Jeff Pender

Jeff Pender says he’s probably like a lot of people who have made a spiritual journey in their lives. “I started out as something very different.” Raised in Charlotte as a Southern Baptist, he found himself questioning as he got older. “I wanted to have some place for spiritual growth that was very open to other viewpoints and traditions.”

For Mr. Pender, a ceramic artist who lives in Mooresville, the journey has brought him to Unitarian Universalism. He is among a group of people in the Lake Norman area now trying to organize a Unitarian fellowship in or near Davidson. The group has had several meetings already, and plans another “study session” Monday, March 2, at 7:30 at Davidson Public Library community room, on the Village Green.

Mr. Pender is hoping to assemble a group of at least 8 to 10 people to meet regularly, and invites anyone who is interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalist beliefs and practices to join in. He also has started a website, UULakeNorman.org to help spread the word about the organizing effort and answer questions.

INSPIRED BY FATHERHOOD

Mr. Pender and wife Anne had their first child, a daughter, three years ago. He says the desire to bring her up with a spiritual foundation inspired him to begin a new search of his own. “My sense of urgency arose when Hazel came along,” he said.

“One of the big draws of with Unitarian Universalists is religious education. A lot of people are interested in getting their kids into it,” Mr. Pender said.

He says Unitarians can “have the wisdom of Jesus on the one hand and Buddhist inspiration on the other.” It is open and inclusive of all, no matter their social status, sexual orientation, or specific beliefs. “They could be Christians or they could be atheists,” he said.

To have a formal Unitarian church here, organizers would need at least 30 members, he said. For now, they’re holding study group meetings twice monthly and hoping to attract more participants.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

The UU Lake Norman study group meets Monday, March 2, 7:30 p.m. at Davidson Public Library, on the Village Green.

Visit the UU Lake Norman website, http://www.uulakenorman.org/

You can also send Jeff an email, jeff@jeffpender.com