Greetings!

If you are just visiting, I am almost as new as you are. I came here in March of 2005, coming from the Unitarian Universalist Church in Brooklyn, New York where I served for over ten years. But Michigan is not entirely new to me. My family lived in the Detroit area in the early 1970s while I was in college.  I prepared for clergy life in Chicago,
so coming here is almost like coming home.

Liberal religion has always been a minority voice, but it is an important one as it challenges the status quo of other religious bodies. No matter where it arises (and it can be found in everywhere) it questions the boundaries of thought, word, and deed that exist.

But to what end? I believe that the fundamental vision of liberal religion is that every person is a unique “child of God,” and that each person thus has a unique “divine”
gift that is their ministry to the wider world. Religious communities exist, then, not to defend doctrine or save souls, but to proclaim this vision to the wider world and help those who join to find, nourish, and share those gifts.

It has taken me a lifetime to find this vision. It will take me the rest of my life to explore its depth and power. It will take this church, and others like it, to make it happen. If you share this hope, I hope you join us. We need all the help we can get. If you want to find out more about my ideas, check out the pages listed below. You can read my sermons, my blog, some articles I have had published, and some larger works. 

• Sermons
• ”Aside from the Obvious” (Fred's Blog)
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles:
• UUWorld: Why Im Sticking With the Classics 
• UUWorld: American myths reconsidered
• UUWorld: There is no crisp line
• UUWorld: Dynamic Balance
• Grand Rapids Press: National Coming Out Day is not just for gays
• Other Publications:
  • The Days Grow Short: An Accidental Journal of September 11, 2001 (PDF: Requires Adobe Reader)

Rev. Matthew joined Fountain Street as Acting Associate Minister in December, 2006, shortly after moving to Grand Rapids to be closer to family. In June of 2007, he became Fountain Street's Minister of Spiritual Life & Learning. An ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Matthew trained for ministry in Chicago and Milwaukee and has served in both parish and hospital settings.  His training prior to seminary was in Family Studies, which he utilized in the fields of child protection and mental health case management.

Matthew’s vision is to “tend to God’s people through collaborative ministries that unleash transformation and meaning-filled living..in so doing, to companion, empower and equip people in service and celebration.”

Matthew’s other interests include playing guitar, singing, knitting, cooking, crosswords and reading escape fiction.  His partner, Chad Beyer, is an educator and activist.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Lee Smith 

Rev. Dr. David Lee Smith has a diverse religious background with roots in the Reformed (RCA) and Baptist (GARB) traditions.  He is a graduate of Creston High School, GRCC, and Western Michigan University with a degree in Music Education.

After four years in the U.S. Air Force, (and he subsequently had 30 more years in the Michigan National Guard), he worked in Grand Rapids in the telephone and computer industries.  He graduated from the Chicago Theological Seminary with Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees.  After a 21-year pastorate at the Burlingame Congregational United Church of Christ, in Wyoming Michigan, he completed three out-of-town interim pastor assignments and a chaplaincy at a local nursing home.  He holds clergy standing in the Grand West Association (Michigan Conference) of the United Church of Christ.

Dave enjoys music, genealogy, and exploring issues related to religion, culture, politics, and world affairs.  With his wife, Liz, he resides in Grandville.