The Board of Trustees recently wrapped up its 2023–2024 church year listening tour, meeting with fourteen UUC groups and hearing from others at Conversations with the Board.

The Board held listening sessions with various groups across UUC from October through April. We asked to hear their thoughts about what aspects of UUC are thriving, what needs more attention, how we can collectively address gaps, how we can foster engagement and what resonates about the current vision.

Most group members thought their own groups were thriving. Several groups gave the potlucks as an example of positive well-attended, multigenerational experiences. Groups thought family ministry and our support to homeless service entities were thriving areas. The fact that the church paid off its building debt was also noted repeatedly as a sign that UUC is thriving. Folks appreciated the music and thought the information sessions offered after each service were working well to connect people to groups.

Top areas that group members thought needed attention were pursuing the idea of sharing our church spaces with the community, having tables staffed by group members of all kinds at coffee hour, and including children more in worship and other activities.

The most frequent suggestions for how group members thought we could address areas needing attention were to feature rotating group tables and holding one or more tabling fairs, and to recruit a volunteer coordinator. Other ideas included serving as intentional upstairs connectors at coffee hour, active support for racial justice and the 8^th Principle, supporting more potluck type events, using our space to host outside organizations, more small group discussions, inviting our neighbors to events, more intergenerational events, and recruiting church office support volunteers.

Ideas for fostering engagement included communicating more ways and more frequently about what various groups are doing (at tables, from the pulpit, posted on the walls), holding more potlucks and intergenerational activities, highlighting different faith traditions, and using our facility to serve the community outside our walls and to hold neighborhood events.

Several specific ideas included minister and choir swaps, group tabling fairs, speed friending, music and dances, breakfasts and small group discussions. Participants wanted more group leader connection opportunities, intergenerational service elements, increased family involvement, involvement of youth in volunteer roles and considering a youth advisory council.

When asked for thoughts about what resonated in the vision statement. The most favorable comments were about the vision of a multigenerational community. Several liked the vision that we will “risk leaving the safety of known ways.” A number felt uncomfortable with the “stand in prophetic judgment” wording.

Board members have appreciated the time and energy all the groups at UUC give to our community. The plan is to continue to make opportunities to get direct feedback from active congregant groups and individuals next church year.

We ask that you continue to join us in thinking about how we as a community can address gaps, celebrate those who help us thrive and live our vision more fully and consider what role you would like to play.

~Members of the UUC Board of Trustees, board@uuchurch.org