Mission :
"Our Mission is to be an inclusive spiritual community that serves families and individuals as a sanctuary, a beacon of enlightenment and a call to service."

The congregation at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church brings together a wide diversity of beliefs and backgrounds. We have chosen to share our religious journey not only in spite of, but because of, the differences we bring to our spiritual search, though we realize that this can bring ambiguity and conflict at times. We're not all on the same path, nor do we expect to arrive at the same destination. Our church's tag line is "One Church, Many Paths," which recognizes the diversity of religious beliefs we hold, while affirming the importance of the gathered religious community.

We identify with a wide variety of beliefs, ranging from theistic to non-theistic to atheistic beliefs, from humanism to Unitarian Christianity, and including earth-centered and Eastern-focused practices. Members across the spectrum feel keenly that this range of beliefs needs to be acknowledged in such a way that we can all call our church home.

Our primary objective is to sustain a humanizing community of concern in which deep, troubling questions may be fearlessly addressed, the mind freed, and the soul nourished. We strive to be a caring community, supportive of the individuals within, involved in the world without.

Who We Are And What We Believe :

West Shore is a Unitarian Universalist Association member congregation. Along with more than 1000 other societies in the Association, we covenant to affirm and promote the Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

West Shore seeks to be a spiritual home for people of free faith regardless of race, color, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, or national origin. As a recognized Welcoming Congregation, we welcome and affirm bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender persons in our congregation

History :
Obtained from West Shore: The First Fifty Years, edited by Dottie Black, and the WSUUC Handbook...

The idea of a Unitarian church west of the Cuyahoga River, encouraged in 1945 by Dr. Everett Moore Baker, minister of First Church in Cleveland, was brought to fruition in less than a year's time by 129 charter members. At West Shore's first annual meeting on May 14, 1946, the congregation unanimously called their mentor, Wayne Shuttee, as minister. The first services were held in the Lakewood Masonic Temple in the fall of 1946.

The people of West Shore moved resolutely forward from their humble beginnings and in 1949, held their first building fund drive. This enabled them to acquire at a tax sale, 3.2 acres of relative wilderness in Rocky River. Unfortunately, before the church building could be completed, Dr. Everett Moore Baker was killed in a plane crash. In May of 1952, the early building, consisting of a smaller version of Baker Hall, a few classrooms, and offices for the Minister and the Director of Religious Education, housed the first Hilliard Boulevard services. By this time, the congregation had grown to 374 members.

The pioneering congregation spread the word, bringing in hosts of new members and their children. In 1955, Reverend Wayne Shuttee was succeeded by Dr. Peter Samsom. In his nine years of ministry, the congregation grew from 500 to 900 members. His tenure was marked by a strong commitment to civil rights and a tackling of segregation and racial issues, with a widening view of our church's role. The Unitarian and Universalist denominations merged. Dr. Samsom oversaw the construction of a $500,000 main sanctuary and a preschool wing, which were completed in 1962. West Shore attained its present physical dimensions at that time.

Dr. Samsom moved on in 1965 and was followed by Reverend James Curtis. He was succeeded in 1968 by the Reverend David Cole. Reverend Cole remained for the next eighteen years. During controversial times in society, he led the congregation as a leader in liberal thought and expression.

As our church evolved, so did our church school. We have had many Directors of Religious Education throughout the years. Since, 1976, Reverend Dr. Marjorie Skwire has provided a stable foundation for our program. A landmark event on November 23, 1980, was her ordination to the Unitarian Universalist ministry in the church sanctuary.

Reverend Michael McGee succeeded Reverend Cole in 1988. He was instrumental in helping the congregation establish partner relationships with two congregations in Europe, one in Transylvania and another in Budapest, Hungary, leading a group of West Shore members to visit both congregations in 1992. Reverend McGee left in 1999 to serve the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia.

West Shore voted to start our next chapter in history by calling the parish co-ministry team of Reverend Kathleen Rolenz and Reverend Wayne Arnason in June, 2000.