Geneva Unitarian Church welcomes new minister
The Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva will welcome Rev. Alan Taylor as its new minister at a special service on Sunday, Sept. 7. The service will be held at 10 a.m. in the church’s historic 1843 sanctuary at 110 S. Second St. in downtown Geneva.
Rev. Taylor brings 26 years of ministerial experience to his new position, including an 18-year tenure at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Oak Park, Ill.
During his time at Unity Temple, the church grew from 320 to 600 members, quadrupled its annual budget, constructed a 7,000-square-foot community center, and completed the restoration of its landmark Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building.
Under his leadership, the Unity Temple congregation cultivated strong and productive relationships with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Refugee One, the Community Renewal Society, and PASO, an advocacy group for undocumented people and refugees. Rev. Taylor was personally recognized by the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association for his advocacy and support, the Oak Park Housing Center for his bridge-building with African American leaders on Chicago’s west side, and the local NAMI chapter.
“It is an honor and a joy to begin my time as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva during a period of growth and transition,” Rev. Taylor said. “This church has a long and storied history, and I look forward to leading the congregation on a rich and meaningful shared journey as we work and thrive together in the years to come.”
Rev. Taylor is married to Angelica Cortes and together they have two children, both currently in high school in Oak Park. He is a graduate of Pomona College and Starr King School for the Ministry, and has also served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Massachusetts, Washington and Connecticut.
At the Sept. 7 service, Rev. Taylor will be introduced and welcomed by Minister Emerita, Rev. Lindsay Bates, the longest-serving minister in the church’s 183-year history.
About the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva
Founded in 1842, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva is the oldest church in Geneva, Ill., part of a centuries-old liberal religious tradition that values reason and free thought over dogma and creed. The church is a unique religious voice in the community, offering worship services and religious education programs that draw on diverse spiritual traditions, as well as outreach initiatives that advance social justice causes locally and around the world. Learn more at www.uusg.org.