The

Pennsylvania Universalist Convention

Our History and Who We Are Today

Universalist churches in America organized into state conventions and other bodies as early as 1793. Early Universalist state conventions played an active role as the denomination's primary governing organizations, and their authority included certifying the fellowship of ministers.

The Pennsylvania Universalist Convention (PUC) was created in 1831. George deBenneville Keim, grandson of  Universalist Patriarch George deBenneville,  was the moderator of the first gathering of Universalist churches from the Keystone State.

In 1961, the Universalist Church of America (UCA) merged with the American Unitarian Association (AUA), to form the present-day Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). With that merger, many Universalist state conventions dissolved. Six, however, remained in existence, among them the Pennsylvania Universalist Convention.

Today the convention maintains an interest in preserving the history of Universalism and continues to administer funds, grants or bequests designated for the remaining Pennsylvania Unitarian-Universalist churches with roots in the Universalist tradition.

Those churches are the Unitarian Universalist Church of Athens and Sheshequin, Bradford County; the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Restoration, Mount Airy, Philadelphia; First Unitarian Universalist Church of Berks County, Reading; First Universalist Church, Brooklyn, Susquehanna County; First Universalist Church of Girard, Erie County; UU Congregation of Smithton, Westmoreland County; and the Towanda UU Fellowship, Bradford County.

The Pennsylvania Universalist Convention holds twice yearly gatherings.

The largest gathering is In the fall, when each member church is officially represented by one trustee, up to five lay delegates, and a ministerial delegate. Attendance is open to all members of the churches that are a part of the PUC. Officers are elected and general business is transacted at this gathering, which also includes workshops, social gatherings, and worship services.

The officers and Board of Trustees meet separately in spring to review grant requests and conduct other business.