The UUCC Settled Minister Search Team thanks everyone who participated in our congregational survey – as well as our feedback and focus groups – over the last few months. We set out to give members, friends, and staff an opportunity to influence the decisions we make on candidates to be our next minister. Now it’s time to report out what you told us.
More than 200 people responded to the survey, about a 40% return rate, and about 120 people attended our in-person and online meetings. The Search Team considers this a good response, and we gathered a lot of information on how you evaluated our UU community and expressed your expectations for a new minister.
The picture that emerges from all the data and meeting notes is a congregation eager for both intellectual stimulation and spiritual growth. We say we are open to change and to new approaches to ministry. And we are eager for new and dynamic leadership.
Survey Results
Although the survey sampled only part of the congregation, it is likely that the vast majority of members joined UUCC after Jay Leach became our minister 20 years ago. His impact on the community is a filter through which much of the data can be interpreted.
The survey also shows that ministry is just one element of what holds our community together. When members were asked what they value most about our congregation, the most popular answers cited were: community, personal connections, UU values and spirituality. Sunday services, social justice work, and our music program were next in the rankings of things most valued.
Attendance at Sunday services is the most popular single activity cited in the survey. We should also note that attendance is down significantly since Covid restrictions eased and both Jay and Eve Stevens departed. Although adapting to changes has been difficult, the survey shows that members are open to further change – and largely supportive of our Mission and Vision.
The level of trust in leadership question in the survey clearly shows room for improvement, but is decidedly more positive than negative. Where the survey shows we struggle most is in the area of “having difficult conversations and staying in relationship.” Recent internal controversies have shown there are rifts in the congregation over the current direction of Unitarian Universalism writ large. And our next minister will find that healing divisions, conflict resolution, and fostering a greater sense of community are congregational priorities.
Another significant finding of the survey is that members expressed a strong degree of commitment to “shared ministry, where every member has responsibility for fulfilling the UUCC Mission and Vision and plays an active role, giving of their time, talent, and resources.” More than 83% also said it was important that our minister be deeply grounded and educated in Unitarian Universalism.
Our highly capable and experienced staff has been reduced in size in recent years, and despite a decline in membership, their workload has not eased. The congregation appreciates their efforts and their value. Our next minister also can be encouraged that a core of longtime members are willing to shoulder more responsibility for the work of our community.
A comment from a new member who filled out the survey stands out to the Search Team as both insightful and hopeful about UUCC’s future:
“I value UUCC’s strong and committed staff and volunteers. They provide excellent Sunday services, educational programming, and apparently good committee functioning. There is clearly also a strong sense of personal ownership (of UUCC) by the members. As a new member, still discovering my new church and my place in the UUCC community and its complex systems of service and program and leadership, these strengths give me confidence in the resilience of my new congregation and in its future.”
For more a more detailed report on the survey, click here.
Feedback and Focus Groups Results:
Our feedback and focus groups reflected a determination by many members to remain in relationship with one another. Many expressed a commitment to work through conflicts that have emerged since the wrenching events of last year.
As you may remember, we asked for responses to two questions:
Question 1: “Describe our congregation for the benefit of prospective minister candidates.”
Four themes stand out from the discussions: Membership trends, feelings of loss and disappointment, tensions due to ministerial changes and recent UUA and UUCC Bylaws controversies, and strengths our community can build on.
Membership trends:
- Both membership and weekly attendance have fallen since the end of the pandemic and the ministers’ departure
- Our congregation now appears to skew older, and the pre-Covid trend of declining CYRE participation still has an impact
- A recent influx of new members, including families with children
- Optimism that our new Director of Lifespan Religious Education will inject fresh energy into both adult and children/youth RE
Feelings of loss and disappointment:
- Social justice initiatives begun under Jay Leach have suffered setbacks both from his departure and due to the pandemic
- Distractions to our Mission and Vision and disruptions due to Covid, staff departures, and recent controversies have left some members feeling neglected or unheard
- Some members have felt frustration that they were not told the full story behind the ministers’ departures
Tensions due to changes and controversies:
- Adjusting to the new normal after the pandemic has caused anxiety for some that UUCC has not returned to the pre-Covid attendance numbers
- Replacing two tenured ministers with an interim minister has also led to concern over our ability to provide pastoral care
- Controversy over proposed new UUA Bylaw Article 2 has upset members strongly attached to the Seven Principles
- Internal division over a 2023 petition to change the UUCC Bylaws to eliminate the requirement for ministers to be in fellowship with the UUA left wounds that are still healing
- Congregational leaders made well-publicized efforts to foster dialogue over the Bylaws controversies, but overall the community struggles to have uncomfortable conversations over these and other contentious issues
Strengths to build on:
- While adjusting to change has felt threatening to some members, others find opportunity in UUCC’s prospects for growth and renewal with a new settled minister
- The congregation is not culturally diverse, but many see potential for the future as we reinvigorate youth programs and attract younger families
- Connection to community is what many seek here, and there is a desire for more small group activities that are fun, share food and fellowship
- An array of affinity groups and adult educational opportunities can enhance the sense of community among both current and new members
- The music program remains vital and a central part of worship
Question 2: “Looking back after our minister has been with us for a year, what will be your measure of success?”
Responses to this question generally follow four themes: numerical growth, healing from loss and controversy, community building, and Mission and Vision-driven work (social justice, adult and youth programs, spiritual development)
Numerical growth:
- Look at hard measures of success such as people in the pews and online streaming, pledges, more younger families
- Work toward increased membership and pledges to allow hiring second minister
- Want to see the new minister being welcoming to all
- Members who have left or been absent return with enthusiasm
- Minister encourages increase in ARE/SD programs and participation
Healing from loss and controversy:
- Minister prioritizes healing, bringing people together by listening
- Building trust through dialogue about issues of controversy
- Ensure members feel heard, valued, and supported even if they disagree with leadership
- More open, participatory decision-making
Community building:
- New minister centers work toward Beloved Community
- Have more social activities that promote joy and fun
- Members more willing to volunteer, share in ministry
- Shared ministry improves sense of shared purpose
- Minister promotes leadership development to empower potential volunteer leaders
Mission and Vision-driven work:
- We are more involved in social justice and the minister participates
- We are working on our identity centering on Mission and Vision
- New people feel like they have a purpose, a connection
- Minister presents varied, intellectually and spiritually challenging sermons
- We have a balance between social justice work and spiritual path exploration
- Sunday services create a feeling of inspiration and awe
For a more detailed report on the feedback and focus groups, click here.
Conclusion:
In 2022 our congregation experienced the end of two years of Covid separation, followed quickly by the departure of both ministers over a span of just three months. Our community was distressed and grieving. We still are recovering from the impact of the pandemic and a deep sense of loss. Nevertheless, our community is pressing on.
There is longing for what we’ve lost – as well as anticipation for what we might accomplish in a new shared ministry. You told us that for our next minister, a successful first year will look like being welcoming to all, and the congregation feeling a genuine connection to the minister.
In faith,
Your UUCC Minister Search Team:
Barry Ahrendt
Althea Clark
Mic Elvenstar
Ellen Holliday (co-chair)
Rebekah Visco (co-chair)
Dave Warren
Kathryn Whitfield