Diana Kyser

I grew up half in Southern California and half in Alabama. I was raised Presbyterian and my parents were super conservative and the longer we lived in Alabama, the more evangelical and conservative my family became. I actually remember "witnessing" at a local mall where we were trying to convert people to Christianity. I attended a Methodist college in Birmingham, Alabama and thankfully it was a liberal bastion, so I was able to explore politics and religion without the conservative lens of my family of origin. Feeling like I never fit in Alabama, after college I moved to California and then a few years later to New York and eventually to New Jersey. I married a devout Catholic and, really not feeling like I had a religion of my own, I agreed to raise our 3 kids as Catholics. I converted but never felt like I fit there either. After my kids went through confirmation I stopped going to church all together. 

Like many of us, I woke up on November 9th, 2016 sick to my stomach that we had elected Donald Trump. I had spent the last 8 years out of the loop, knowing that my government cared about the things I did. Now that was all going to change. I heard about the Women's March in Washington and a google search led me to sign up for a bus through the Unitarian Church in Summit. My bus captain was Robin Tanner, who had just been hired as one of their ministers. The whole experience of attending the Women's March was transformational for me. After the march, Rob Gregson held several follow up meetings to try to get us involved in activism. I met a bunch of Beacon folks, and since I lived across the street, I started attending services and joined the social justice team. I guess as they say "the rest is history" because I joined the congregation and have been an active participant ever since. 

I have loved the community that Beacon has given me! Not only have I met dear friends, but also I just love the mission of Unitarian Universalism. I can wholeheartedly embrace our covenant and principles. I have never felt so at home. In addition, Beacon cares about all of the issues that I do, giving me a way to participate, be active and give back. My only regret is that I didn't step through those welcoming doors many years before!