American Unitarian Conference Forum

I mention this with the intention of trying to discern if the UUA, an organization that many of us used to belong to, has made any fundamental changes in its identity, growth plans, values etc. I do this not to "attack" the UUA but to see if there are any signs, at the national level, of moving slightly closer to position(s) common to ours.

One UUA blogger, "CRAPonSundays" noted the improved website design...less in your face political messages ...instead...a more visitor friendly site.

http://www.uua.org/

> I agree, it is much more clean and benign appearing.

The marketing plan, "Now is the Time!" will focus on five areas:
Growing -> Diversity, Leadership, Numbers, Spirit, Witness.

The first three I consider of less immediate relevance to us as opposed to the last two...Spirit and Witness.

1. The Diversity effort ....not much new there..IMHO...except the idea of an internet congregation...something we have kicked around here.

2. Leadership - more utilization of outside consultants and ministerial development with a focus on "Large Church" ministers.
(I guess this is in anticipation of growth? There are not many large UUA churches.)

3. Growth...recognition of no growth since 1961...more focus on retaining youth, "Uncommon Denomination" adds, funding support (I note the funds are tied to performance...interesting concept...something not universally adopted when applied to other issues...but I digress) and new "programs."

4. "Spirit" - focus on renewing worship. My question would be...worship concerning what? Significant challenges I think because the idea of worship is foreign to many UUA congregants...secular humanists, atheists, Buddhists...and what to worship...earth centered, pagan, Christian etc.
The need to: "energize our faith community—to help keep the light of UUism burning within all of us." What is the faith? What is the light of UUism? I think success will depend on providing clear answers to these needs.

5. Witness......based on what is believed. Again, this is tricky because there is no set of easily marketable "beliefs" of a religious nature.

I think, IMHO, that the UUA is aware of the problems...similar to most mainline Liberal churches....and even what to do is a solid start..but, the critical pieces are missing...a real identity, a real faith, a real set of beliefs that will speak to and retain the religious seeker. IMHO, the seeker will be drawn to investigate...but until the political animal is caged and some kind of unified God oriented worship and beliefs are adopted it will be all for naught. I just don't think that many people seeking a religious faith will find sustenance...a pretty book cover with blank or confused text pages will remain on the bargain rack or used book store shelves. I am curious to see if the emphasis on worship and spirit will tenderly edge toward a more theistic position.

I agree----It often seems that no matter what kind of new marketing campaign is being tried out by the UUA, there is still something missing at the core. Attending the UUA General Assembly in 2004, I could find nothing in their bookstore that I would care to read, except for a few volumes that I had read along the way with mild interest.

At one of the UU churches I attended here, I heard references in some circles to the importance of one's prayer life. No one seemed very eager to explain what was meant by that, and virtually everyone seemed to be theologically neutral, humanist, atheist, "UU Buddhist", or apathyist (also spelled apatheist).

I'm always interested to hear what others have done to try to reform the UUA (perhaps by trying to introduce unitarianism and universalism into it) or what they have tried to do in their own communities to build unitarian and/or universalist alternatives to the UUA.

John

I assume an apatheist is an apathetic theist? One could argue that applies to deists, lol.

I am curious as to why no effort has been made to reinject original forms of Unitarianism and Universalism (Christian or otherwise) back into the UUA. My guess is it simply would not be well received.

The only glimmer of such a movement are the few Unitarian Christian churches.....certainly none in my area.

True...I would love to have King's Chapel in my backyard (or First Parish in Weston for that matter). For some of these churches I have to wonder why they keep their affiliation with the UUA. Many of these churches are also affiliated either with the United Church of Christ or the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I like the Disciples which seems to fit nicely with classical unitarianism and universalism, as well as the liberal and conservative ends in the Christian spectrum. I don't care much for the UCC-too typical of the dying mainline churches and too much into liberal politics.

Apathyist or apatheist is a word used looseley and vaguely and as far as I know does not appear in any dictionary. I see a person of that orientation as being fairly indifferent to God or theology, perhaps asserting that the question of God really doesn't matter very much.

"Apathetic theist" is probably an equally good interpretation.

John

AUC marketing tag line concepts...

Got God? Unitarians, come home...reclaim your religious heritage.

Unitarians, fill your spiritual hole!
The AUC invites you to explore God with us.

Tired of banging drums? Do protests leave you unfulfilled?
The AUC is here for you.

When I first came across the UUA's blurb about the new campaign, it made mention of "sharing the good news of [UUism]" and my first thought was-well what is the good news? Be nice and no one can force you to believe in something you don't want to? I can stay home and do that on a Sunday morning It isn't 1207, no one is going to punish me for not adoring the Eucharist or dunk me to make sure I'm not a sorcerer. Well still, good luck to them...