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

Activity 2: The Fellowship Movement

Activity time: 25 minutes

Materials for Activity

Preparation for Activity

  • Print out the story "The Fellowship Movement" and prepare to read or tell it.
  • Write on newsprint, and post:

The positive view maintains that the congregations planted as lay-led fellowships between 1948 and 1967 saved Unitarianism from near extinction and converted a regional religious movement into a truly national one. Along with growing the denomination, fellowships brought innovation, vitality, and lay leadership into a religious community greatly in need of fresh air... At the other end of the spectrum is the view that the fellowship movement spawned small, introverted, even hostile groups that did not want to grow or welcome newcomers, did not identify with the larger denomination, and represented Unitarian Universalism in ways that did not reflect the larger movement's self-understanding. - Holly Ulbrich

  • On another sheet of newpsrint, write and post:
    • What do you see as the most positive contributions of the Fellowship Movement to Unitarian Universalism today?
    • What do you see as challenges brought by the Fellowship Movement which are still with us today?

Description of Activity

Read or tell the story "The Fellowship Movement."

Then, direct the group's attention to the quote and questions you have posted. Lead a discussion.