Last year I made a somewhat silly mapping thought exercise: locating the geographic center of the membership of the Unitarian Universalist Association. That’s one way to describe what holds us all together, I suppose. This year, I’ve sought out and geocoded all the member churches of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches,… Continue reading The Unitarian center: UK edition
Category: Data
Map of Unitarian Universalist Association-member congregations
Voila! A map of Unitarian Universalist Association-member congregations — click in, if you’re on the main page — Or click here. (You may need to zoom in a level to see the detail.) For size, I’ve restricted the map to the continental United States and southern Canada — also, because I’m using a free-of-charge Mapbox… Continue reading Map of Unitarian Universalist Association-member congregations
Unfellowshipped ministers in Unitarian Universalist congregations
There no reason (anymore, from a Universalist perspective) that a minister without ministerial fellowship in the UUA can’t serve a UU congregation. There are some denominational oddments around inclusions in directories — unimportant to the living — so I have to think the reason to note such in our once-print, now-online directory is to note… Continue reading Unfellowshipped ministers in Unitarian Universalist congregations
Chosing an e-reader
I wanted a e-book reader since I’m reading more these day, and particularly in time for General Assembly, including the bus ride to and fro. Discussed this last year, and had ruled out the Kindle as being too wed to a proprietary e-book format. Â Interested, initially, in the newly-released Barnes and Noble Nook Simple Touch… Continue reading Chosing an e-reader
Rapture post 2: follow the earthquakes
Here at Universalist Labs, we take data seriously. If you think Christ’s second coming will be occasioned by earthquakes, then perhaps you’d want to know where the earthquakes are, and how strong they are. (Helpful too if people suffer because of earthquakes and you want to know their extent.) For a current list, see this… Continue reading Rapture post 2: follow the earthquakes
Dirty numbers and the British Unitarians
I’m about to wade into deep water. I mean no offense, nor do I plan to come off as a pushy American. But I’m thinking about the stated executive goal of the British Unitarians to grow by 20% in five years. I found their 2010 (current) annual report, which for the first time has membership… Continue reading Dirty numbers and the British Unitarians
Blog posts I’m reading today: our past and future
Unitarian Universalist minister and blogger Elz Curtiss (Politywonk) writes movingly about the hagiographic and political misuse of Unitarian and Universalist history, and it power to misshape the truth about our traditions. Worth reading. Unitarian minister and blogger Stephen Lingwood (Reignite) talks data — the size of congregations in the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free… Continue reading Blog posts I’m reading today: our past and future
Single? No parish for you.
My husband sent me a link to an article in the New York Times. (With the paywall soon to go up, expect to see a lot of links to the Grey Lady, as it’s really — as a work colleague called it — a “paysieve” and links get through.) It considers the poor professional prospects… Continue reading Single? No parish for you.
What I’m reading; all nonfiction
I have four three-ring binders on my desk. Each with a print-out of a book in it. I shuttle them in turn between home and work, since peculiarly, they touch both on my work and personal — that is to say, church — life, and I thought you might be interested in these four nonfiction… Continue reading What I’m reading; all nonfiction
The word you’re looking for is decimation
Unitarian Universalist minister and blogger Dan Harper ran some of the UU congregation membership numbers, following the close of the 2011 certification period. In order to have a voting representation at General Assembly, congregations must certify their operations (held elections and worship services) and their membership. They must also make a financial contribution. This last… Continue reading The word you’re looking for is decimation