History of the CUA

Historical milestones of our organization from founding to present

February 20, 2007:

  • Launched the ChristianUniversalist.org website, including our statement of faith, articles about our beliefs, and a FAQ about the organization.

March 15, 2007:

April 21, 2007:

  • Several churches and supporting ministries have been added to the website.
  • Three new people have joined the CUA Board of Directors: Dr. Cecil E. Bohanon, Brad Edwards, and Felicia Urbanski.

May 8, 2007:

  • CUA in the media: Retired pastor joins movement — The Reading Eagle newspaper, 4/28/07.
  • Added to website: The CUA: Building a Unique and Historic Spiritual Movement. This article explains why the Christian Universalist Association is special, and compares it to two other Universalist movements in Christian history.
  • Added to website: Downloadable introductory brochure about the CUA. Intended for Christians and general audience.
  • Lillie Mae Henley is a new Director on the Board.

May 19, 2007:

  • The founding Board meeting of the Christian Universalist Association took place as planned on May 16-17 in Washington, D.C. It was a successful and blessed event! Read about what happened and view photos of the participants and the beautiful church in which the meeting was held.

June 7, 2007:

  • Added to website: Lord, Let Us Be One! by Rev. Eric Stetson. The founding Executive Director of the CUA calls upon all Christians — especially those who believe in the teaching of universal reconciliation — to unite and work together to share the Gospel of God’s all-inclusive love, regardless of differences of denomination or personal doctrines.
  • Added to website: The Awesome Power of Apparent Insignificance in Religious History by John Morgan. Excerpts from an inspirational lecture given at the 1990 Universalist Convocation.
  • Links to two popular Christian Universalist discussion forums are now listed on our website.
  • The CUA is now offering a free copy of our bimonthly printed newsletter, The Christian Universalist Connection, to anyone who is interested in trying this periodical.

June 26, 2007:

  • Added four articles to website:
  • Added two videos to our multimedia page: one from a sermon by Kalen Fristad at a Methodist church, and one of a speech by Eric Stetson at the Restoration Nation 2007 Annual Conference.
  • John Gavazzoni is a new Director on the Board.

July 17, 2007:

  • Added six new articles to website.
  • We are now offering three books as gifts to people who make a donation to support the CUA.
  • We recently issued a press release officially announcing the formation of the Christian Universalist Association. This was sent to Christian and religious media.

August 1, 2007:

  • We have added a few more churches and ministries to our directory, which have recently decided to become supporters of the CUA.
  • A Christian Universalist conference is being planned to take place in Chicago, Illinois, sometime in the month of November. This event will be sponsored by Restoration Nation, and the Eric Stetson has accepted an invitation to speak. We will bring you more details as they are determined.

September 10, 2007:

  • John Gavazzoni recently resigned from the CUA Board of Directors, and we have chosen Rhett Ellis to replace him.

November 6, 2007:

  • Added to website: Audio files recorded at the Unitarian Universalist Christian Fellowship annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 2. CUA Board members were given an opportunity to speak and answer questions about the new organization.

 November 29, 2007:

  • The CUA has recently become a legally incorporated non-profit religious organization, recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the IRS.
  • Added to website: CUA Bylaws
  • We have added a few more churches and ministries to our directory, which have recently decided to become supporters of the CUA.

December 4, 2007:

  • Added to website: Membership form where people can sign up to become members of the CUA.
  • Added to website: Form to join local mailing lists. People who would like to find fellowship in their local area (such as churches and meeting groups that teach Christian Universalism) can sign up to receive more information.

February 9, 2008:

  • People who wish to support the CUA financially may now do so online by credit card or PayPal. We also offer subscriptions to pledge a regular amount per month. Just click one of the buttons on our donations page.
  • Added to website: Universalism: A Do-Nothing Faith? Why Universalists Should Have a Sense of Urgency and a Plan of Action by Eric Stetson.
  • Added to website: A New Understanding of the Deity of Christ by Logan Geen.
  • CUA in the media: Eric Stetson explains why he left the Baha’i faith and became a Christian Universalist, on Premier Christian Radio in the U.K. Eric joins the discussion with a Baha’i and a Christian at minute 38 of the approximately 80-minute program.

