Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Plattsburgh: “Fosters open minds, Inspires spiritual growth, Engages in loving community, and Ignites passion for social justice”
This is our mission statement. At the Annual Meeting on June 17, JoEl Miano led attendees through an exercise to explore what works and what needs work in relation to the mission statement for UUFP. We broke into small groups of 4 or 5 people and then came back together share what the small groups discussed. Below is a synopsis of that discussion.
| WHAT’S WORKING? | WHAT NEEDS WORK? |
| Fosters open minds Many different perspectives, people & subjects in service Congregational Reflections Social Justice (Faith in Action committee) Black Lives Matter potluck Book group |
Fosters open minds Need richer, deeper conversation; Need more perspectives; Need to address younger members’ needs More challenging of ideas – bringing in the other (socioeconomic, etc.) More meetings during day or early evening for elderly or retired Speakers must enunciate and speak slowly |
| Inspires spiritual growth Sunday services Search for Meaning, Faith Examined (adult reading & study groups) Hearing different viewpoints, people sharing their experiences Meditations, singing, music Specific services (about God, being in The Now, Luis Sierra) |
Inspires spiritual growth More opportunities for smaller group activities(Small group dinners, reading group) Adult RE, Workshops, not just services – make sure times work for family Fellowship has always struggled with this; we tend to shy away from spirituality; need to explain “What is spiritual growth.” |
| Engages in loving community Community Meal, Joys and Sorrows, Compassionate Cooks, Care Team, Palmer St. Coffeehouse, Black Lives Matter, Forget Me Nots, Christmas Day Dinner, Plattsburgh Cares, our plays! |
Engages in loving community Less cliquishness, more invitations to engage others, get word out. More potlucks, lunches – opportunities to get together (Time to sit down and get to know each other) Consider different time for Greet Your Neighbor during Sunday service |
| Ignites passion for social justice Strong functioning of organizations and committees, connecting to community, Side with Love, Black Lives Matter, Plattsburgh Cares, Community Meal, Food Shelf, Potluck suppers, monthly offering to local charity |
Ignites passion for social justice Balance; we can get overwhelmed; be focused – can’t do everything but UU is an activist faith! Sometimes we avoid talking about social issues for fear of being “political.” Do more to show we are a congregation that welcomes LGBTQ. |