Preliminary Readout November, 2009. Imagine: Who do we want to be? What do we want to do? What do we need to do it? In order to get input into the Morristown

IMAGINATION SESSIONS

Preliminary ReadoutNovember, 2009

Imagine: Who do we want to be? What do we want to do? What do we need to do it?

In order to get input into the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship’s next five year plan,

members were invited to participate in one of four strategic planning sessions

which were held over three days to discuss:

• What have been the blessings of your involvement with our Fellowship?

• What might make your relationship with us more fulfilling?

• How do we want to help deepen and grow what we offer in our

shared ministries of worship, religious education, social justice,

pastoral care, leadership development, stewardship and community fun?

Who Participated?

150 People attended 139 Filled out demographic survey 120 Members, 19 non-members 40 Current religious education (RE) parents 99 Non-RE parents Self-identified:

115 Heterosexuals 19 Unidentified 3 Gay 2 Bisexual

Continued…

Who Participated? 89 Females

30’s – 9 40’s – 26 50’s – 19 60+ - 26 No Response - 9

50 Males 20’s – 3 40’s – 9 50’s – 12 60 + - 26

Continued…

…Continued

Who Participated?

Years of Attendance <= 1 year – 9 1-3 years – 20 3-5 years – 20 5-10 years – 16 10-20 years – 32 20+ years – 40

…Continued

MUF:Who Are

We?

Spiritual Growth and Exploration

“I’m proud that embracing a variety of theology/spirituality, without having to name them, brings people together.”

“I’m sorry that when I teach, I feel less a part of the congregation.”

“I’m blessed with a spiritual home for me & my children.”

“I’m sorry we have so many conversations about language.”

“I’m proud of an atmosphere that supports spiritual growth without dogma.”

“I’m blessed with being able to examine my own thoughts about religion & to share my doubts and reservations without risking rejection.”


Life Span Religious Education

“We’re proud that this is one place in society where we can have honest conversations with children, youth and adults about human sexuality.”

“I’m sorry we don’t have a Youth Director.”

“I feel blessed that I’m not solely responsible for my daughter’s spiritual upbringing: it takes a village.”

“We feel blessed to have our men’s group, women’s group, OWL, covenant circles and Getting to know UU.”


Sharing Our Values in

the Community

“I’m proud of the role our building plays in the community for other organizations.”

“I’m sorry we’re not more well known regarding what we offer as a spiritual community.”

“I’m proud of our minister and her work in the community.”

“I’m sorry we’re physically disconnected from the Morristown community.”

“ I am proud of 20+ years of Habitat involvement”

“ I am proud we value social justice so much that we give on half of our collection”

“I am proud of our Green Earth Ministry and Seeds of Peace”


the Community

Leadership and

Stewardship

“I’m sorry we don’t pledge money for what this congregation is worth.”

“I’m proud of our last five year financial plan that allowed us to expand staff.”

“I feel blessed to have Alison as our Minister, Karen as our DRE and Jim as our Music Director.”

“I’m proud of those who went before and brought us to where we are”Leadership

and Stewardship

Facilities

“I’m proud of the beauty of the building and the grounds.”

“I’m sorry that we can’t keep up with building maintenance needs and that so much of our energy and resources are directed toward building issues.”

“I envision a place to play/meditate which is welcoming and accessible.”

“I’m sorry that we have run out of classroom space for R.E.”

“I envision the sanctuary as a place of awe, space and light.”

“I’m sorry the building doesn’t help achieve our mission.”

Facilities

Community, Caring,

Connection

“A feeling of freedom…I can be myself.” (blessing)

“I’m sorry for the division between youth and adults in our community.”

“I feel blessed to be part of an accepting, loving community.”

“MUF is a safe place to cry.”

“We are blessed with lots of ways to get involved – social action, teaching RE, fun.”

“I wish we were more diverse.”

“I feel blessed to be part of such a like-minded community.”

Community, Caring,

Connection

MUF:Who Are

We?


MUF:Who Are

We?



MUF:Who Are

We?


the Community



MUF:Who Are

We?

Leadership and

Stewardship


the Community



MUF:Who Are

We?

Facilities

Leadership and

Stewardship


the Community



MUF:Who Are

We?

Community, Caring,

Connection

Facilities

Leadership and

Stewardship


the Community



MUF:Who Are

We?

Community, Caring,

Connection

Facilities

Leadership and

Stewardship


the Community



MUF:Who Are

We?

Imagination Sessions Questions What Blessings Have You Received

From MUF? What Are Your Predictions for MUF 5

Years From Now If NOTHING CHANGES?

What Are You Proud Of At or About MUF?

What Are You Sorry About At MUF?

What are our

Blessings?

Community, Caring,

Connection

Facilities

Leadership and

Stewardship

Sharing Our

Values in the

Community

Life Span

Religious

Education

Spiritual Growth

and Explorati

on184 134

55

3022

19

Blessings Breakdown

Community, Caring, Connection - 183 Connections – 99 Diversity, Inclusivity – 56 Membership – 17 Pastoral Care – 11

Facilities - 19 Grounds – 10 Location – 4 Space - 5

Blessings Breakdown (cont.)

