers.)

• Lamplighters: Dot Thorburn invited singles on a dinner outing to The Common Grill in Chelsea before "the snow falls and the days dwindle down," organizing carpools from the church parking lot. (We previously explored the history of this social group for single adults in The Lamplighters: A Social Group for Single Adults in UU Lansing.)

• Women's Fellowship: Rae Lavey organized a carpool trip to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids for a private tram tour of the Leonardo’s Horse sculpture and outdoor installations.

• Music at the Church: The Ten Pound Fiddle coffeehouse lined up performances by Laura Fuentes y Calicanto, Richard Shindell, and The Short Sisters right in the church facility.

• More Gatherings: The calendar included a Post-Service Hot Dog Party, "Polishing the Golden Years" retirement workshops, Earth Center Tradition meetings, Mother-Daughter and Father-Son Book Clubs, and the Tomesters Book Reading group discussing Sharon Salzberg’s A Heart As Wide as the World.

Looking back at this issue reminds us that while national headlines and leadership change, the heart of our church—community connection, open spiritual exploration, and shared experiences like Water Communion—remains a steady anchor through every era.

Seeking Your Input

Were you part of the UU Lansing community in the fall of 2000? Do you remember Rev. Wayne Robinson’s ministry, the Congregational Survey, or any of the people and events mentioned in this issue of the Liberal Express? We’d love to hear your memories, corrections, or additional context. Please reach out to the Archives at uucgl.archives@gmail.com.

Acknowledgment

This post was researched and written by Ed Busch. AI writing assistants (Gemini and Claude) were used to help organize and refine the presentation of archival content. The research, archival work, and interpretive judgments are the author’s own.

About the Author

Ed Busch is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing and serves as the volunteer archivist for the congregation. He is retired from Michigan State University, where he worked in digital preservation and archives. Through the UU Lansing Archives project, he enjoys uncovering stories from church newsletters, board records, photographs, and local history sources to help connect the congregation’s past with its present. Ed also serves on the UU Lansing Stewardship Team and helps with Building and Grounds projects.

Sources

Liberal Express, Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing, September 11, 2000 issue (primary source; church newsletter archive)

Ed Busch, Shirley Beckman, and Harry Schwarzweller, Dedicated Lives: 162 Years of Liberal Ministry and Its Ministers in Lansing Michigan 1849–2011 (2011) — source for the ministerial succession following Rev. Wayne Robinson (Rev. Kimi Riegel, interim, 2001–2002; Rev. Kathryn Bert, settled minister, 2002–2017)