Table of Contents
The Southwest UU Church Story
The Large Church Story: First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
The Mid-Sized Church Story: UU Congregation, Charleston
The Small Church Story: UU Congregation of Greater Canton
Resources funded by the Annual Program Fund and the OMD District Fund
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Last Spring 2009, the Ohio-Meadville District (OMD) sent out a survey to congregational leaders, asking for feedback regarding the district, services, and other needs. One of the responders to that survey asked for more information and dialogue about what the OMD does and what the UUA does to support our congregations. This edition of “OMD Up-Close!” is a direct response to that request.
The essays in this edition were submitted by large, mid-sized and small congregations in the OMD. Some of these congregations have always been Fair Share. Others have had struggled with this. Some have experienced frustrations with past and current relationships with the UUA and District. Others are concerned about future services they hope will be available to them. All of them take their covenantal commitments to be part of our UUA very seriously.
We hope that these stories give you a better picture of how the District and the UUA directly affects the lives of our congregations, and how our congregations generously contribute their time, talent and treasure to strengthen Unitarian Universalism in the OMD.
Aside from the Pride: The Southwest Unitarian Universalist Church Story
by Rev. Christina M. Neilson
At one annual meeting when we were making the difficult decision between paying our full share of the UUA dues or of funding our own programs, a voice chimed up, “Aside from the pride, what do we get from the UUA?”
For twenty plus years now Southwest Unitarian Universalist church has taken great pride in the fact that we have always been among the churches that have paid their full fair share of UUA and OMD dues. Last year we were challenged on this. We were not able to budget the full amount for dues. We were, however, able to pay them off by year’s end. Why should we struggle to fund our own programs rather than pay dues? Isn’t it more practical to fund programs that can directly benefit the community?
Let’s be honest and admit that the UUA has its frustrations. In our twenty plus years as a congregation we have had plenty of reasons to withhold support. First the obvious- we barely have enough money to meet the day to day operating needs.
It’s deeper than that. We’ve been angry with the UUA. They weren’t real helpful while applying for an extension ministry. It felt like a lot of red tape for not a lot of benefit. In the end, we did receive an extension minister. We moved through our hard feelings and continued to pay our fair share to the district and UUA.
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A Large Church Story: First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
by Rev. David Herndon
The First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh has been a Fair Share contributor to both the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Ohio-Meadville District (OMD) for at least ten years. Moreover, we are among the top fifty Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout the entire country with regard to denominational giving.
One reason for this commitment is that the UUA has been generous with us. Several years ago, we received a Historic Urban Church Grant from the UUA. This grant provided capital funds which helped with our ongoing efforts to renovate our Sanctuary, which was built in 1904. We also received a UUA grant to help with the creation of our campus ministry program, which now includes a paid twelve-hour-per-week campus ministry coordinator.
More recently, we called an associate minister through the Diversity of Ministry Initiative. This UUA program provided financial assistance for this major step as well as consultation throughout the settlement process, and the UUA will continue to provide consulting services through the first years of this new ministry.
Another reason for our Fair Share commitment is to ensure that we will have no reason to feel sheepish or awkward about asking for services from the UUA or the OMD!
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A Mid-Sized Church Story: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Charleston
by Revs. Rose Edington and Mel Hoover
UUs in Charleston WV pay our fair share because we believe it is a fair expectation, one to which all congregations who are voluntary members of the UUA and OMD are equally expected to contribute, based on congregational membership. It is part and parcel of our responsibility as UUs; and an expectation we take pride in living up to. Yet, even in good times, paying our fair share has sometimes been a challenge.
In these more challenging times we have had discussions about reducing our fair share contribution. However, the short term “solution” of paying less in order to balance the UUC budget is so far not one our members accept as being good for Unitarian Universalism. As ministers, we are proud that even when times are tough, our congregation finds a way to meet its fair share commitment.
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A Small Church Story: The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Canton
by Renee Zimelis Ruchotzke
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Canton is a small congregation with a big heart and an even bigger vision. They started as a small fellowship in the 1960’s, disbanded in the mid-1970’s and restarted in the early 1990’s with funds that the UU Church of Akron had been holding in trust from the original Canton Congregation. Since then, the UUCGC has had a vision of becoming a strong liberal presence in a conservative community, and has made significant progress in their commitment toward growth.
