The Futures Team was charged by the Board of Management with the task of proposing initiatives for a long range plan to address this growth. As part of our task, we drafted the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester’s Renewed Identity and Purpose, which is included in this pamphlet. 

We ask that you read this pamphlet and share with us whether these words reflect who you believe we are here at UUCW. As you consider these words you might:

1. Think of an example that demonstrates to you our Renewed Identity and Purpose.

2. Describe one thing about our church you would add, change, or stop in order to more fullyachieve our Renewed Identity and Purpose.

3. Share anything you would change or add to this statement of our Renewed Identity and Purpose.

Please share your thoughts with us. Our names and contact information are on the back of this pamphlet.

What is our enduring task as a faith community? What fresh form could it take?

Inspired by a spirit of genuine hospitality, we seek to create and maintain a community where people can be their authentic selves.

We see our faith task as providing a voice for a liberal and principled theology. We seek to be open to diverse viewpoints and encourage individual growth. We work to provide a broad program of religious education. We strive to be inclusive of people of all ages, economic means, abilities, races, and sexual orientation. We wish to promote the Unitarian Universalist Principles and live our lives according to those Principles. We aspire to provide a welcoming and safe space and community where these aspirations may be realized.  We accept the challenge of seeking to learn who we are in an effort to transform our lives and the world to be more peaceful, loving and just.

To further our faith task we should seek opportunities to reach out to the community and welcome new members. Through the shared spiritual discipline of communal worship, we create a touchstone that calls us back to that which is ultimately important and which replenishes, inspires and transforms us. Our members are active in community programs and charities. We can do outreach through their example. The church’s message should be one of hope. We should be present in situations which pose ethical dilemmas.  Thus we strive to celebrate our common humanity and connections to the spirit of life that animates and perpetuates the “interdependent web of existence” of which we are a part.”

What do we wish to be known for in our community?

We wish to be known as a people who are guided by conscience, experience, reason, and intuition to continually seek a deeper understanding of ourselves and an appreciation for others.

The UUCW offers the community opportunities to learn, reflect, talk and dialogue about issues and experiences that affect and enable us to influence the world we cherish.

We want to be known for our Unitarian-Universalist principles and for being:

• Welcoming

• Inclusive

• Informal

• Neighborly

• Engaged in the world

• A safe place for worship and spiritual growth

These strengths will be evidenced by:

• Challenging, stimulating, and thought provoking worship services

• An excellent religious education program across the life-span

• Inspirational music

• Our presence in the wider community

To what size does our congregation and the community in which we exist aspire us to grow?

We aspire to grow to the point where we can provide the programs and services we value most with the ability to welcome new people who share our values.

We acknowledge that our membership and weekly attendance have been increasing for several years, and that this increased size requires new approaches to run our programs effectively. We are presently being called to grow to the size of a program-centered congregation (approximately 300-400 members).

What is the quality of life we seek in our congregation?

We seek to sustain and enhance a flourishing, spiritually healthy, inclusive and safe community that offers hope and inspiration, and challenges us toward growth and transformation.

We seek to live our principles in a safe environment. We want to be encouraged in our search for truth and meaning. We want to be welcoming to a diverse membership. We want to be able to express our thoughts and beliefs without being ridiculed. We want better connection among our diverse membership. We would like to enable our leaders to be increasingly competent and motivated. We want to know what is going on and receive timely and accurate communications. We want to be comfortable in our sanctuary and in our classrooms. We want a consistently functioning sound system. We want to provide programs for all ages. We want to be able to enjoy coffee hour without being jostled and hear our conversations with our fellow members. We want a clean building with an inviting appearance. We want to be fiscally sound.

Our hope for the future is evidenced by: (1) the love and devotion we share for our children as we seek to provide experiences which will help them become compassionate, courageous and creative people and (2) our engagement, individually and communally, in causes which promote the values we hold in common.

What guiding story or image crystallizes our purpose or vocation?

Our church is known for the symbols of the world’s religions that are mounted on the outside wall and at the front of the sanctuary. This immediately conveys to the visitor that ours is a diverse community theologically and honors many beliefs. The rainbow window in Fellowship Hall also symbolizes our welcoming spirit and appreciation for diversity. The Peace Pole’s multilingual captions symbolize the Unitarian Universalist Principles for peace and justice in the world. And, our traditional Stone Soup is a guiding story.

Futures Team
We want to hear from you!