So, I was reading through the Unitarian Universalist Association Board packet for the June meeting — as one does — and see that All Souls Miami is (alone) scheduled to be voted upon for admission to the UUA. I’ve never never seen an application go this far and not be accepted, so I’ll offer my… Continue reading All Souls Miami set for UUA admission vote
Category: Church start
A modest thought: standing for worship
Something lighter today. In some old Universalist baptism rites, we hear this traditional question with Satan taking on a new guise. Renouncing, therefore, the fellowship of evil, will you endeavor to learn of Jesus Christ, and cooperate in the study and practice of his religion? Fellowship of Evil? Sure I’ll renounce it, especially if it… Continue reading A modest thought: standing for worship
Be sure to fund Original Blessing
Easter Monday has a long tradition of being a day of church work: no time to rest after Holy Week and Easter Sunday. But I’ll make it easy for you: pledge money to Original Blessing, the newest member of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The fact that they’re in Brooklyn and New York is terribly under-served… Continue reading Be sure to fund Original Blessing
New congregations: neither airdrops nor strawberry runners
Even though we have data and options for forming new Unitarian Universalist churches, I didn’t present “airdrops” nor “strawberry runner” models for serious consideration. I said the Fellowship Movement era was over without any desire to duplicate it. The reality is that the Unitarian Universalist today have few resources for church planting : economic, appropriate… Continue reading New congregations: neither airdrops nor strawberry runners
Thoughts about the Kandahar fellowship
The UUWorld news about a Unitarian Universalist fellowship on the United States Air Force base in Kandahar in Afghanistan brought up two unrelated thoughts. The first is bittersweet. New congregation development has ground as low as it ever has. Leave it to this “situational congregation” (I don’t get a sense that it’s intended to last… Continue reading Thoughts about the Kandahar fellowship
Another thought about missions
In the last post I wrote about a new British (Coptic) Orthodox church mission in Windsor. Though it has only had one worship service, some decisions are evident that show wise planning. a once-monthly service on a Monday night, at 6:30 pm. In other words, after work for many. a time that surely allows for… Continue reading Another thought about missions
Starting a church with how many?
I looped back to read up on the British Orthodox Church, and saw news of a new mission in Windsor: Father Peter had prepared to pray with one person he had been visiting for some months, but as the prayers from the Agpeya, or Coptic Daily Office, began there were eight people from a variety… Continue reading Starting a church with how many?
Updated emerging congregations map
This is a layer-cake of data, but you should be able to see which congregations have “emerged” into Unitarian Universalist Association membership, those which disbanded and those that carry on. There are even a few that only have a relationship with a district, and might be thought of as “pre-emerging.” Surely many of the emerging… Continue reading Updated emerging congregations map
Only one new congregation this year?
I see the UU Congregation of Petoskey, Michigan joined the UUA (PDF) in January, with 35 members. Is that the only one that joined in 2012?
Emerging church update
Looked through the congregations marked “emerging” at UUA.org yesterday and noted a couple of newcomers since May 2011, the last time I made such a review. Note: some emerging congregations may have gone defunt, but I haven’t looked for these. And it can be hard to tell as directory listings can last longer than the… Continue reading Emerging church update