After months of introspection and discussion, our UCE Board of Trustees has entered the climactic phase of our “Big Questions” project, a year-long contemplation of the path before us. We are now reaching out to our Congregation on how to share this journey together, “Dreaming up the future of Our Community”.

After long discussions amongst ourselves to focus our inquiry, we have identified two “big questions” to consider together, in a journey of conversations with the Congregation:

· How can we foster connections that go beyond our comfort zones at UCE and in the larger community?

· What changes do we need to make so that UCE is more accessible in a variety of ways for all?

The discussions are a quest for possibility, through visioning, brainstorming, sharing hopes and dreams. Here are some of the ideas that have emerged in recent sessions of “Big Questions: Dreaming Up the Future of Our Community”:

How can we be more accessible? We are continually evaluating how we make our facilities accessible to all. This is an ongoing process. Some issues, such as meeting transportation needs, present ongoing challenges.

Creating a welcoming place for everyone also calls for fostering connections outside our comfort zone, both at UCE and beyond. Accessibility can also be about growth and openness. One practical strategy would be to arrange more seating and tables after worship service for kinship time, to invite and encourage people to stay and connect.

Another strategy would be to help members engage in deep reflection about their values, spiritual journey, history and experiences. How does that history affect our ability to be radically welcoming on an interpersonal level? By examining ourselves, can we increase our comfort when engaging with others? Does such reflection enable us to be more skilled at opening up and sharing with others?

As a congregation, we are engaging more effectively in radical welcoming, especially with new members. Can we expand that intentionality to all members? All visitors? We are still recovering from the isolation of the pandemic; our capacity for engagement is still a challenge to enhance.

Let us consider our language – verbal and body, formal and informal – in the context of welcoming and conversing.

A UCE name change received considerable support, as a means of enhancing our welcoming community. It was noted that holding ourselves out as a ‘church” versus a “congregation” (or something else) links us to Christian history, and may be discomfiting to some folks who come from different faith traditions or had difficult experiences with a “church” in the past. Despite our UU history as an outgrowth of Christian theology and practice, we have transformed over the years to reflect many traditions (e.g, Judaism, Buddhism, atheism). A discussion about a name change for UCE might be a way to engage the Congregation in larger conversations about who we are, what we value, and how/what we do to be more welcoming.

A closer focus on micro-aggressions was suggested. Frequent discussions of such experiences, explaining the offensive significance of language, and the interpersonal dynamics of micro-aggressions, would help us all confront our implicit biases, recognize our blind spots, and develop more inclusive communication patterns. Personal experiences, where appropriate, as part of the worship service, could be meaningful. Study and continued training, such as the guidance provided by Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan during last year’s rummage sale, would be particularly valuable.

This work goes beyond mere etiquette. At its best, it is a vital form of spiritual practice, that can greatly benefit our Congregation.

COMING SOON: our annual meeting, budget review, and officer elections. UUA General Assembly. Personnel evaluations. And the ongoing work of evaluating and implementing the many ideas flowing from our “Big Questions” undertaking. Join us!