Planting the Seeds
March 18, 1949
1949 – Louise Pembroke and Felix Arnold established a Unitarian Fellowship and affiliate it with the American Unitarian Association.
Read moreCalling a Minister
March 18, 1952
1952 – Rev. Franklin Smith is called as the first minister and name is changed to First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque.
Read moreFirst Sanctuary
March 18, 1955
1955 – Carlisle Blvd. property is purchased and first sanctuary is built – the congregation grows, especially with the addition of many children.
Read more500 Members
March 18, 1962
1962 – Rev. Jim Wilkes is called and growth of the congregation continues (500 members) – there is a focus on social activism – a new sanctuary is built.
Read moreFamilies & Ninos
March 18, 1966
1966 – Rev. Leon Fay is called and stays for a decade – extended families are started as well as La Puerta de los Ninos daycare.
Read moreInterim Leadership
March 18, 1977
1977 – Rev. Daniel Panger serves as interim minister for 3 years.
Read moreFriday Nights
March 18, 1982
1982 – Rev. Todd Taylor called as the fourth minister of the church – the emphasis during the next several years is on the formation of a singles group “Friday Night Singles.”
Read moreWelcome, Christine
March 18, 1988
1988 – Rev. Christine Robinson is recruited to revive a somewhat demoralized church. Growth begins again, but there is dissension in the congregation and a small group splits off to form the Albuquerque Fellowship….
Read moreA new church in Rio Rancho
March 18, 1990
1990’s – First Unitarian helps form a new church on the west side in Rio Rancho with its doors opening in 1997.
Read moreAssociate Ministers
March 18, 2000
2000 – First Unitarian has grown to 600 members and the first Associate Minister, Jim Zacharias is hired, followed by a second Rev. David Grimm.
Read moreA Teaching Congregation
January 1, 2002
2002: Meredith Garmon (now serving in White Plains, NY) becomes the church’s first intern minister. His popularity led to a grant from a family to fund 5 more interns. Ron Hersom (2006-7), who is…
Read moreiMinistry
March 18, 2005
2005 – iMinistry program is started which adds audio and video recording of services.
Read moreNew Branches
March 18, 2006
2006 – The Branch Ministry program is organized and leads to the Socorro Branch in 2007 and East Mountain in 2009.
Read moreBreakthrough
March 18, 2009
2009 – First Unitarian is named a “Breakthrough Congregation” by the UUA because of its successful growth to almost 800 members.
Read moreWelcome, Angela
March 18, 2010
2010 – Rev. Angela Herrera joins First Unitarian as Assistant Minister and is promoted to Associate Minister the next year.
Read moreImmigrant Justice
March 18, 2011
2011 – First Unitarian receives a grant from the UUA to study Immigration issues, which culminates in the largest contingent from the congregation, 30 members, attending GA in Phoenix in 2013 presenting a workshop…
Read moreA New Sanctuary
March 18, 2013
2013 – A new sanctuary is dedicated and receives LEED Platinum certification. The congregation celebrates 25 years of Rev. Christine Robinson’s ministry.
Read moreShared Leadership
October 1, 2015
The Rev. Angela Herrera promoted to “Minister,” joining Christine in a more equal partnership as spiritual leaders of First Unitarian.
Read moreA Joyful Noise
January 15, 2016
Susan Peck becomes our Director of Music. Within a year the choir has grown, monthly Meditative Singing services are established, and Sol Singers is formed to “learn music by heart, and take love to…
Read moreTransitions
May 7, 2017
In anticipation of Christine’s retirement, the Rev. Angela Herrera is called to be First Unitarian’s next Senior Minister by a vote of 99.7%. In August, Christine Robinson retires after more than 25 years serving…
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