Can you imagine UUCA as a Community Center?

Comment

Comment by Margaret Bauman on October 21, 2011 at 7:44pm

Thank you David for sharing one of the very energizing examples of what is being done by UU's! WIth inspiration to expand our ideas and imagine what UUCA could be and do with it's resources.

Comment by Ray Anderson on October 21, 2011 at 6:11pm

Responding to David McTaggart's message about being a community center.  I have heard this as a reason to build the second story onto the East end.  In meetings when it was mentioned, I asked "and who would staff such a facility?"  The question was met with silence or an "if we build it, they will come" type of comment.

  There are significant differences between UUCA and the Philadelphia church, the most important one being location.  Anyone who has tried to direct someone coming by Metro to UUCA understands what I mean. Bus transportation had to be provided for the UU Musicians' Network participants last July from the hotel in Ballston.  In other words, we are not located where such a community center is really practical.

  Furthermore, the capital campaign did not raise the necessary amount to build such a structure without incurring more debt.  If we really want to have a vision and provide for the future of the church, we must take care of the building we have, including replacing the clearstory windows which leak heated and cooled air, costing us money each year and contributing to global climate change.  The priorities should be to take care of what we have and put human and monetary resources into outreach, such as the many members and friends who contributed time, work and money to provide food to the OccupyDC demonstrators this week.

Sara Anderson