What do the Nametags Mean?

     We welcome all those who are interested in our church, our programs, and our faith. As you get to know us and we get to know you, we’ve found it helpful to use descriptive categories for the stages of your relationship with the church.

We use these designations on the nametags worn typically at Sunday services to help welcome newer people into the community and integrate them into the congregation. It is not necessary to proceed through all categories to become a Member of the church. All church programs and activities are open to anyone.

• Newcomer: A person who is attracted to the Unitarian Universalist religion; one who is visiting the church for the first time, attending services and/or other activities over a period of about two months.

• Inquiring Friend: A person whose interest is growing, and who is taking the time to explore his or her relationship with this church community in some depth before designating UUCA as “religious home.” Inquiring Friends are encouraged to participate in all church activities and may be asked to volunteer their time for one church event or another. We encourage Inquiring Friends to contribute financially. We believe that involvement, attendance and support will lead to an understanding of our values and principles, and a sense of belonging. After nine months, Inquiring Friends will be asked if they would like to affiliate with the church on a permanent basis as an Active Friend or a Member.

• Friend: A person who is active in the life of the church, but is not yet ready to take the step to Membership. Friends are asked to make an annual financial pledge to the church.

• Member: A person who fully identifies himself/herself as a Unitarian Universalist, who accepts and supports the basic philosophy, purposes, and work of this church, and who has signed the Membership Book. A Member has the privilege of voting at officially-called congregational meetings, and may serve as a Trustee, an Officer, or another representative of the church. Church facilities are available free of charge to Members for weddings, memorial services, and other ceremonies of passage. Members are required to make an annual financial pledge to the church.

Nametag Symbols

• Pink Triangles: Homosexual men and women were forced to wear pink triangles during the Holocaust just as Jews were forced to wear yellow Stars of David. Today the pink triangle is worn to signal solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members of our church and our community.

• Rainbows: The rainbow is a more positive alternative to the pink triangle. It also expresses solidarity with the diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community.

• I’m Committed: These stickers indicate participation in the 2008-2009 Stewardship Campaign. Some congregation members still show stickers from previous campaigns.