A Church Name Change?

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Permalink Reply by Ron Willett on July 6, 2009 at 8:08pm

My friends in DC who attend All Souls often refer to our church as Arlington Unitarian. My friends in Burke who attend the Accotink church often refer to our church as Arlington Unitarian. My friends in Manassas who attend the Oakton church often refer to our church as Arlington Unitarian. My friends in Maine and Massachusetts who know I live in Arlington and became a UU there often ask, "Do you attend the Arlington Unitarian church?"
Do you see a pattern here? Maybe we should listen to The People....

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Permalink Reply by Marc DeFrancis on July 6, 2009 at 8:18pm

Rich, well humored,and well reasoned, as usual, Ron.

How about "The Arlington Unitarian Community" -- I'd be delighted to avoid the word church, which seems rather
misleading for a group like ours that includes so many atheist and agnostic humanists. It once made theological sense
to be meticulous about calling ourselves Unitarian Universalists-- but so many of are neither Universalist (because we do not believe in an afterlife) and so many are not Unitarian either (because we do not believe in One God).

The word "Unitarian" has taken on a kind of generic nontheological meaning, I think, like scotch tape, which used to be Scotch Brand cellophane tape but now is just -- scotch.

I like the idea that drivers-by and passers-by might see our new signage and think, "How sweet -- a community of unified people," not knowing the older meaning of Unitarian. I would hope that confusion might make us seem less scary than we undoubtedly are to many traditionalists.

Or else, maybe, "Arlington Unitarianish Community."

-- Marc

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Permalink Reply by Becca Lovelace on July 10, 2009 at 11:02pm

I don't have a name idea for us yet, but I'm hoping it will be transformative for us. See the story on the Goodloe Memorial UU Congregation's transformative process when they made their name change:
http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/93750.shtml

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fogarty on July 13, 2009 at 10:07am

Thanks for some good thoughts in these replies. A number of questions arise --- is it all right to have just the word Unitarian in the name? Does either UU word need to be in there? And then there is the question about using the words church or congregation. I am of the opinion (as a humanist) that it is all right to have the word church as part of the name, because that word will be used --- I see it broken down between a place and a group of people --- our building is a church; our members are a congregation. We will always say "I will see you at church on Sunday?" How about this for a name --- PEACE COMMUNITY CHURCH, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Arlington, Virginia. This was we can keep the website address of uucava.org!

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Permalink Reply by UUCA on July 13, 2009 at 10:18am

I think I'd feel uncomfortable having only one of the Us in the name. I think there's value in UU --significant branding value that should be explored, if it hasn't already, at the association level. If we are a movement, we need something that signifies that movement across the board that unites all of us no matter what church we are with. I also find "Peace" limiting ....out of love comes many things...peace is one. I think a name should encompass core values...as many as possible. Not saying the name should have the word or derivative of love...but the name should express all encompassing welcoming/love etc.....

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Permalink Reply by Sharon G. Williams on October 8, 2009 at 4:30pm

How can we call ourself the Peace Community Church? Our church has not taken a stand on PEACE or on Peacemaking as a congregation as it did come up at General Assembly. I don't think that name would work at this time.

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Permalink Reply by Todd Parola on September 14, 2009 at 11:57pm

Hmmm ... such a tantalizing, trouble-making proposition. but apropos. I love it. This kind of points up the difficulties of acknowledging diverse subjectivities under larger rubrics ie "multiculturalism" under "Universalism?"

I count myself among the congregation's atheist humanists. But I am partial to preserving historical/institutional threads. This starts with the name, and continues with kids learning about the specific local history of their beloved community,as well as greater Arlington.

That is, I think, in changing the name of the fabric (is it a hounds tooth?) whose feel, pattern, texture and color etc is denoted in the title "Unitarian," perhaps the theological "theme" that gives rise to the institutional and contemplative "variation" is at risk of being lost. And dynamic history - be it theological or institutional - is obviously of crucial import to Unitarians - uber protestants that we are ... I think, anyway.

Of course everyone claims history as their own. But it is *especially* powerful and necessary to contemplate the astonishing wealth of intellectual and spiritual streams that both stiffen this faith and make it's ministry and legacy flexible (the "re-bar communion" perhaps?) This I identify with and find valor in.

Therefore, I like the idea of preserving the name of the church. I like the idea of saying "Arlington Unitarian" even if it is a shortening. Do Universalists resent that? Seems to me that the actual theological sense of these terms has been displaced, creditably, with a suitable new gestalt. Grace by any other name.

In contrast with your distinction between "denominational descriptor" and "identity," I don't experience a lack of identification. Indeed, despite long apprehension (ranging to hostility_ ) for organized religious institutions, I find myself oddly fond of the intrinsic ambiguity and irony of stating, (with cocked gimlet eye) that, "Yeah, I'm a Unitarian."

Good luck!

;-)

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fogarty on September 15, 2009 at 10:32pm

Thanks for the intriguing response, Todd. I would also count myself as an atheist humanist (or some similar designation), but I feel comfortable with "I'm a Unitarian" as well. I am looking forward to some good discussions in the coming months. Bill

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Permalink Reply by Judy King on October 5, 2009 at 4:36pm

Even though it implies one god more than I acknowledge, I like the name Arlington Unitarian.
It's simple, unpretentious and tells you where to find it. You would have to look in the Yellow
Pages for Peace Community. And there might be more than one.
Judy King

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Permalink Reply by Sharon G. Williams on October 8, 2009 at 4:15pm

Well - I like Arlington Unitarian Universalist Community. I am more of a Universalist than a Unitarian in my Theology. Probably, I am alone in that designation in this discussion and I would not call myself an atheist - humanist.

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Permalink Reply by Sharon G. Williams on October 20, 2009 at 12:12pm

Can the name be Arlington Unitarian Universalist?

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Permalink Reply by Bill Fogarty on October 20, 2009 at 12:23pm

I am not sure what the answer might be! I appreciate the comments.

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