Brian Ferguson
SMUUF Minister

Welcome to the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship! I am glad you found us and hope we get the chance to meet. Our  Religious Education classes for adults and children are Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. and worship services follow at 11:00 a.m. We invite you to join us as we strive to build lives of love and justice together. Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life's religious journey, you are invited to participate in the full life of our congregation. We are a group of people committed to searching for deeper meaning in our lives, building community together, and being of service to others. We invite you to come just as you are and join us in community.

Vision
I believe the purpose of our religious community is to bring more loving-kindness, caring, and justice into our world through the transformation of individual lives and our wider community. In our religious community, we affirm the principle passed down to us from our Universalist ancestors that every single human being on this earth, deserves love. We strive to live this truth in our daily actions and in efforts to support social justice and equality in all areas of life. All are welcome here, regardless of color of skin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious beliefs, or lack of religious beliefs, we strive to embrace all who wish to be part of our community.

A questioning, curious mind is a core element of our shared religious journey and so is an open heart ready for transformation. We are a religious community with shared values and differing beliefs. Our shared values are expressed in our Unitarian Universalist principles of the inherent worth and dignity of all people as well as respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are part. Our differing beliefs are expressed through our varied religious expression of the Sacred and the nature or existence of God. Our religious center as a community transcends our specific beliefs by agreeing that life is better lived in community. We have found humility and awe before the beauty of the universe, gratitude for the gift of life, and love for one another. Ours is not an easy religious path, but I believe that our lives can be richer and more meaningful through our involvement in this religious community.

Brian Ferguson
About me: I was born and raised in the West of Scotland. I earned an Applied Physics degree from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, and worked for 24 years as an Electronic Design engineer and project manager in both Scotland and after moving to California in 1986. In 2009, I graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry, the Unitarian Universalist seminary in Berkeley, California. I moved to Austin, Texas in 2008 to serve as the ministerial intern at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin and the Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Park. I also served for a year as a Chaplain Resident at the Seton Family of Hospitals in Austin, Texas.

I began serving as the Consulting Minister here at the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in September 2010 and am honored to serve this exciting, vibrant, and growing community. I am joined on life’s journey by my partner, Natalie Freeburg, and daughter, Isla Ferguson, who was born in 2003. We currently live in Austin.

I sincerely hope that you will visit us at the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and come to speak with me personally. I am open to hear your questions and thoughts about our religious community or Unitarian Universalism. Also please feel free to contact me by email at minister@smuuf.org. I am available for various rites of passage, including memorial services, child dedications, weddings and services of union regardless of gender or sexual orientation. I look forward to hearing from you.