[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 9094-9095]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO SHAWNEE MISSION UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2007

  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, the Shawnee Mission Unitarian 
Universalist Church has been an important presence in the City of 
Overland Park and Johnson County, Kansas, since 1967.
  In 1970 the Church, sited on historical grounds that date to the 1871 
Breyfogle Farm, the 1913 Mathey Farm, and the 1948 Burgdorfer Farm, 
purchased the house and barn, vintage 1913, from a previous church 
congregation. This site will be the location of the Church's 40th 
anniversary celebration, following its worship service on May 20, 2007.
  The Church has provided liberal religious services and education for 
adults and children, has sponsored forums with knowledgeable speakers 
on public issues, has initiated a pathfinding Coming of Age program for 
youth in the denomination, and has presented a nationally-recognized 
World Religion Series. Additionally, the Church has promoted democracy 
by serving as a voting site in the community and has encouraged members 
to support many local, national, and international charitable efforts 
including SafeHome, Johnson County Interfaith Hospitality Network, 
Habitat for Humanity, Crosslines, American Indian Center, Million 
Voices for Darfur, UNICEF, and many others.
  Through the years the Church has been a good neighbor to the 
surrounding residential area through its maintenance of buildings and 
grounds, including the front garden which has been recognized as a 
Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. The 
Church also is a member in good standing of the Unitarian Universalist 
Association [UUA], the international umbrella group of UU congregations 
and has been certified as a Welcoming Congregation by UUA.
  Madam Speaker, the members of the Shawnee Mission Unitarian 
Universalist Church are celebrating the past and present successes of 
their church community and are planning for the future of their church 
community. I am pleased to join with, Johnson County, the City

[[Page 9095]]

of Overland Park and with men and women of goodwill throughout the 
Kansas City metropolitan area in recognizing and congratulating the 
Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church upon its 40th anniversary 
as a vibrant member of the metropolitan area's interfaith communities.

                          ____________________