Tapestry of Faith: Faith Like a River: A Program on Unitarian Universalist History for Adults

Activity 4: Community of Congregations

Activity time: 20 minutes

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Print out Leader Resource 3 and prepare to present its contents.
  • Visit the UUA website. Become familiar with the list of related and affiliated organizations. Look for organizations with which your congregation has had connection or which participants may know due to their individual interests or affiliations.

Description of Activity

Present the information from Leader Resource 3, A Community of Congregations by reading it aloud or paraphrasing. Invite participants to brainstorm on newsprint the ways your congregation and its members are connected to other Unitarian Universalists. Include both formal and informal relationships. Mention, if participants do not, relationships with:

Denominational organizations such as the UUA; your District; your region; UU congregations in your local area; another UU or Unitarian congregation, such as through the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council; other Unitarian Universalists groups that are not congregations; and informal connections your congregation may have with other societies.

If participants have trouble thinking of groups, mention a few you have culled from the UUA website.

When brainstorming is complete, draw a representation of your congregation on a new piece of newsprint. Invite participants to come forward one at a time and add a representation of one of your congregation's connections or relationships to the drawing. To help the activity get started, prompt with questions such as:

  • How is this congregation connected to the one in the next town/the next county/the next state?
  • How is this congregation connected to the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations?
  • How is this congregation connected to other Unitarian Universalist groups and organizations, such as the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee or UU camps and conference centers?

Discuss the benefits of these relationships for your congregation.