I don’t have an answer but I do think the opportunity is there. The USA in particular is full of disillusioned people who lack a spiritual community. UU is a great place for people to find that community, especially when they do not have a religion or denomination that they identify with. That is how my wife and I have recently found UU. We want that community but wouldn’t fit into any other church that I’m aware of. At UU we can focus on learning and self improvement, while also organizing with humans like churches do to affect change and help people.
The problem is that while UU is theologically diverse, it is politically very narrow and most who are not politically progressives/leftists will not fit in or feel comfortable/welcome. UU is theologically expansive but politically narrow and ethnically monolithic. The latter is what keeps it so tiny.
I think that’s true but I also think there are many people of that political alignment who are among the very spiritually disillusioned. It is definitely going to be a barrier for anyone who isn’t already politically progressive though, I agree.
Ok take this for what you will. I started going last week and plan on becoming a member so I see myself as who you are trying to recruit.
Really, I just never knew about y’all.
I am an atheist. I had no idea any spiritual center anywhere would be like “ok great! You’re still one of us and we’re not interested in conversion or forcing you to change that about yourself.” When I’m a more established member I think I may show up in atheist spaces spreading the info about y’all.
And, not for everyone, but for me and I think a lot of other people like me, the word “church” carries a lot of baggage and negative expectation. I wish there was a way to talk about y’all to my friends and not use the word church. Because like aesthetically that’s what y’all are but in every other way you aren’t. I wish some alternate terminology exists I could use instead.
Mine calls it a congregation. Dunno if that's much better but I'm weird. I'm an atheist and I think it's cool I get a church and a "religion" to be part of.
I drifted from my local UU church due to the lack of community events and lack of charity. I don't know if this is a common issue for UU churches, but mine never really engaged in these things as much as my local Christian churches, and to me those are some of my biggest reasons for being part of a church.
A good music program should rank first. I'm surprised it's not mentioned much here or on the other site where this question is asked. If your community is the right demographic, a well run RE program would rank next. I think compatible politics and cultural views, or values, or sexual ethics rank low on the scale for attracting members.
You think a church having rules on sexual conduct doesn’t affect attraction of new members? Given the huge sex abuse coverups and scandals in many major denominations, I really don’t think that’s the case. There are people at my church who explicitly left the Catholic Church they were raised in due to their mishandling of sexual abuse cases.
I don't think having rules on sexual conduct a secret to getting new members. People expect Church to be safe for themselves and family. Explaining a Church does what's expected for all institutions is not a strategy for membership growth.
Build a strong RE program. (I am childfree.)
Same and proud of it. My church recently have an uptick of kids coming to church.
I don’t have an answer but I do think the opportunity is there. The USA in particular is full of disillusioned people who lack a spiritual community. UU is a great place for people to find that community, especially when they do not have a religion or denomination that they identify with. That is how my wife and I have recently found UU. We want that community but wouldn’t fit into any other church that I’m aware of. At UU we can focus on learning and self improvement, while also organizing with humans like churches do to affect change and help people.
The problem is that while UU is theologically diverse, it is politically very narrow and most who are not politically progressives/leftists will not fit in or feel comfortable/welcome. UU is theologically expansive but politically narrow and ethnically monolithic. The latter is what keeps it so tiny.
I think that’s true but I also think there are many people of that political alignment who are among the very spiritually disillusioned. It is definitely going to be a barrier for anyone who isn’t already politically progressive though, I agree.
Agreed. I’m generally very progressive and liberal but there is a single issue I disagree with and now I’ll never fit into UU culture again.
Ok take this for what you will. I started going last week and plan on becoming a member so I see myself as who you are trying to recruit.
Really, I just never knew about y’all.
I am an atheist. I had no idea any spiritual center anywhere would be like “ok great! You’re still one of us and we’re not interested in conversion or forcing you to change that about yourself.” When I’m a more established member I think I may show up in atheist spaces spreading the info about y’all.
And, not for everyone, but for me and I think a lot of other people like me, the word “church” carries a lot of baggage and negative expectation. I wish there was a way to talk about y’all to my friends and not use the word church. Because like aesthetically that’s what y’all are but in every other way you aren’t. I wish some alternate terminology exists I could use instead.
Mine calls it a congregation. Dunno if that's much better but I'm weird. I'm an atheist and I think it's cool I get a church and a "religion" to be part of.
I drifted from my local UU church due to the lack of community events and lack of charity. I don't know if this is a common issue for UU churches, but mine never really engaged in these things as much as my local Christian churches, and to me those are some of my biggest reasons for being part of a church.
Any idea why the lack of engagement?
A good music program should rank first. I'm surprised it's not mentioned much here or on the other site where this question is asked. If your community is the right demographic, a well run RE program would rank next. I think compatible politics and cultural views, or values, or sexual ethics rank low on the scale for attracting members.
What do you mean by “sexual ethics”?
Rules on sexual conduct
You think a church having rules on sexual conduct doesn’t affect attraction of new members? Given the huge sex abuse coverups and scandals in many major denominations, I really don’t think that’s the case. There are people at my church who explicitly left the Catholic Church they were raised in due to their mishandling of sexual abuse cases.
I don't think having rules on sexual conduct a secret to getting new members. People expect Church to be safe for themselves and family. Explaining a Church does what's expected for all institutions is not a strategy for membership growth.