“Who was Don Speed Smith Goodloe?” you might ask. Goodloe Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation stands as a testament to his legacy. It embodies the values he championed.
Goodloe was born in 1878. He dedicated his life to education. He served as a teacher and an African Methodist Episcopal minister. Later, he attended Meadville Theological School.
He became the first principal of Maryland’s first black normal school. Today, that school is Bowie State University. Goodloe’s commitment to African American education was unwavering. He sought to serve those underserved by the existing system.
Despite his qualifications, Goodloe faced discrimination. He was discouraged from becoming a Unitarian minister due to his race. This was a common challenge for African Americans at the time. Despite this obstacle, his impact endured. Goodloe died in 1959. His house in Bowie is now a national historic site.
The Goodloe Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation honors his memory. It reflects his dedication to inclusivity and equality. The congregation changed its name to better reflect the diversity of the Bowie area. The name change was also prompted by the fact that the congregation draws members from an area larger than Bowie.
Originally, Goodloe Learning Community was sponsored by the Goodloe Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation. The Goodloe Learning Community includes both a general participation covenanting community and the HUGS homeschool ministry. HUGS, or Homeschool Umbrella Group Support, was formed in 2012. Both groups seek to gather for academic, social and justice-related activities.
The congregation welcomes people who seek inclusion and kindness. It supports humanist values. These values include atheism, agnosticism, Judaism, and more. The congregation actively promotes social justice. It supports LGBTQ+ rights. It supports the right to safe and legal abortion. It also champions immigrants’ rights.
As you stand here, consider the impact of one person’s life. Don Speed Smith Goodloe’s commitment to education and equality lives on. It lives on through this congregation. It inspires us to build a more inclusive world. It is a world where all are welcome.