The Universal
Community of Friends was established in 1984 in western Pennsylvania
to fulfill the needs of a community group needing a spiritual organization
for the purposes of engaging in community service.
In 1984, the
UCF (originally known as the Institute of Universal Faith) established
the Sunflower School, a PA registered nonpublic, non-licensed school
with a K-12 compulsory education program and a focus on lifelong learning.
The school operated from 1984 until 1989, with 15 member families and
23 students. The compulsory program became inactive in 1989.
The UCF also
maintained an Environmental Action Committee, which, among other things,
campaigned against the spraying of herbicides along our local roads.
We also organized
clothing, medical, and school material drives for the victims of Reagan/Bush
terrorism in Central America, and held public support rallies for our
local lay-midwives, who, in the late 80's, were still being persecuted
by the state of Pennsylvania.
In 1984, we
published the Theologic Principle of Universalism and the Sunflower
School Manual, both of which are currently out of print.
During the
Gulf War, we helped organize and we participated in protest activities
against the brutality in Iraq imposed upon innocent people by both
sides. We also offered Military Counseling at that time for conscientious
objectors in the event the military draft would be re-imposed. Thankfully,
it was not.
Once again,
as war continues to rage on this planet, and as American tax dollars
fund the violence, we are mobilized to assist those who want peace.
If you need military counseling for conscientious objector status,
or just want to help out in any way, contact us!
To find out
more about our spiritual founding principles, click on the "spiritual
statement"
button above.