When different religious congregations come together, it is where they overlap that some of the most important work is done.
The island’s Eagle Harbor Congregational Church (EHCC) and Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church (CUUC) have managed to forge a strong interfaith relationship and expand that important middle ground in the wider island community.
“We’re an example of the interfaith collaboration,” said Rev. Jaco ten Hove of CUUC. “Our churches have had a mutual history together that goes back practically to the colonial days, and that relationship goes even deeper here.”
Next week, together, the two churches will mark independent milestones.
At EHCC, a recently wrapped- up capital campaign has revitalized the iconic congregational building on the corner of Winslow Way and Madison Avenue, an event which roughly coincided with the 50-year anniversary of the Cedars congregation’s founding.
To publicly mark the occasion on June 2, both churches will host island author David Korten at the Eagle Harbor church. He will give an open lecture entitled, “Spiritual Awakening, A New Economy, and the End of Empire.”
It is not only a chance for the Eagle Harbor congregation to show off their refurbished building, but a joint venture to build upon that middle ground that reaches out in ways beyond religion.
“That realm of community service and justice that is much larger than any one religion,” ten Hove said. “There is a lot of common ground that is shared across religions and non-religious affiliations. Many of us share the same concerns.”
Idyllically anchoring Bainbridge’s main street, Eagle Harbor Congregational Church is seen as one of the best places to promote these all encompassing events.
Rev. Dee Eisenhauer of EHCC agrees, saying it has been a focus of the church for a number of years to make itself a hub of the island.
“In many ways we think of ourselves as stewards of the building more than owners,” Eisenhauer said. “We just want to make sure the community feels welcome in our building. That has always been part of our goal, to not only be a community church, but a community center.”
Just before Easter, the church ended a four-year, three-part capital campaign in which congregation members and islanders raised over $690,000 for repairs to the historic building, which suffered from leaks and dry rot and had no fire sprinkler system.
The historic steeple was also repaired thanks to about $147,000 raised by the larger island community.
The last phase of the campaign concentrated on a remodel of the church’s sanctuary, which brought in natural light and blended the church’s history with a modern edge. A new glass cross and etched glass pieces were designed by island artist Amy Chamberlain, and islander Steve Harrison constructed a new altar that matches the church’s historic pulpit made in 1896.
New audio/visual facilities also allow the church to reach out to more visually oriented audiences. They have been used for a joint EHCC/CUUC promoted environmental film series, part of a number of interfaith events and services held at EHCC.
“Our churches have a lot in common in terms of our approach to religion and social justice issues,” Eisenhauer said. “Where those three spheres combine there is great respect. It’s part of our mission to join other faith communities, in a quest for harmony.”
Eisenhauer also has been a long-time friend of ten Hove and his wife, Rev. Dr. Barbara Wells ten Hove, before they took the helm at CUUC in August 2008.
When they arrived, the ten Hoves joined a church with a 142 members. That number represents significant growth since the church’s founding in June 1959.
“This is a congregation that has survived all kinds of bumps in the road and now we have some members who have been here for 30 years,” said Channie Peters, president of its board of trustees. “That we have hung together all this time, I feel incredibly positive about our future.”
According to Peters, part of the attraction of Cedars to a growing number of participants is an open outlook on religion, and an emphasis on social justice.
As part of that ilk, CUUC has also achieved “Green Sanctuary Status,” a certification doled out by the national Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.
As part of their anniversary, the church is using the theme “celebrating our past, shaping our future.” Part of that future is the ten Hoves dedication to remaining pastors at the church into the foreseeable future.
“We’re here, we’re looking to stick around and we’re excited to come back to the area,” ten Hove said.
Eagle Harbor Congregational Church and Cedars Universalist Unitarian Church will host a lecture by island author David Korten, 7 p.m. June 2 at Eagle Harbor Church.
This Sunday EHCC will have an open house after their Pentacost Sunday service. On Sunday, June 7, CUUC will celebrate their 50th anniversary at their current home at The Island School.
