UUFG History, 1980s
After the departure of Linnea Pearson, the search for a new minister was begun, and the turn of the decade saw the hiring of Charles Saleska as the next UUFG minister. Chuck had been a Baptist minister who took further training for the UU ministry. His experience mirrored that of many members who come on many paths to Unitarian Universalism. With Chuck came his family, and his wife, Charlotte, became an equally important part of congregational life as she served in the part-time positions of office secretary and Religious Education coordinator.
During this period, the growth of the congregation dictated the need for a more stable governing system, and under the direction of the Board presidents at the turn of the decade, the Governing Board/Executive Committee system was developed. Unfortunately, Chuck’s ministry was cut short by illness, and in 1984, after a six-month leave of absence, he retired with the rank of Minister Emeritus.
With this development, Char found that she, too, had a ministerial calling, and the family moved to Chicago where Char enrolled in Mead Lombard Divinity School, and upon graduation served the UU congregation of Davenport, Iowa, and later served several congregation as a UUA interim minister. For a short period, the congregation had lay leadership while assessing the situation. It soon became clear that the congregation had grown too large for sustained lay leadership. Charles Howe served the congregation as interim minister and helped the congregation develop its future course.
The congregation looked inward to congregational life and outward to the surrounding community while healing from the loss of Chuck Saleska. A search committee was formed under the leadership of Phil Spear, and in May of 1986, the committee unanimously presented a candidate, Jack Donovan, to the congregation. Jack was called to become the minister of the congregation by a large majority of members. Jack brought to the congregation an energy that helped revitalize the congregation’s mission and became a leading spokesman for liberal religious causes in the Gainesville community. The UUFG had a history of working for social justice, and this work continued in many areas during this time—addressing problems in Central America, the gay community, reproductive rights, and poverty, among others. In this decade, the congregation also recognized the importance of having a stable music program and hired Ruth Lewis as music director.
In 1987, the congregation reached an important milestone by paying off its 25-year mortgage, probably much to the relief of those early members who had personally guaranteed to secure it in the event of fiscal disaster. However, the congregation did not have much time to savor the budgetary relief. It was becoming very obvious that the congregation was rapidly outgrowing its small, beloved building. Space was increased as much as possible with the remodeling of the interior and adding outside portable office and classroom wing and gazebo. Finally the congregation was faced with either an addition to the current building or a moving to a new site.
After much deliberation and several "space" and building committees, the congregation decided to sell its current property and search for another piece of property for construction of a new building. The current property on NW 34th Street, which at one time had housed a riding stable, was purchased after a capital fund drive. However, the economic situation in the 1980s forced the congregation temporarily to table the plans to build and move.
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