VIII. THE CONTEMPORARY ERA [1970-Current]
While the congregation searched for a suitable replacement, Dr. Vern Barnet, a recent Meadville graduate, and then John MacKinnon, minister emeritus from Indianapolis, each served one year interim ministries.

Tony Perrino

The Rev. Anthony Freiss Perrino, formerly minister of the First Unitarian Church in Detroit, became minister in March 1972. He served as a well-known advocate of liberal causes in the area, communicating through his frequent newspaper columns and his moderating of a TV panel show, Probe. Upon his departure from Rockford in June of 1977, newspaper columnist Stan Buckles wrote:

"Tony Perrino was a hair shirt for many. He meant to be. He was constantly at war with the status quo. He perceived in Rockford those qualities that tend to lull a community to sleep - smugness, hypocrisy, self-satisfaction - and he declared war on them."

During Tony's last year, The Revs. Frederika and Henry Lepore had joined him to share an Associate Minister position, and remained as interim ministers for the year during which the church searched for a successor. Their ministry emphasized feminism and spirituality. The Lepores later divorced and Henry left the ministry. Fredrika was serving the UU Church in Ventura, California at the time of her death.

Dave Weissbard

In December, 1978, the congregation called the Rev. David R. Weissbard, who was then serving the Fairfax Unitarian Church in Oakton, VA. He and his family settled in Rockford in August of 1979 when he began his ministry here. Dave served the church for 27 years until his retirement in 2006. Dave was a strong leader, both in the church and the community. Among many other things, he was the producer/host of Fusion, a weekly television show that featured sermons, discussions with members, and interviews with noted community leaders. The show ran for the entire 27 years of his ministry and was the only UU television show in the country. In the face of much public disapproval he forced the Rockford Park District to remove prayers which were displayed at their outdoor education facility. He was very active in the local and state chapters of the ACLU. He was leader of the Rockford Interfaith Council and was active in promoting interfaith activities in the community.

The Rev. Diana Heath served as Assistant Minister from 1980-83.

In 1989, The Rev. Colleen McDonald became Minister of Religious Education.

In 2000, the congregaton approved the construction of an addition to the church which was completed in September, 2001. It provides new office space, an elevator for accessibility, expanded rest rooms, new meeting rooms in the former office space, and new infant and toddler facilities.

The Rev. Howell Lind has served as our Interim Senior Minister since August, 2006.