On the Path to Merger: Lansing Universalists and Unitarians, October 1955

by Ed Busch, UU Lansing Archvist

As our 2026 pledge drive comes to a close, I’ve been paging back through time to see what was happening 70 years ago, in October 1955. It was a season of change for both the First Universalist Church of Lansing and the East Lansing Unitarian Fellowship. The two congregations had begun serious conversations about collaboration in 1953, and by 1955 they were already sharing space at Holmes and Prospect, worshiping, meeting, and engaging in public discussions under the same roof. Their official merger would not come until 1957, but the life of the two groups was already intertwined.

The Wider World in October 1955

Nationally, the news was filled with concern over President Dwight Eisenhower’s health. After suffering a heart attack in late September, his recovery dominated headlines throughout October. Questions about presidential succession and Cold War leadership loomed large. International tensions were a regular backdrop in the newspaper, alongside hopeful stories about the United Nations, then celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Closer to home, Michigan was booming. The auto industry was reshaping the state’s economy and workforce, while labor negotiations with the United Auto Workers frequently made the news. In East Lansing, Michigan State had just been elevated to university status earlier that year, with rapid growth bringing new students and energy to the region.

Local Universalist and Unitarian Life

Against this backdrop, the First Universalist Church of Lansing was a lively hub of denominational and local activity. In early October, the church hosted the state convention of the Universalist Church of Michigan. More than 100 representatives from across the state gathered at our Holmes and Prospect church for meetings, fellowship, and worship. Dr. Brainard Gibbons, general superintendent of the Universalist Church of America, was the keynote speaker.

The gathering carried special poignancy. Just that January, the congregation had dedicated its new church building, a project championed by the Rev. Morley Hartley, who had urged the congregation to acquire the property. Tragically, only weeks later in February 1955, Hartley suffered a fatal heart attack. At the October convention, a large meeting room in the new building was dedicated in his honor, with a picture of him displayed during the ceremony. (One wonders what became of that picture today.)

Meanwhile, the East Lansing Unitarian Fellowship was meeting in the Universalist church parlors, hosting programs such as an evening discussion of a U.S. Senate study on religious rights. The two groups were already practicing collaboration, even as they maintained their distinct organizational lives.

Leadership and Loss

Leadership at the First Universalist Church in 1955 also carried a note of transition. Elizabeth S. Laidlaw, a longtime member and the author of the congregation’s centennial history (1848–1948), had retired in 1954 after decades as chief cataloger at the Michigan State Library. In June of that year, she was elected board president—the first woman to hold that office since the church was founded. When she died suddenly in October 1955 at the age of 71, the Lansing State Journal noted her service as president at the time of her death. Her passing marked the loss of a pioneering figure in the congregation’s story.

At the same time, Rev. E. Hilmer Soderberg was serving as minister. Having begun his ministry earlier in 1955, Soderberg stepped in during the congregation’s transition after Hartley’s death. His tenure was short—ending in mid-1956—but he provided steady leadership in a season of change, as the Universalists adjusted to new realities and deepened their ties with the Unitarians.

Worship and Community Spirit

The rhythm of congregational life continued with services that reflected both liberal religious values and international concerns. Topics included “Schweitzer’s Reverence for Life,” “Toward World Order,” and “Continuing the Reformation.” Ads in the Lansing State Journal presented the congregation as A Liberal Friendly Church and carried the line Council of Liberal Churches — Universalist-Unitarian, signaling openness and cooperation well before any formal merger.

Ad from Lansing State Journal, October 22, 1955

The church community also marked global events. On October 23, worship included a tribute to the United Nations on its 10th anniversary, with a UN exhibit set up in the newly dedicated Morley R. Hartley Memorial Room. Local youth were active as well: students from Michigan State University gathered for a Liberal Religious Youth Fellowship meal and program.

The Universalist Women’s Association, meanwhile, hosted a rummage sale at the South Lansing Community Hall (117 W, South St.)—a reminder that alongside denominational conventions and global themes, the ordinary work of sustaining a congregation carried on.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

October 1955 offers a vivid snapshot of congregational life in motion. The Universalists had just dedicated a new building, only to lose the minister who had championed its purchase. The Unitarians were holding discussions in borrowed parlors, already practicing collaboration under the same roof. State leaders gathered in Lansing, young adults from Michigan State joined in fellowship, and lay leaders like Elizabeth Laidlaw shaped the congregation’s direction—even as her sudden passing that month marked a poignant loss.

With a new home, active programs, and the intertwining of two liberal religious traditions, Lansing’s Universalists and Unitarians were already living into a future that would soon be made official. By the fall of 1955, the groundwork for the 1957 merger was well underway, the life of the two groups deeply connected in worship, leadership, and community spirit.

As we conclude our pledge drive for 2026, we stand on the shoulders of those who sustained this community through times of change. Their commitment to liberal faith, to leadership by women, to student and youth involvement, and to a world-embracing vision continues to echo in our life together today.

If you have memories, family stories, or materials related to this period, we’d love to hear from you at uucgl.archives@gmail.com. Is there a time period in our history you’d like to learn more about? Let me know! I love getting emails about this!

Archival research for this post was provided through UU Lansing archives materials and Lansing State Journal clippings. Contextual narrative was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT.

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About the Author
Hi, I’m Ed Busch, the writer behind these blog posts exploring the history of UU Lansing. After retiring in 2023 from a 15-year career as an Electronic Records Archivist at Michigan State University’s Archives & Historical Collections, I’m thrilled to dedicate my time to sharing our church’s rich history.

I hold a Master’s in Library and Information Science, specializing in archival administration, and my academic background also includes a degree in Fisheries and coursework in Computer Science. Before shifting to a career in archives, I worked across diverse fields, including fisheries, aerospace, and telecom.

My wife, Leigh White, and I have been part of the UU Lansing community since the early 2000s and became members in 2006. I’ve been actively involved with the church archives since 2007, and both of our daughters enjoyed growing up in UU Lansing’s Religious Education (RE) program.

I look forward to connecting with you through these blog posts as we delve into the stories that have shaped UU Lansing over the years.