At 60, Wayne fellowship set in historic home embraces its ultra-liberal approach
WAYNE — There is no book of prayers or creed or water blessed by a priest.
In fact, there is no priest on duty at Lakeland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. There are no professions of faith or rambling homilies from the pulpit.
It is a no-preaching zone.
And for people like Wirt Honnick, 22, of Totowa, that is really refreshing.
“It’s a very open community,” Honnick said Sunday, when the fellowship celebrated its 60th anniversary. “It’s more about the journey and not the destination.”
Honnick, who uses the pronoun they, said they could not find a group so tolerant of their pagan views until they joined the lay-led fellowship. “I enjoy having a lot of spiritual discussions,” they said, “and that’s what we’re trying to focus on in the coming year.”
Those accustomed to the austerity of traditional church services may never get used to the ultra-liberal approach of this congregation, whose members seem to take comfort in knowing that they can think whatever they want to think.
“We don’t tell people what they should believe — what their truth is,” said Carol Swift, of Wayne. “The idea is that they need to find their own truth.”
But like so many religion-based organizations, this one is struggling to maintain its flock, and its membership is becoming smaller.
“One might even say tiny,” Swift said.
The anniversary celebration began at 2 p.m. with about 10 members dedicating a peace pole. The fixture was shrouded in a red blanket and staked on the front lawn of the fellowship’s property at 231 Parish Drive.
Swift and Richard Nasch, the co-presidents of the congregation, pulled off the velvety cover to expose a white post, about 6 feet tall and made of plastic. On one side, it offered the following message in bold letters: “May Peace Prevail On Earth.”
The Lakeland fellowship is the only Unitarian Universalist congregation in Passaic County.
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According to the Unitarian Universalist Association, based in Boston, the movement was created in May 1961 from the merger of two radical Christian groups. Members do not have a sacred text, but they draw inspiration from sources that include the wisdom of all religions.
Members established the Lakeland fellowship in February 1962 at a home on Algonquin Trail. It was incorporated that fall, and its meetings were held in borrowed facilities until it purchased its current property, the historic Parish House, less than four years later. The Revolution-era estate that forms its south wing is one of the oldest structures in the township.
Swift said the fellowship paid off its mortgage a long time ago. It is exempt from property taxes and, she said, frugal in its spending.
The organization can sustain itself despite a decline in membership, Swift said, because of the few who are wholeheartedly dedicated to seeing it hold on.
“It takes a lot of commitment,” Swift said. “Let’s put it that way.”
The fellowship meets every Sunday at 11 a.m.
Members are now trying to revive the fellowship’s Organic Gardening Group. Plots are available for a nominal fee, and proceeds will be donated to the Wayne Interfaith Network food pantry at the Wayne YMCA on Pike Drive.
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: devencentis@northjersey.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Wayne NJ fellowship marks 60 anniversary, welcomes all comers
