Reverend Gordon Clay Bailey will be spending the weekend of Feb. 4 and 5 in St. George as visiting minister with the Universalist Unitarian Fellowship of Southwest Utah (UUFSU). Rev. Bailey is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, Board-Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor. He is the current minister at the UU Congregation in Las Vegas.
On Saturday, February 4th, Rev. Bailey will conduct a workshop from 11-4 p.m. on “Centering,” a concept key to individual spiritual growth as well as congregational growth. At 10 a.m. on Feb. 5, Rev. Bailey will give a presentation titled “The 8th Principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association: A Potential Game Changing Moment.” UUFSU meets at the Room at the Square, 175 W 900 S, St. George. All people interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism are invited to attend.
At the core of Rev, Bailey’s talks are the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, which affirm and promote: 1) the inherent worth and dignity of every person; 2) justice, equity and compassion in human relations; 3) acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; 4) a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; 5) the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large; 6) the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and 7) respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Unitarian Universalists put these principles into practice, and they are especially important in these turbulent times.
Rev. Bailey spent his early adult life searching for a job where he could make the most difference, having grown up on the banks of the Hudson River in the Harlem and Washington Heights neighborhoods of New York City. Before training for the ministry in his thirties, his career posts were a home for abused boys, Catholic Charities, Job Corps and the New York City Public School System. His significant experiences in social services provided him with understanding and compassion for people of many backgrounds. Rev. Bailey’s choice to serve in the Unitarian Universalist denomination was due to its rich tradition in social justice and its non-dogmatic approach to worship. Before serving the congregation in Las Vegas, he served in various ministerial positions in California, New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Southwest Utah welcomes participation on Feb. 4 and 5 to hear Rev. Bailey and to join discussions following the workshop and service.