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New Year’s Day, 2008

Dear Ones,

In the first two Soundings issues of the New Year, I’d like to share with you a pair of documents that emerged from the inquiry by the Membership Task Force into the meaning of membership and the dynamic of “belonging” here in this congregation. Towards the end of our yearlong process, we realized that we were learning about two sets of needs: the needs of each individual who participates in the life of the congregation and the needs of the congregation as a whole. An individual develops a sense of belonging and personal fulfillment only when a significant proportion of the needs he or she brings to the search for a spiritual home are met.  Similarly, the congregation as a whole can hope to manifest its vision and fulfill its mission only when its own needs are addressed as well. Most of us had not thought about the congregation in this way before, as an entity with its own distinct history, challenges, purpose and future. The moment we did however, our tasks and priorities in the area of membership suddenly became much clearer. Here are the needs of the congregation we identified:                                   

• to claim our identity as a community of Unitarian Universalists and as a UU congregation among others in an Association of congregations;
• to share a vision of our future and the mission and strategic plan to help us move towards the manifestation of that vision;
• to accurately project our identity, purpose and inclusive welcome into the wider community;
• to develop a comprehensive internal and external communication network so that we can attract and retain members and work efficiently and effectively to achieve our mission ends;
• to develop a reputation for faithful fulfillment of our mission aims and to claim with pride our contributions to powerful ministry “within, among and beyond” our members;
• to occupy a physical plant and ecologically healthy property that accommodate the ministry to which we are called as a congregation and to be worthy stewards of those spaces;
• to give each person who engages with us in community every opportunity to enjoy the feeling of “belonging” here: a sense of welcome, connection, response in times of celebration and need, trust, respect and appreciation;
• to be aware of the developing gifts and changing needs of each congregant;
• to categorize and track the level of involvement and commitment of each adult person to the congregation and its mission and respond in a timely manner to changes in that relationship;
• to maintain an accurate, accessible and useful database about our church community.
• to be confident that both new and long-term members are familiar with the covenants we develop together and any congregational “stands” we take, so that we can experience the harmony of shared values and expectations;
• to agree that “membership” implies the pledging of “time, talent and treasure,” a serious commitment to the congregation and the acquisition of certain “rights & responsibilities”;
• to obtain the maximum affordable financial support of each person involved in the congregation, commensurate with the benefit realized for themselves and others;
• to recognize the act of joining this congregation as a “life passage” of great significance, worthy of meaningful ritual recognition and public celebration.

I’d be curious to know how the idea of the congregation itself having a set of needs strikes you. Are there any you would want to add to or remove from this list? Tell me, if you’d like: email - or 203-227-7205, ext. #19. In two weeks I’ll share the list we compiled of the needs of individuals who participate in our religious community. You might like to make your own list in advance to compare with ours in the next Soundings issue. In the meantime, I am wishing you all the very best in 2008!

Margie!

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