Leadership and Stewardship - 22 Leadership and Volunteers – 9 Organizational Structure and Policies – 3 Professional Staff – 10

Life Span RE - 55 Adult RE and Programs – 13 Children’s RE and Programs – 37 OWL - 5

Blessings Breakdown (concluded)

Sharing Our Values in the Community - 30 Community Voice – 7 Environmental Responsibility – 2 Social Action – 21

Spiritual Growth and Exploration - 134 Music, Art, Creativity – 22 Personal Growth – 85 Right Relationships – 10 Worship - 17

Blessings – Initial Observations Reflective of Personal Experience,

not group We are a Great Community

Majority cited “Connections” We Foster Personal Growth

Again, cited by Majority Religious Education, especially for

our children, is important

What are our

Predictions?

Community, Caring,

Connection

Facilities

Leadership and

Stewardship


the Community

Life Span

Religious

Education

Spiritual Growth

and Exploration

91 31

10

3097

86

Predictions Breakdown

Community, Caring, Connection – 91 Connections – 8 Diversity, Inclusivity – 22 Membership – 61

Facilities – 86 Accessibility, Parking – 9 Distraction from Mission – 9 Green – 1 Location – 4 Safety, Condition – 39 Space - 24

Predictions Breakdown (cont.) Leadership and Stewardship - 97

Finances – 24 Leadership and Volunteers – 16 Mission and Vision – 15 Organizational Structure and Policies – 27 Professional Staff – 15

Life Span RE – 10 Adult RE and Programs – 3 Children’s RE and Programs – 6 OWL - 1

Predictions Breakdown (concluded)

Sharing Our Values in the Community – 30 Environmental Responsibility – 3 Community Voice – 21 Social Action – 5 Building Use by Community – 1

Spiritual Growth and Exploration – 31 Membership – 1 Morale – 13 Personal Growth – 8 Worship - 6

Predictions – Initial Observations

Most, But Not All, “Negative” Fewer Comments Perhaps Indicate

Areas of Strength E.g. RE

Concern over Condition of Building Change Happens

Change Needed to Keep Strong Community Going

What are our

Prouds?

Community, Caring,

Connection

Facilities

Leadership &

Stewardship

Sharing Our Values

in the Community

Life Span Religious Educatio

n

Spiritual Growth

and Explorati

on85 51

44

968

26

Prouds Breakdown

Community, Caring, Connection – 85 Connections – 21 Membership – 24 Pastoral Care – 4 Diversity, Inclusivity – 36

Facilities – 26 Grounds – 11 Location – 2 Space - 13

Prouds Breakdown (cont.)

Leadership and Stewardship Finances – 3 Leadership and Volunteers – 9 Organizational Structure and Policies –

10 Professional Staff - 13

Life Span Religious Education – 44 Adult RE and Programs – 11 Children’s RE and Programs – 26 OWL – 8

Prouds Breakdown (concluded) Sharing Our Values in the Community -96

Community Voice – 29 Denominational Affairs – 6 Environmental Responsibility – 3 Social Action – 50 Building Use by Community - 8

Spiritual Growth and Exploration – 51 Music, Art, Creativity – 12 Other – 1 Personal Growth – 9 Right Relationships – 11 Worship – 18

Prouds – Initial Observations Move from “Personal” to “Group” Majority Proud of our Community and

Our Outreach into the Community

What are our

Sorries?

Community, Caring, Connectio

n

Facilities

Leadership and

Stewardship

Sharing Our

Values in the

Community

Life Span RE

Spiritual Growth

and Explorati

on46 66

10

4252

84

Sorries Breakdown

Community, Caring, Connections – 46 Connections – 20 Diversity, Inclusivity – 19 Membership – 7

Facilities – 84 Accessibility, Parking – 20 Distraction from Mission – 4 Grounds – 4 Location – 9 Safety, Condition – 34 Space - 13

Sorries Breakdown (cont.)

Leadership and Stewardship – 52 Finances – 17 Leadership and Volunteers – 16 Mission and Vision – 2 Organizational Structure and Policies –

13 Professional Staff – 4

Life Span Religious Education – 10 Adult RE and Programs – 1 Children’s RE and Programs - 9

Sorries Breakdown (concluded) Sharing Our Values in the Community

Community Voice – 30 Denominational Affairs – 3 Environmental Responsibility – 4 Social Action – 4

Spiritual Growth and Exploration – 66 Music, Art, Creativity – 4 Personal Growth – 12 Right Relationships – 28 Worship - 22

Sorries – Initial Observations We are Worried About the Building

More are Sorry about Accessibility and Parking, Safety and Condition than are Sorry about Finances

We can Improve Our Practice of Right Relationships

Next Steps

Preliminary slide show – Nov 15 and Nov 22 Discussion in Meeting Room, Nov 22, after second

service Raw data available on web site Hard Copy Available in Library Strategic Planning Committee will host discussions

around “powerful questions” presented in the data. For example, how can we as a congregation want more diversity at the same time we crave a community of “like-minded” people?

More Research – Other Churches, Engineering, etc. Timeline Follows

Documents

Preliminary Readout November, 2009. Imagine: Who do we want to be? What do we want to do? What do we need to do it? In order to get input into the Morristown