Our Membership Challenge

Rev. Michael McGee has challenged us to grow our membership to 1,000 before he retires next July. This is no small undertaking considering that we are presently 900. Yet this is a vital challenge, one that we must take up if we are to continue to fulfill our mission.

To complete the picture, we are 900 members and 400 inquiring and active friends. To reach our goal, we must both attract and retain newcomers and promote friends to membership.

Why do numbers matter? Growth in membership is an indicator of congregational health. In effect, Rev. Michael is challenging us to become a stronger, more vibrant, actively- engaged congregation – one that seeks out diverse newcomers and welcomes all with radical hospitality, one that listens to those in need and takes action to improve their lives, one that reaches out to those who are struggling to find purpose and meaning in an apparently uncaring world, one that innovates with its programming and ventures boldly to build new space to better serve its community. A healthy congregation attracts new members. New members bring gifts of spirit, mind, heart, hands, and treasure. Such are the gifts of growth.

Potential members are out there waiting to be found. We know this by reflecting upon what attracted us to UUCA and by knowing that many of our friends, neighbors, and workmates are no different. They, too, yearn for communal fellowship and support, fulfilling social service, uplifting worship, and spiritual growth. Beyond our immediate acquaintances, we know Arlington is diverse and there are many other organizations and communities of people with similar interests and needs. We need to reach out to them.

Where do we begin? Rev. Carlton Smith helped us with this question recently when he shared his elevator speech as to what UUs believe: “Unitarian Universalists believe in the power of love to change the world.” We begin with commitment born of love.

To attract newcomers, we must evangelize. Let me explain. UU evangelism is not the kind that assumes that our religion is better than everybody else’s, nor is it the kind that impels us to change people’s minds about their faith journeys. We evangelize by simply explaining in casual conversation why our UU faith and church community are important to us and by inviting our friends and acquaintances to see for themselves. We might suggest that they visit our website, accompany us to Chalice Theatre or a musical concert, visit our coffee house, join us at a VOICE action, or attend a worship service. Rev. Carlton reminds us that “if we elevate love in our actions and in our relationships, what we say about Unitarian Universalism in the elevators, playgrounds and supermarkets will come naturally, and our new members will, too.”

To retain newcomers is a bigger challenge. This is the radical hospitality piece. We must ensure that no visitor ever leaves our door feeling that they have not been seen, heard, and valued. Our Sunday Greeter/Ambassadors are already working hard at this. Envoys will be mobilized soon to greet visitors throughout the week and to call on newcomers and inquiring friends for one-on-one conversations and visits.

Dear “Friends,” how can we encourage you to move up, to step up, to become members?

Consider my story as to why I am a UUCA member and why I am committed to Rev. Michael’s challenge. I found a UU church when I became a single parent and desperately needed support. I joined my first UU church when I realized that all my friends were there. I gained inner strength within my UU church when I discovered it was a safe place to share my most frightening fears and that it was the realm of wise and loving spiritual guides. I gained peace (relatively speaking) when I committed myself to the service of others and to the ongoing stewardship of my UU church and faith.

Commitment, as in marriage, is unconditional love. I committed myself to my church before I felt comfortable with my ministers, before I felt satisfied that our social justice initiatives dealt with the world’s most pressing needs, before I truly believed that I am welcome, indeed wanted, just the way I am. Among the many truths that I have learned as a UU, I have learned that commitment is the key that opens doors to life fulfillment.

May we all discover the spiritual truth that it is only by giving that we receive. It is only by making a commitment to our community that we can hope to build our community.

(Reprinted from The Arlingtarian, November 2011)