Rev. Forrest Church died Sept 24, 2009

Comment

Comment by Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz on October 2, 2009 at 9:52am

I met Forrest Church a lifetime ago, when I was a young reporter for the Associated Press in San Francisco and he was a young Unitarian Universalist minister on the circuit, stumping for his dad. I interviewed him and wrote a feature-y thing, I think, about politics and ministry and how they did and didn't mix. That was before I found my own UU faith, and when I did, there he was again, helping me to understand the home I had claimed with his book, "A Chosen Faith." Recently, he has been a support to a dear friend's son who is in chemotherapy and a struggle for his life. What a great soul he was and continues to be, that so many people could know him and feel close to him, from such distance! In a way it seems he is only a little farther off, now that he no longer walks among us.

Comment by David McTaggart on September 26, 2009 at 10:00am

Forrest Church is a UU saint. When I heard him say (23 years ago) that "God is a liberal," I knew I had found my church.

Comment by Rev. Linda Olson Peebles on September 25, 2009 at 4:59pm

The Rev. Dr. Forrest Church gave a wonderful talk at our church several years ago (before his cancer diagnosis), following the publication of his book "The American Creed". It was wonderful being with him then, and I recommend that book to help UUs feel connected to our role in US society and democracy.
I preached a sermon this year on Memorial Day weekend "Meditation on Love and Death" inspired by Church's book "Love and Death" - May 24, 2009 (http://uucava.ning.com/page/sermons-1)
We've lost a great person, and we can give thanks that he left us a wonderful legacy.

Comment by June Herold on September 25, 2009 at 1:04pm

A memorial service is scheduled for Sat. Oct. 3rd at All Souls. 4 p.m.

Comment by Jacomina de Regt on September 25, 2009 at 11:11am

I feel so sad, it is like loosing a friend even though we never met. His book on "Love and Death" and his lecture on this book at GA in 2008 had a strong impact on me. He will be missed by our denomination.

Comment by June Herold on September 25, 2009 at 9:08am

This day is darker than the gray above outside, for the loss of Rev.Church makes it hard to accept certain aspects of this great mystery. I attended his church ions ago and would have graduated from "IF" to member had my fall into productivty not nose dived. He blessed my first dog Buddy Rewrite. His non-fiction books soothed me many times. I lived in NYC at two very different times in my life and losing his church each time was very hard, I realized late last night while thinking back to those times. It may even be a factor in why I didn't subsequently join any other UU church in my various sojourns here and there. Well, maybe not. Not sure. None of the other churches compelled me to join. It wasn't until we stepped foot into UUCA did I feel that this church could fill a void I helped to create by not fully accepting All Souls into My Heart, and by comparing all subsequent UU's to ASNYS. I'm holding his family in my heart and thinking of his congregation. If there's a public service, I may go. If anyone would like to go as well, please contact me. I'll take the train.

Comment by Rev. Mary McKinnon Ganz on September 25, 2009 at 8:34am

R.I.P., Forrest Church! We will miss your presence among us. Your words and books will inspire us for decades to come.

Comment by UUCAVA on September 25, 2009 at 1:19am

Here is a collection of video clips we have of Forrest Church on this site. Here is one of the last communications of Rev. Church to his congregation, dated Aug. 29, 2009 And here is the Wikipedia entry on Rev. Church.