Important Ministerial functions

This Fellowship is clear that it wants a minister who will preach, while at the same time acknowledging that ministers fulfill many functions. Although preaching has a clear majority, most members also  say three other functions are important: building community within the congregation, personal interaction, and promoting UU principles.

This Fellowship wants a minister who can help us get along with each other. This clear message was shouted out by 97% saying that building community within the congregation would be a very important or somewhat important function of the minister.

Several other functions are also important to many members. These include personal counseling, social justice leadership, community outreach, and religious exploration (RE) for adults as well as children.

The function ranked as least important for the minister: committee work/participation. It’s not that members don’t want the minister involved in day to day affairs. They do, although more as an inspiration, guiding light, and team builder, than as an administrator or commitee member.

Survey question: How unimportant or important are the following ministerial functions?

What were the major reasons you first attended UUFSD?

When asked what brought them to UUFSD, two reasons stood out for over half the fellowship: UU beliefs and sense of community. The members of this fellowship believe in the UU principles, and want to share their exploration and expression of those beliefs with others who have that in common. They may or may not agree on other matters: belief systems, politics, child-rearing, foreign policy, global warming, or who makes the best fish taco in San Diego. But, they’re eager to discuss these and other matters with others who have like-minds as to mutual respect and other principles, and at the same time celebrate and honor unique minds with independent perspectives.

Wanting to make a difference in the world is a core interest, from Social Justice activities to seeing that the next generation has a solid foundation.

Although the UUFSD site with its outdoor amptheater is unique, it’s not mentioned as the first draw for members.

Should UUFSD grow in numbers, and if so, why?

Most of the fellowship support growth in numbers, either as a way to welcome more UUs, or to have a bigger local impact.

There were a wide variety of other ideas mentioned about reasons for growth in numbers:

• To attract more like-minded people
  • “To provide a spiritual home for people who didn’t realize they are UUs “
• Diversity
  • “Right now it is very upper middle class white”
• Financial
  • “To become more financially stable”

Fellowship life right now – what’s unimportant and important?

What important to most of the fellowship is having a strong sense of community, thoughfully centered around UU values and Sunday Services.

Reaching out through social justice activities or community outreach is strong, although not as strong.

Projects like building homes in Mexico have been well supported, in that they combine Social Justice, community building, outreach, living UU principles, and are fun!

Meditation and prayer are of importance to only a few.