The Reverend David V. McFarland started his ministry at Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church in September, 2004. He is gifted preacher and singer and brings a lively style of Sunday service to our North Side church along with a passion for social and economic justice. His sermons have ranged from the strictly spiritual (like “Waddya mean, ‘Worship’,” “Hey Holy One!” “Your God Is Too Small” and “Praise Goddess”) to the social (“Divided Nation,” “Liberation for All,” and “Confessions of a Revolutionary Patriot”) to agitating for justice (“Where’s the Justice?” and “Remembering Into Life.”). Not only does he encourage broad participation by such things as inspiring our Racial Justice Ministry; he is also engaged in organizations like the North Side Common Ministries and the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network.

Rev. Dave came to our church from Germany where he began work on his Ph.D. in Applied Ethics. His dissertation working title is: "Banking in Dignity: Applying the Ethic of Human Dignity at the World Bank in the Wolfensohn Years."  Before that, he and his husband, Tim Nuttle, an ecologist, lived in Utah where Rev. Dave was minister of the Cache Valley Unitarian Universalists .   He graduated from UCLA and Harvard Divinity School and was ordained at The First Church in Boston (Unitarian Universalist) in 1996, where he served as intern minister, following which he directed an AIDS ministry in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Rev. Dave has been a panelist or participant in various business ethics, anti-discrimination, homelessness, and gay/lesbian workshops and advocacy groups.

 

Rev. Dave views his UU ministry as one of "working with free spirits serving a reality-based faith." He describes Unitarian Universalists as "free-thinking mystics with hands, individuals who deal creatively with life as it is while working to transform life through love, creating a new reality." He continues that "Allegheny UU Church is a great place to do this work because people are less invested in their Sunday-go-to-church- meeting egos and more invested in working together to celebrate and transform life."

The calling of Rev. McFarland concluded a year-long, nationwide search for a minister to lead our 100 century old congregation.  "Allegheny UU Church has tripled in size in the past decade ," Pat Downey, Chair of the Search Committee commented.  "We set out to find a leader who could help us continue that pattern of growth, while remaining true to our commitment to peace and justice work both in the local and global communities. Our search committee interviewed a number of excellent candidates and was confident that Rev. McFarland was our most qualified candidate, someone with incredible enthusiasm, energy, thoughtfulness, who could offer celebratory Sunday services, provide leadership of our congregation, and continue our history of an activist ministry." And, we might add, he has fulfilled our expectations marvelously. 

Allegheny Unitarian Universalist Church's stated mission is to offer a strong, liberal religious presence in the Pittsburgh area with a high priority on social activism.  Sunday services are held at 10:30 a.m.  The church is located at 416 West North Avenue.  Further information can be obtained by calling 412-322-4261.