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Your Congregation's Contributions to the UUA Annual Program Fund and Ohio-Meadville District Make a Real Difference!
By Laurel Amabile, Director of the Annual Program Fund and adapted by Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, OMD District Executive for the Spring 2009 Fair Share congregational pledge request.
Your congregation is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) joining in partnership with 1,047 congregations that have covenanted to support one another. Together we can do what no congregation can do alone. The needs of all our 1,047 congregations--whether historic or newly chartered, urban or rural, small, midsize, or large in size--are widely varied and changing. However, each benefits from the collective strength and support of the whole community of Unitarian Universalists. In association, none of our congregations are alone; we build our Unitarian Universalist community together. Here are some of the resources available to help meet the needs of congregations:
- Ministry and Professional Leadership: Provides leadership, education, credentialing and settlement for ministers and religious educators.
- District Services and Grants: APF funds help pay the salaries of District Executives and Program Consultant and provide services that include long range planning, leadership training, ministerial transitions, growth and conflict management, financial consulting, conflict assistance, transition resources, congregational consulting, children & youth religious education consulting, lifespan faith development, Summer and Winter Institutes, and the OMD “Chalice Lighter” program.
- Publications and Online Resources: Deepen and spread our faith and values through print and electronic publications, curricula, and resources such as UU World, pamphlets, Tapestry of Faith curricula, Leaders’ Library, growth and marketing resources, and other publications. The OMD hosts a resource-filled website at www.ohiomeadville.org.
- Lifespan Faith Development: Provides curricula, books, worship materials and other resources to nurture UU identity, spiritual growth, and communities of justice and love. The District Consultant conducts workshops and meets with RE Leaders.
- Young Adult and Campus Ministries: Fosters the development of young adult groups and campus ministries and provides leadership training, networking and resources with a District Consultant.
- Youth Programming: Serves UU youth with consultation and training by a District Consultant and the District Youth Adult Committee.
- Advocacy and Witness: Promotes social justice values through media advocacy, partnerships with other organizations, lobbying in Washington and social justice internships. Enables our District staff and volunteers to engage in advocacy work at the state and local level and engage in cooperative efforts for social change.
- Identity Based Ministries: Provides education curricula, workshops, worship and ceremonial guides and consultation for religious professionals and congregations who are engaged in anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural transformation of congregations.
The priorities and the allocation of budget to these programs are approved by the Association’s volunteer Board of Trustees, elected by our districts and congregations. Every member congregation is asked to pledge and contribute each year to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Annual Program Fund (APF) and to its District Fair Share. The amount of each congregation’s “Fair Share” is determined by the UUA Board of Trustees and District Board, as noted on the enclosed joint pledge form. The currently requested contribution to the UUA’s Annual Program Fund (APF) is $56 per member. The OMD requested contribution is $21 per member. Your APF and District Fair Share contributions make it possible to provide essential resources and services to all of our congregations. Thank you all!
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The Top Ten Ways Your “Fair Share” Contribution Helps Grow Our Unitarian Universalist Faith
Adapted by Rev. Naomi King, UUMA Liaison to APF, The River of Grass UU Congregation, Plantation, Florida
10. You teach your congregation that we truly are called together as one association of congregations and that our greatest strength is not individual but communal. Together, we overcome fear, alienation, and loneliness, creating a better today and a more hopeful future.
9. You encourage generosity by modeling generosity.
8. You connect your congregation to great stories of our Unitarian Universalist living faith all around the world.
7. Your congregation’s “fair share.” gift models individual right relationship in expending our individual resources.
6. You strengthen the connection between your congregation and our family of associated congregations. – our Unitarian Universalist Association
5. When people see what our Unitarian Universalist faith is doing through their giving around the world, it encourages and develops heir stewardship and their sense of making a difference.
4. You are having the greatest effect on our home mission in planning new congregations, strengthening existing congregations and reaching people with the good news of Unitarian Universalism.
3. When you give at the. “fair share.” level to our Association, you model your congregation living our values of interdependence, mutuality, cooperation, and hope.
2. You strengthen the identity of your congregation as a mission- and service-focused people.
1. Your gifts enable your congregation to expand our living faith values of love, reason, freedom and justice .– healing and transforming our world here and now.
We can be and do more together than we can be and do on our own.
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