March 15, 2008:

  • CUA Executive Director Eric Stetson has written a new book, Christian Universalism: God’s Good News For All People. This book is currently being printed and can be pre-ordered through our books page.
  • We have added a few more churches and ministries to our directory, which have recently decided to become supporters of the CUA. One of these churches is located near Chicago, Illinois; one is near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; one is near Houston, Texas; and one is in Indonesia.
  • CUA in the media: Eric Stetson debates with Calvinist theologian Dan Strange about the teaching of universal salvation vs. eternal damnation, on Premier Christian Radio in the U.K.  Visit the audio section of our website for listening options.

March 27, 2008:

  • The first page of the CUA website is now available in Spanish! — Asociación de Cristianos Universalistas. We hope to add more Spanish language pages in the near future.
  • Added to website: Video of an interview with Kalen Fristad from 2006, in which he discusses his book, Destined For Salvation, and presents various Biblical and philosophical arguments for universal salvation.
  • We have added several more churches to our directory, which have recently decided to become supporters of the CUA. One of these churches is located in Detroit, Michigan; one is near Spokane, Washington; one is in the U.K.; one is in Nigeria; and 19 are in Kenya.
  • People who wish to donate to the CUA in currencies other than U.S. dollars may now do so online by credit card or PayPal, in Canadian dollars, British pounds, or euros. Just click one of the buttons on our foreign currency donations page.

April 4, 2008:

  • The Christian Universalist Celebration 2008 will be held June 13-15 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This is a major international conference sponsored by the CUA. We have now posted a page full of detailed information and a registration form to attend this conference.

April 10, 2008:

  • Our beliefs page and articles about each of the seven points of the CUA statement of faith are now available in Spanish — En Lo Que Creemos. Click the links on that page to read the articles.
  • We have added several more churches to our directory, which have recently decided to become supporters of the CUA. Two of these churches are located in the Tampa – St. Petersburg, Florida, metropolitan area; one is in Mobile, Alabama; one is in Illinois; one is in Virginia; and one is in Australia.

May 3, 2008:

  • Added to website: Mystical Religious Experiences and Christian Universalism by Ken Vincent.
  • Added to website: An 18th Century Near-Death Experience: The Case of George de Benneville by Ken Vincent and John Morgan. A miraculous near-death vision that inspired a minister to teach universal salvation.
  • Added to website: Membresía — Spanish translation of our membership page (with online form to join the CUA in Spanish).
  • Eric Stetson’s new book, Christian Universalism: God’s Good News For All People has been printed and is now available from the CUA. We have also begun offering The Golden Thread: God’s Promise of Universal Salvation by Ken Vincent. See our books page for these and other titles.

June 26, 2008:

  • Dr. Cecil E. Bohanon recently resigned from the CUA Board of Directors, and Woodrow Lucas has been elected to replace him.

July 11, 2008:

  • John Morgan recently resigned from the CUA Board of Directors, and Susan Smith has been elected to replace him.

August 4, 2008:

  • The Christian Universalist Association began offering a ministerial education and ordination program. Both laypersons and already ordained ministers may apply to receive legal ordination credentials from the CUA. Our program leading to ordination requires extensive study of Christian Universalist theology and history, as well as some reading on the subjects of pastoral care, ethics, discipleship and church planting. It also included a mentorship with an experienced minister in the CUA; which was later replaced with an intership program, for those without ministry experience.
  • Felicia Urbanski recently resigned from the CUA Board of Directors, and Marquis D. Hunt has been elected to replace her.
  • Added to website:

November 22, 2008:

  • Ken Vincent recently resigned from the CUA Board of Directors, and Logan Geen has been elected to replace him.

December 23, 2008:

  • Added to website:
    • Universalism is Not about Hell: A New Vision of Religion by Logan Geen.
    • Two videos of speeches at Christian Universalist Celebration 2008. They are available on the page about the conference and also on our multimedia page.
  • CUA in the media: The CUA was mentioned and our Executive Director Eric Stetson was quoted in an article called “The Rising Tide of Universalism” by Jonathan Merritt in the November-December issue of Relevant magazine. This is a print periodical for progressive evangelicals with a circulation of 70,000.

July, 2009:

  • G. A. Roach resigned from the CUA Board of Directors and Rich Koster was appointed to the Board to replace him.

