09/03/2026
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On May 27, 1945, Gloria Steinem was baptized at First Church Amherst. For real.
On the 50th anniversary of that somewhat random event (Gloria and her mother were in the area to visit Gloria's older sister, Susanne, a student at Smith College, and churches do not normally baptize folks just passing through town), the church's then-pastor, the Rev. Karen McArthur, wrote Steinem to let her know how much had changed in those fifty years, thanks to the feminist movement and the UCC's Open & Affirming ministries. McArthur told Steinem about our church and noted that on a recent Sunday, a seven-month-old child of the church, a girl with two moms, had been baptized here.
Almost a year later, Steinem wrote back, and you can see a copy of her gracious letter below.
May she rest in peace and power.
