Our History
Part II: The Fire of Tears and Sorrow
The congregation called the Reverend Robert Kaufmann as minister in 1969. Reverend Kaufmann served for a period of four years during which time he revitalized Emerson with his provocative sermons and leadership. However, after a year into his ministry the church sanctuary was the target of an arson attack that severely damaged the interior and the roof. The arson occurred the night before the first of two pro-and-con public forums on Cuba. To add insult to injury, the fire started with the aid of Reverend Kaufmann's sermons under a recently purchased piano.
For several months Emerson held worship services at Temple Beth Kodesh, until an arrangement was made to exchange our fire-damaged property for the essentially abandoned fifty-year-old Methodist church at 7304 Jordan Avenue.
The
Methodist church had the advantage of a much larger auditorium, more land,
and a non-commercial location, but it needed extensive work. With insurance
money, new UUA financing, and massive volunteer work, this site was made
usable in 1970 and the repaired building was dedicated a year later.
Membership peaked at 120 families with Reverend Kaufmann's guidance. Some prominent worship service guests included Jane Fonda, Gore Vidal who spoke about the pet rock craze, and a debate about black equality in which William Shockley participated.
The Vietnam War spurred Reverend Kaufmann to initiate a conscientious objector program for Emerson teens who had reservations about the war effort.
The church auditorium became the scene of many other programs, including plays, concert readings, and musical presentations.
