Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA
A diverse, welcoming community of open hearts and minds since 1948
A Church Name Change?
At our annual meeting on June 14, I requested consideration by the congregation of a name change. I am not sure how the process will unfold (by task force? by holding meetings? by web site discussions?). Anyway, let me get started here with my basic thoughts: (1) our current name is more of a denominational descriptor instead of an identity; (2) our current name is not uniformly used. The fact is that our church name is 16 syllables long, and is rarely used. We often use an acronym, UUCA, which, to me, is very off-putting.
Of course, this leads to the question, what name should we consider? I have my own ideas, but let me start with some food for thought. It seems that we use a church name in three different contexts....(1) between and among our church community; (2) when talking to people outside of our congregation in the Northern Virginia/Metro DC community; and (3) when talking to other UU's. So, in considering a name, think about how it would be used in those three contexts. (1) first context...assume a minister is giving a sermon, and says, "Here at_______(fill in your suggested name...right now we often would say "Here at UUCA"). (2) second context....assume you are talking to a neighbor, and in response to their question about where you go to church, you say "I go to_____(fill in your suggested name...right now we say a hodge-podge of names. (3) third context....assume you are talking to someone from Tulsa at the General Assembly....in response to the question, which church do you represent, you say "I am from______(fill in your suggested name....right now, we might say "UUCA", or...what?). And then, in trying to come up with a name, figure out how it might look on a new, large facing Route 50. How will it look to the drivers on Rt. 50? How will other churches in the VOICE movement refer to us?
Let me know your thoughts, whether on this website, or in person, or by separate e-mail. All I ask is, keep an open mind! Bill Fogarty
Of course, this leads to the question, what name should we consider? I have my own ideas, but let me start with some food for thought. It seems that we use a church name in three different contexts....(1) between and among our church community; (2) when talking to people outside of our congregation in the Northern Virginia/Metro DC community; and (3) when talking to other UU's. So, in considering a name, think about how it would be used in those three contexts. (1) first context...assume a minister is giving a sermon, and says, "Here at_______(fill in your suggested name...right now we often would say "Here at UUCA"). (2) second context....assume you are talking to a neighbor, and in response to their question about where you go to church, you say "I go to_____(fill in your suggested name...right now we say a hodge-podge of names. (3) third context....assume you are talking to someone from Tulsa at the General Assembly....in response to the question, which church do you represent, you say "I am from______(fill in your suggested name....right now, we might say "UUCA", or...what?). And then, in trying to come up with a name, figure out how it might look on a new, large facing Route 50. How will it look to the drivers on Rt. 50? How will other churches in the VOICE movement refer to us?
Let me know your thoughts, whether on this website, or in person, or by separate e-mail. All I ask is, keep an open mind! Bill Fogarty
Views: 75
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ron Willett on -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 UUCAVA on -
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 -
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 -
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
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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 -
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
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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
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Can the name be Arlington Unitarian Universalist?
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Permalink Reply by Bill Fogarty on
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I am not sure what the answer might be! I appreciate the comments.
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