Davidium
Active Member
Hey my Fellow RF UU's!
I have recently been thinking alot about the two different Congregational movements in the Unitarian Universalist Association... And how that is unique among religious movements.
For those who are not UU's, and maybe some who are, let me talk a bit about what I mean.
Unitarian Universalism is "Congregational" in Polity. What that means is that each church is independent of the denomination, free to choose its own leaders, ministers, liturgy, worship topics, and within large boundaries, policies and procedures. Each church could even choose to leave the UUA if it wanted to. The "Congregation" is the basic organizational unit within the UUA, and makes decisions for itself. The denomination cannot order or dictate to the member Churches, as in essence, the denomination works for the member churches. (Sometimes they forget this, and need a little reminding).
This is part of why each UU Church/Congregation/Society/Fellowship etc. is unique in its character, style, structure, etc. If you visit a UU Church and it does not speak to you, visit a different one.... for they are all different. I tried three before one really fit with me!
My question (that I am often too long winded to ask in a timely manner), is what kind of UU Church are you involved in? The two major deliniations are the "Churches" and the "Fellowship Movement".
UU Churches are alot like protestant Christian Churches in structure and style. They have a minister (often several) and a very protestant Christian church facility. They tend to be the larger UU Churches, and are a bit more formal in style. They usually are very well organized, and often have long histories (though not always).
The Fellowship movement is, well, different. Often, they are Lay lead... they do not have a Full time UU minister, or even a minister at all. They are generally smaller, and fiercely independent. Services are planned and presented by members, members serve as "Lay ministers" for weddings and other such life ceremonies. They generally have smaller "fellowship halls" but sometimes meet in rental spaces. Sometimes they develop into UU Churches, but not always. I am a member of a Fellowship, and it has been a fellowship for over 50 years... (and very proud of that as well).
Sometimes, these different kinds of UU Congregations can even be found pretty close to one another. I will give you two example websites to check out.
One, is our local UU Fellowship here on Galveston Island.... www.uugalveston.org
The Closest UU congregation to us Is a young and growing UU Church, but though new it is definately of the "church" variety... led by a good friend of mine, Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle. www.bauuc.org
So, for those of you involved in a UU Congregation in your area, which does it more closely resemble? A Church or a Fellowship?
I really am curious, as I am facinated by this dicotomy within our denomination....
YoUUrs in faith,
David Pyle
Galveston Island, TX
I have recently been thinking alot about the two different Congregational movements in the Unitarian Universalist Association... And how that is unique among religious movements.
For those who are not UU's, and maybe some who are, let me talk a bit about what I mean.
Unitarian Universalism is "Congregational" in Polity. What that means is that each church is independent of the denomination, free to choose its own leaders, ministers, liturgy, worship topics, and within large boundaries, policies and procedures. Each church could even choose to leave the UUA if it wanted to. The "Congregation" is the basic organizational unit within the UUA, and makes decisions for itself. The denomination cannot order or dictate to the member Churches, as in essence, the denomination works for the member churches. (Sometimes they forget this, and need a little reminding).
This is part of why each UU Church/Congregation/Society/Fellowship etc. is unique in its character, style, structure, etc. If you visit a UU Church and it does not speak to you, visit a different one.... for they are all different. I tried three before one really fit with me!
My question (that I am often too long winded to ask in a timely manner), is what kind of UU Church are you involved in? The two major deliniations are the "Churches" and the "Fellowship Movement".
UU Churches are alot like protestant Christian Churches in structure and style. They have a minister (often several) and a very protestant Christian church facility. They tend to be the larger UU Churches, and are a bit more formal in style. They usually are very well organized, and often have long histories (though not always).
The Fellowship movement is, well, different. Often, they are Lay lead... they do not have a Full time UU minister, or even a minister at all. They are generally smaller, and fiercely independent. Services are planned and presented by members, members serve as "Lay ministers" for weddings and other such life ceremonies. They generally have smaller "fellowship halls" but sometimes meet in rental spaces. Sometimes they develop into UU Churches, but not always. I am a member of a Fellowship, and it has been a fellowship for over 50 years... (and very proud of that as well).
Sometimes, these different kinds of UU Congregations can even be found pretty close to one another. I will give you two example websites to check out.
One, is our local UU Fellowship here on Galveston Island.... www.uugalveston.org
The Closest UU congregation to us Is a young and growing UU Church, but though new it is definately of the "church" variety... led by a good friend of mine, Rev. Dr. Matt Tittle. www.bauuc.org
So, for those of you involved in a UU Congregation in your area, which does it more closely resemble? A Church or a Fellowship?
I really am curious, as I am facinated by this dicotomy within our denomination....
YoUUrs in faith,
David Pyle
Galveston Island, TX
