Cooperative Relationships

Our congregations can be strengthened through relationships with others. There are many models of cooperation, both through the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and districts and increasingly through a variety of other programs. We recommend recovenanting as a process for examining these relationships.
  1. ". . . Churches and fellowships learn from each other's successes and failures. . . . Actively sharing in the community of autonomous congregations deepens belief in the value of the Unitarian Universalist (UU) movement as a whole."
  2. ". . . The Association [should] place greater emphasis on moving promptly toward a more consultative role to foster and nourish a wide array of cooperative undertakings among congregations."
  3. "If all congregations were expected to join in a formal recovenanting process [with the UUA] periodically—every five years, for example—. . . such a process would help to enhance the sense of belonging to the larger movement." [See also Recommendation 3.]

Questions

  • In what ways does your (our) congregation relate to other UU congregations?
  • In what ways have you learned from, supported or been supported by, other congregations?
  • How could these relationships be strengthened?
  • How would you benefit?
  • Do you feel a sense of belonging to a larger movement?
  • What gives you that sense?
  • What does the "UUA" mean to you? ( Possible responses include headquarters, all congregations, all UU individuals, all kindred spirits, etc.)