UUCN Ends Statements Survey

What difference do we want our congregation to make in the world?

It all comes down to our values, developed after substantial congregational input. Values define who we are and drive the most important decisions we make: what we spend our money on; programs we provide; and experiences within worship. It’s our values that define our mission, which then creates our more specific ends statements (goals), all listed below.
This brief survey, designed by your Board of Trustees, will measure the starting point of our 5-year journey to achieve these ends. Your responses to this survey will tell us where we are starting, and then future surveys will measure our progress. If we are moving closer each year, we can celebrate! If not, it will be time to redesign our efforts.
Thank you for helping our church make a difference in the world.

Please note that ample space has been provided at the end of the survey to allow you to share any thoughts you may have had as you responded to the questions below.

To assist you in completing this quick survey, here are our Values and Ends Statements.

Values: •Wonder •Authentic Connection •Courageous Community •Love in Action

Ends Statements:
We create brave space for all ages where we:
•Know our authentic Unitarian Universalist faith identity, teach it to our children, share it with others, and live it in the world.
•Develop meaningful spiritual practices that connect us to wonder.
•Ask for and receive care, support, and connection in times of struggle, joy, and transition.
•Grow leaders who serve the needs of our congregation and our community with faith, resilience, and courage.
•Steward our congregational community with our time, talent, and money.
•Participate actively in our larger Unitarian Universalist community.
•Understand systems of oppression and privilege and work to dismantle them within ourselves, our congregation, our community, and the larger world.
•Work in deep partnership to advance justice and heal our community and our world.

2.To what extent do you feel that you can comfortably take risks, try new experiences, make mistakes and ask for help within our congregation?

3.An important source of care, support, and connection in a congregation is being able to share life's struggles, joys, and transitions with each other. To what extent have you been able to ask people at church to share these life events with you and what response have you received?

I have asked people at church to share these life events with me and I have felt extremely supported by them

I have asked people at church to share these life events with me and have felt some support from them

I have asked people at church to share these life events with me and have felt limited support from them

I have asked people at church to share these life events with me and received no support from them

I have not asked people at church to share these life events with me as I would feel too uncomfortable doing so

I have not asked people at church to share these life events with me as I have not had occasion to do so

Please feel free to add your thoughts about this question in the space below.

4.When do you talk to others (not within UUCN) about Unitarian Universalism?

As often as I can, under a wide range of circumstances

As often as I can, when it's directly related to the conversation

I will if directly invited to do so by the other person(s)

I rarely do so because I'm not quite sure what to say

I rarely do so because I want to keep my religion/theology private

I rarely do so because talking about my religion/theology to those outside of UUCN makes me uncomfortable

Please feel free to add your thoughts about this question in the space below.

6.Do you have a meaningful spiritual practice that connects you to wonder? If so, to what extent has this church enhanced that practice?

I do have a spiritual practice and my experience in this church has greatly enhanced it

I do have a spiritual practice and my experience in this church has moderately enhanced it

I do have a spiritual practice and my experience in this church has slightly enhanced it

I do have a spiritual practice and my experience in this church has not enhanced it

I do not have a spiritual practice

7.Has UUCN provided you with the opportunities you have wanted to be a leader within the past church year? If so, how much support did you receive?

I have taken on a leadership role and felt a high level of support from the church

I have taken on a leadership role and felt a moderate level of support from the church

I have taken on a leadership role and felt no support from the church

I have wanted to take on a leadership role but did not know how to volunteer

I have wanted to take on a leadership role but have felt shut out

I have not wanted to take on a leadership role in the church

Please feel free to add your thoughts about this question in the space below.

8.How valuable has your church leadership experience been in expanding your skills and in supporting your growth as a person?

9.My contributions in time, talent and financial support have a direct impact on the success and sustainability of UUCN.

10.Within the past 5 years, have you participated in the larger UU community? Check all that apply.

Yes, I have attended trainings provided by the District, Region, UUA, or other UU churches

Yes, I have taken part in social justice actions organized by the District, Region, UUA, or other UU churches

Yes, I have attended District or Region governance meetings

Yes, I have held office with the District or Region

Yes, I have attended GA (not as a delegate)

Yes, I have attended GA as a delegate

Yes, I have financially supported others' attendance at events within the larger UU community (such as GA registration costs, etc.)

No, I have not participated in an event or action outside of UUCN

11.To what extent do you see members of UUCN working in partnership with each other and other organizations to advance justice and promote healing in our community and our world?

12.To what extent have sermons and teachings at UUCN helped you develop a deeper understanding of systemic oppressions and helped you work to dismantle them, both personally and within the larger world?

13.The UUA defines three levels of commitment to racial justice, the Status Quo Congregation, the Multiculturally Aware Congregation, and the Anti-Racist Congregation. Which describes UUCN?

Anti-Racist Congregation: Racial justice is central to the identity of the congregation and receives wide and passionate support from the congregation as a whole; racial justice efforts are well funded; multiple social actions to dismantle white supremacy are available to members and widely attended in public; multicultural awareness and sensitivity are integrated throughout church life.

In between Anti-racist and Multiculturally Aware (see below)

Multiculturally Aware Congregation: Racial justice is championed by only a small group of people and not the wider congregation; funding level varies widely based on budgetary pressures; occasional, but not necessary well-considered forays are seen into multicultural music, faith formation, or worship events; actions of public witness occur, but are limited in scope and number of church participants.

In between Multiculturally Aware and Status Quo (see below)

Status Quo Congregation: : Racial justice is rarely mentioned and is not a focus of the church's work; multiculturalism is largely absent in music, faith formation, and educational forums; racial justice work is not represented in the budget; the church remains separate from its community and maintains a priviledged White tradition.

14.Is there anything else you would like us to know about your experience at UUCN? (The text box below will expand as you type.)

UUCN Ends Statements Survey - '20-'21

What difference do we want our congregation to make in the world?