Joe Parsons

I’m Joe Parsons, a long-term member of Beacon. Ours is a typical story . . . we did not investigate religion until our first son was about four, and quickly found the Unitarian community. 

When we settled in this area, we immediately fell in love with the Summit congregation. We were instantly gratified by our kid’s relationships with the RE programs. We learned so much personally. We were enthralled by the sermons, the music, our new friends, and the sanctuary.

My favorite story about Beacon is that we were dropping our son off at the off-site RE building, a block down the street, for the first time when I had a hallway chat with someone promoting consolidating the RE building with the sanctuary . . . and I assure you there was a conversation about a capital campaign! I laugh to this day about this introduction to a new congregation . . . wow! . . . a congregation in action! And, we have been in action ever since, be it completing that project, taking public stands, marching for justice, changing our name, supporting Black Lives Matter, the 8th principle, and now our new sanctuary.

In a nod to the Interdependent Web of All Existence, your support will not be just for Beacon, but for our incredible Unitarian-Universalist (UU) movement. Statewide we have UU Faith Action, and nationally, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA, which supports our educational programs including our beloved OWL program). Internationally, we have the UU-UNO at the United Nations and UU Service Committee, which works together with an international community of grassroots partners and advocates to advance human rights.

Our most recent example of expanding and supporting our movement is the Beacon Hope and Justice Center. I serve on its board and as its treasurer. Our mission is to address the oppression of marginalized communities and the impacts of poverty and racism.