While there are core strengths apparent at UUCVille, there are a number of spiritual and structural areas of growth, needed to nurture the health and effectiveness of all that the congregation seeks to do and be – for itself and the world.

Five areas of Developmental Needs – not in priority order, but for your thoughts and questions:

Identity – UUCVille has begun this work, by re-naming itself and moving from its former sense of self as a memorial to the Jefferson legacy and onward towards some new identity, based in the realities and culture of our 21st-century world.

Structures – Clarifying roles and responsibilities, governance and management.

Stewardship – Cultivating a culture of generosity, of shared commitment to financial well-being, of caring for the resources (reputation, people, and property) which it will hand on to the future, and having well-understood policies and practices that build trust and strengthen resources.

Leadership – Developing an understanding that a role of the congregation is to nurture the talents and callings of each person, so that membership includes a commitment to growing each person’s ministry.

Theology, Covenant and Mission – Deepening the understanding of the raison d’etre of UUCVille, of how the legacy of UUism calls to the congregation, and how covenant and spiritual maturity can guide the congregation as it seeks to heal wounds, deepen compassion, and fulfill its mission more fully.

Some decisive developmental shifts which the congregation may need to negotiate as it redefines and strengthens itself involve making the journey –

• from being “liberal white” toward being intentionally anti-racist, multi-cultural and multi-generational.
• from being a private group of like-minded individuals toward being a public community covenanting for communal well-being.
• from being a group challenged by the complexities of interpersonal connections to being an “authentically relational” community.
• from tasks and groups being “siloed” to being collaborative.
• from perceiving giving as a necessary scramble to survive, to valuing giving as a wise and faithful investment in making the dreams and mission of the congregation come to life.
• from seeing membership as joining a club to access its activities, to seeing membership as the chance to invest, grow, and serve the mission.