November 6-8, 2009:

  • The Christian Universalist Celebration 2009, our second annual conference, was held in Nashville, Tennessee. The CUA ordained four ministers there, the first ministers ever ordained by our organization: Eric Stetson of Burke, Virginia; Jose Castillo-Bayonet of New Jersey; Susan Smith of Hickory, North Carolina; and Donne Hayden of Cincinnati, Ohio. Tim King of Colorado Springs, Colorado was keynote speaker and soon after became the fifth CU minister ordained.

December, 2009:

  • Added four videos from the Christian Universalist Celebration 2009.
  • Brad Edwards resigned from the CUA Board and the position of Treasurer, and Rich Koster was appointed to take his place.
  • Lillie Henley resigned from the CUA Board and the position of Secretary, and Logan Geen was appointed to be the new Secretary.

May, 2010:

  • The CUA is launching a new monthly e-newsletter. Each issue will be written by a different member of our organization.

July, 2010:

  • New article: The Universalist TULIP by John Licitra. An alternative version of the TULIP acronym of Five Point Calvinism, based on the Bible’s true message about God’s plan of salvation.

October 22-24, 2010:

  • Our third annual conference was held at the Cincinnati Friends Meeting, with Phillip Gulley as keynote speaker. New CU ministers ordained were David Spatz of Pasadena, Maryland, and Fred Howard of Valdosta, Georgia.

January, 2011:

  • Rich Koster was hired as the new Coordinator of the CUA, replacing Eric Stetson, who resigned as Executive Director at the end of 2010.

May, 2011:

  • The first issue of the CUA’s new and improved monthly e-newsletter, The Christian Universalist, Pat Moauro editor.

September 9, 2011:

  • An Ordinand Seminar was held at St. Simons Island, Georgia, followed by a special worship service and ordination ceremony. Five new CU ministers were ordained: Mikal Rasheed of Oak Park, Illinois; Judy Sheriff of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Blake Murray of Lake Murray, Florida; Mary Keller of Cortez, Colorado; and Deb Peterson of Prescott Valley, Arizona.

September 21-23, 2012:

  • The Fourth Annual CUA conference was held at Murray Grove Retreat Center in New Jersey. Stan Seidner was keynote speaker and presented by Skype and DVD projection. New CU ministers ordained were Richard Lukasiewic of Coram, New York; John Licitra of Howell, New Jersey; Rich Koster of Fort Thomas, Kentucky; Stan Seidner of Austin, Texas; and Jamez Terry of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

November 10, 2012

  • The Board of Directors approved new bylaws completely replacing the old bylaws.

January 26-27, 2013

  • A Regional Gathering was held at the Briarwood Retreat Center north of Fort Worth, bringing twenty-four together members and friends from Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Connie Pace of Wichita, Kansas was ordained a CU minister.

October 11-13, 2013

  • A Regional Gathering was held at The Bridge at Flat Rock near Milledgeville, Georgia, at the same time Pastor Robert Rutherford was hosting his Facebook Family Reunion. A large number of additional guests came on Saturday for the ordination of Jeremiah Gold-Hopton of Atlanta, Georgia.

January 5, 2014

  • An Oklahoma Gathering was held at a restaurant in Stroud, Oklahoma

August 30, 2015

  • A Philadelphia Gathering was held at the UU Church of the Restoration (goes back to Elhanan WInchester’s popular Bible studies in the early 19th century.  Ordained were Jim Egbert of Lansdale, PA, Chiba Edmonds of Washington, DC, Jonathan Perea of Pelham, NY, Don Algeo of Albion, NY, and Don Erickson of Orange, MA.

November 8, 2015

  • Heike Ward was ordained a CU Minister before a large community of friends, family, and parishioners in Sequim, Washington.  Moderating was CUA Coordinator Rich Koster and taking part in the ordination was Michael Camp, CUA member and author of Confessions Of a Bible Thumper.  Heike is a chaplain for the police and rescue departments in Sequim.

May 25, 2016

  • Robert Price was ordained a CU Minister in the Historic Chapel of the V.A. Medical Center in Hampton, Virginia.  Taking part was Coordinator Rich Koster and attending were CUA members Eric Stetson and Joshua Long.  Bob is a V.A. Chaplain and is now serving in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

August 5 – 7, 2016

  • “The Forgotten Gospel” conference in Denver, Colorado.  Forty CUA members attended and there were about 400 in all!  CUA members Charles and Paula Slagle performed as well as Charlane Leslie.