Rev. Dr. John Buehrens will speak at the rededication of TVUUC in Knoxville, which he once served as minister.
The Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
Rev. Chris Buice is the current minister of TVUUC.
Former UUA President Prepares to Speak at Knoxville Rededication Service
July 31, 2008
Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, who served the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) as President from 1993 through 2001, is preparing to return to Knoxville, Tennessee, to speak at the rededication of the congregation he served as a new minister more than 25 years ago (from 1973 through 1981).
Buehrens, who currently serves as minister of the First Parish in Needham (MA) Unitarian Universalist, said, “I view my role as focused on helping the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) reclaim the sanctuary after its desecration from violence. I helped to dedicate that sanctuary, and now, it is time to reconsecrate it.”
Buehrens said that at the rededication service, which will be held on Sunday, August 3, he hopes to “remind the people of [TVUUC] of the long integrity and of their sense of mission as a congregation … and that has always been carried forward in a certain face of violence.” Buehrens recalled that in the 1950s, the congregation “sponsored—rather quietly—the first interracial day camp in the city. And it had to be moved several times, because when [the camp operation] was discovered, the congregation was in danger from the Ku Klux Klan. And that camp is the predecessor of the group that sponsored ‘Annie, Jr.’” which was being performed on July 27 when the church was attacked.
Buehrens recalled, “The congregation when I was there had all the front windows of the building shot out one Sunday night. We had just started hosting the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in our space, providing them with a place to worship, and the shooting took place while teenagers of our church were meeting in the building—fortunately, downstairs.” A few weeks later, Buehrens said, “A group of hooligans arrived and threw formaldehyde into the building.”
One thing that is indicative of the change that has occurred since these earlier experiences with violence, Buehrens observed, is that the congregation is receiving a lot of support from the wider community. “In the 1970s when the violence took place, the best thing I knew was to be quiet…We would not have gotten sympathy for hosting a gay congregation.” Buehrens said he was gratified to know that the citizens of Knoxville and city officials have been so supportive of the congregation.
Buehrens said he wanted to remind TVUUC that “for nearly sixty years, one distinguishing characteristic of this congregation is that they have retained an integrity of mission regardless of the occasional outbursts of violence in the area. They are distinguished by having a very strong sense of why they exist…coming out of their history and their own sense of self.” Buehrens wants to honor that, he said and, with current TVUUC minister Rev. Chris Buice, see if they can find “some simple ritual to perform, that all the people take part in, which reclaims this as sacred space.”
Last updated on Thursday, July 31, 2008.
