The Beginnings of the Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry (Formerly known as UFETA)
In 1986, four friends in New York City who cared deeply about animals formed the core group of what was initially called UUFETA, Unitarian Universalists For the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Two of them, Constance Young and Marilyne Mason, described themselves as “cat and dog rescuers,” but they were more than that. Connie was a science writer who worked for Friends of Animals and Marilyne was an attorney who founded Legal Action for Animals and taught at the Brooklyn Law School. The other two, Sheila Dines and Barbara Munves, were both longtime animal advocates from the United Kingdom, and they were committed vegetarians.
In the late 1970s, Connie was looking for a church when she saw that the Sunday program at Fourth UU Society of New York would be featuring a speaker on vegetarianism. Already on the road to veganism, she remembers seeing a bumper sticker: “If you love animals called ‘pets,’ why do you eat animals called ‘food’?” That and the Sunday speaker challenged her to action. She discovered that the minister, Rev. Bob Hemstreet, and the congregation were very animal friendly. The breadth of concern for justice she found at the church led her to join.
Sheila Dines and Barbara Munves already knew Marilyne, and the four formed an immediate friendship based on shared beliefs. All four joined the UU Church close to their homes in Flushing, and they founded UUFETA.
Programs at General Assembly
In 1987, UUFETA presented its first program at General Assembly (in Little Rock that year). It was called Compassionate Consumerism, and the panelists were Ingrid Newkirk, the President of PETA; Neal Barnard, chair of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; and Marilyne Munves, President of UFETA. UFETA continued offering excellent programming at subsequent General Assemblies, featuring Professor Tom Regan, often described as “Founder of the Animal Rights Movement;” John Robbins, Jim Mason, Rue McClanahan, and Howard Lyman among others.
Rev. Gary Kowalski served for many years as President and was succeeded by Rev. LoraKim Joyner, who headed the Board of Trustees for 8 years. During this time UFETA was influential in getting the delegates to approve Global Warming and Ethical Eating as Study Action Items. UUAM’s General Assembly presence grew steadily through outstanding exhibit booth activities headed by former Board Member Charlie Talbert, and his spouse, Vicky Talbert.
UFETA Becomes UUAM
After much research, discussion, and deliberation in the fall of 2009, UFETA changed its name to UU Animal Ministry. This new name reflects more truly our commitment to our congregations as we assist them in their faith development and their outreach regarding the inherent worth and dignity of all beings.