Rev. Michael Thompsonis
the first full-time settled minister for UUCT. Born in the piney woods
of East Texas, he graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1970 and
received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stephen F. Austin State
University in 1974.Ministry is a second career for "Rev. Mike." He came to this calling after fifteen years as a high school teacher of U.S. history, government, economics and debate. At the age of 37, he made an intentional break with the doctrines of his youth in a small, rural Missionary Baptist church in order to seek a religion more open to the use of reason and the lessons of personal experience. When he found Unitarian Universalism, he felt he had come home.
In 1989, in response to a call to ministry, Rev. Thompson enrolled at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. After serving as a student minister at Arlington UU Church in Arlington, Texas, and as an intern minister at All Souls UU Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, he received his Master of Theology degree and was ordained in 1993.
From 1994 to 2000, Rev. Thompson served as parish minister of Spindletop Unitarian Church in Beaumont, Texas. While there he received the CUUPs Fuller-Thoreau Award "For Spirited Defense of Religious Freedom" and a Houston Anti-Defamation League Award "In Recognition of Outstanding Efforts to Safeguard Religious Liberties for All."
From 2001 to 2002, Rev. Thompson served as interim minister at Emerson UU Church in Canoga Park, California. Since August, 2002, he has been the parish minister in Tuscaloosa. He says "It's great to be back in the South; this is where my roots are."
"Rev. Mike" is a self-described "UU evangelist," enthusiastic about being a Unitarian Universalist and eager to have a positive impact on the surrounding community. His non-professional interests include astronomy, history, paleontology and travel. Because of his concern for the ethical treatment of animals, he has been a vegetarian for the last twelve years. He and his wife Pam share their home with two feline companions, Swoosie and Xena.
You can contact Rev. Thompson by e-mail at revmike -at- mindspring.com.Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa
6400 New Watermelon Road
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406
(205) 758-8729 1 March 2006