Workshop 11: As Tranquil Streams that Meet and Merge: Consolidation

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Faith like a River: Themes from Unitarian Universalist History

In This Section

Introduction
From Faith Like a River

If, recognizing the interdependence of all life, we strive to build community, the strength we gather will be our salvation… If we join spirits as brothers and sisters, the pain of our aloneness will be lessened, and that does matter. — Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley This workshop explores issues and…
Workshop-at-a-Glance
From Faith Like a River

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 5 Activity 1: From Why? to Why Not? 25 Activity 2: Youth Lead the Way 20 Activity 3: Kindred Spirits — Angus MacLean and Sophia Lyon Fahs 30 Activity 4: Twelve Moments 25 Faith in Action: Exploring Your Congregation’s History — Long-Term Project…
Spiritual Preparation
From Faith Like a River

Take time to consider: What does Unitarian Universalism mean to you? What has it given to you? What has it asked of you? What would be different in your life if this Association of congregations did not exist? If you wish, read the stories of what their religious home means to other Unitarian…
Welcoming and Entering
From Faith Like a River

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Sign-in sheet and pen/pencil Name tags and markers Workshop 1, Leader Resource 1, Schedule Template Workshop 1, Handout 2, Time Line of UU History Preparation for Activity Create and post a workshop agenda on newsprint. The Workshop-at-a-Glance…
Opening
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, for all participants Optional: Decorative cloth Optional: Keyboard or piano Preparation for Activity Set up a…
Activity 1: From Why? to Why Not?
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story, “From Why? to Why Not?” Modeling dough in two primary colors (red and yellow, or yellow and blue, or red and blue) Two bowls, one for each color of modeling dough Preparation for Activity Read the story “From Why?…
Activity 2: Youth Lead the Way
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Youth Lead the Way Copies of Singing the Living Tradition, the UUA hymnbook Leader Resource 2, Liberal Religious Youth Photograph, 1953 Optional: Computer and digital projector Optional: Keyboard or piano Preparation for Activity…
Activity 3: Kindred Spirits - Angus MacLean and Sophia Lyon Fahs
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 3, Kindred Spirits Plain paper and pencils, pens, and markers Optional: Books and other materials from the New Beacon Series Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 3, Kindred Spirits and prep…
Activity 4: Twelve Moments
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Twelve Moments That Shaped Today’s UUA Preparation for Activity Copy Handout 1. In advance, invite a few participants to read aloud from the handout, and provide each volunteer with a copy….
Closing
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED battery-operated candle Taking It Home Optional: Faith in Action from this workshop and/or Spiritual Preparation from Workshop 12 Preparation for Activity Download and customize Taking It Home as a handout….
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Faith Like a River

After the workshop, co-leaders should talk together to evaluate this workshop and plan future workshops. Use these questions to guide your shared reflection and planning: What parts of the workshop worked well and which did not? Why? How was the success, or lack of success, related to the topics?
Faith In Action: Exploring Your Congregation's History - Long-term Project
From Faith Like a River

Description of Activity If the group has not yet begun this activity, read Workshop 9, Faith in Action and plan to introduce it to the group.
Alternate Activity 1: Sleepless in Syracuse
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story “Sleepless in Syracuse” A copy of the story “From Why? to Why Not?” Preparation for Activity Read the story “Sleepless in Syracuse” and prepare to present it. Read the story “From Why? to Why Not?” for background information.
Alternate Activity 2: Stronger Than We Look
From Faith Like a River

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 4, Stronger Than We Look A copy of the Principles and Sources of the Unitarian Universalist Association Preparation for Activity Print out Leader Resource 4, Stronger Than We Look and prepare to present it….
Taking It Home: As Tranquil Streams that Meet and Merge: Consolidation
From Faith Like a River

If, recognizing the interdependence of all life, we strive to build community, the strength we gather will be our salvation… If we join spirits as brothers and sisters, the pain of our aloneness will be lessened, and that does matter. — Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley In the opening to our workshop we…
From Why to Why Not
From Faith Like a River

At the emotional worship service that celebrated the vote to create the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston in 1960, the Rev….
Sleepless in Syracuse
From Faith Like a River

As consolidation neared, feelings ran high. Though polling of congregations clearly showed most Universalists and Unitarians favored merger, some still questioned its advisability. Would consolidation dissipate resources that could be better used to strengthen congregations?…
Handout 1: Twelve Moments That Shaped Today's UUA
From Faith Like a River

1. Greeley Forges a Strong Presidency In 1961 the first General Assembly elects the Rev. Dr. Dana McLean Greeley, last president of the American Unitarian Association, to be the first president of the new UUA. Charismatic and deeply engaged in public issues, Greeley raised visibility, membership,…
Leader Resource 1: Youth Lead the Way
From Faith Like a River

There were a number of other consolidations and collabrations between Unitarian and Universalist organizations which paved the way for the consolidation of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America. A few individual churches merged and some ordained ministers held…
Leader Resource 2: Liberal Religious Youth Photograph, 1953
From Faith Like a River
Leader Resource 3: Kindred Spirits
From Faith Like a River

Angus MacLean and Sophia Lyon Fahs, two of the most important religious educators for the Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist movements, left indelible—and foundational—marks on the landscape of liberal religious education. Angus MacLean was Professor of Religious Education and…
Leader Resource 4: Stronger Than We Look
From Faith Like a River

First Story When the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) conceived, created, and promoted a sexuality education program for youth, the project had no parallel in contemporary secular or religious education. Here’s what happened. In the mid-1960s, the United States experienced liberation…
Find Out More
From Faith Like a River

Consolidation and the Early Years of the UUA Commission on Appraisal Report The Unitarian Universalist Merger 1961-1975 (Boston: UUA, 1975) Ross, Warren. https://books.google.com/books?id=KXGK9P-v324C&pg=PR4&lpg=PR4&a… Premise and the Promise: The Story of the Unitarian Universalist Association…