Binghamton, New York, Unitarian Universalist congregation pairs shared ministry with a $1.4 million renovation

On an unseasonably chilly May Day, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton, in Binghamton, New York, hosted an annual Beltane celebration organized by the congregation’s pagan community. Musicians played medieval music on the lawn while adults and children skipped around a maypole. Others watched from the lobby fireplace, which was reconfigured to be more welcoming during a major building renovation five years ago. In the café, a help-yourself, clean-up-after-yourself room that is always open, friends chatted as children ran among the tables, a small practice of open hospitality (Hebrews 13:16).

The congregation’s grounds run down to the Susquehanna River in a Rust Belt city that is now largely fueled by the State University of New York at Binghamton. More than a hundred people of all ages filled the sanctuary for the morning worship service, and another dozen watched online. During the hymn “Where Do We Come From?”, Rev. Douglas A. Taylor suggested singing it as a round. The result was messy but joyful, and the congregation laughed when it ended. Taylor, who has been minister there since 2003, said, “I don’t know, that might not have been good—but it was fun!”

The congregation emphasizes shared ministry. On the Sunday described, Taylor gave the main reflection, while ministerial intern Emily Richards and Dylan Cooke, director of family ministry, also spoke from the pulpit. At the back of the sanctuary, a “stream team” led by Jeff Donahue, a commissioned lay minister, operated a high-end audio-visual system for those watching online.

Taylor invited children to the chancel, where he gave each one a “mystery box” wrapped in red paper. The congregation belongs to the Soul Matters Sharing Circle, a network of Unitarian Universalist congregations that follow the same monthly themes. That Sunday’s theme was “Awakening Curiosity.” Taylor connected his reflection on curiosity to the children’s story “Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom,” and urged the congregation, “Stay curious. That’s how we grow in wisdom.”

Taylor said that his own experience as a youth shaped his ministry. He comes from four generations of Universalists and grew up at First Unitarian Church in Rochester, New York, where, he said, “there were a couple of key points in my timeline when the church quite literally was lifesaving.” He followed his mother, Rev. Dr. Elizabeth M. Strong, into ministry. About two decades ago, while searching for a ministerial home, he visited the Binghamton congregation and felt an immediate connection. “This community has a track record of health, and I bring my style and personality, which is about shared ministry,” he said.

Members describe the same emphasis. Ann Foard, a member since 2018, said she values the shared ministry focus because it gives newcomers a way to get involved and make the congregation their own. “I love the whole UU approach to ‘everyone is welcome,'” she said. Ron Clupper, a member since 1972, said, “It’s a mix of ideas, people looking for ways to make things better.”

The congregation dates to the 1830s and has an official birthdate of 1891, and it traces its roots to Universalism. Its described commitment to inclusion and welcome includes a $1.4 million renovation of its 1950s building. The renovation increased accessibility and opened cramped spaces. In the sanctuary, pews were replaced with easily movable chairs so the room can serve a variety of purposes. The kitchen was moved and upgraded to commercial grade so the congregation can offer it to groups that work closely with unhoused persons.

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