World Cafe Conversation Results

Things to Keep

Our minister and his sermons

Keep minister who is big on spirituality (yeah Doug), warmth, openness, walks his talk Doug Kraft

Doug Kraft, Lynn and all the other staff

Keep our minister happy and free from burnout – future co-minister

Doug and administrative staff

Minister and staff

Doug Kraft

Doug and staff

Doug Welcoming strong safe spiritual community

Warm and accepting

Accepting people

Good feeling of fellowship

Caring for each other

Caring community

The wealth and variety of people

Our location and facility

Park-like property/campus

Present location – oaks, stream, building mean a lot to people; improve what we have

The environment – buildings and grounds, grass, trees

Campus

Location and landscape

inter-generational connection and fellowship

People of all ages and beliefs

Intergenerational connectionsFellowship (social interactions, small group opportunities, inter-generational)

Intergenerational worship and activities (more)Interest Groups – circles, classesAdult enrichment

Ministry CirclesKeep small group activities – ministry circles, adult RE, etcTwo services, one big and one small, and other opportunities for different size gatherings (social and worship)

Nurturing and expanding volunteers

Social responsibility, esp. in concert with CUULM

Social action/outreach/public forum

Community service

Forum

Sanctuary/safe place to have different views; tolerance

respect for each others’ beliefsOur mission with liberal voice and place of participation

SpiritualityStrong RE

Religious education (with some improvements)

Major value of music in service

Music

Being part of a movement/history of UU

 

Things We Want To Be Different

Enhanced music – including: intergenerational participation, choir, sound system,instrumentalists

Intergenerational activities to promote cohesiveness of different groups

Expanded intergenerational activity

Connecting more across generations and groups

Community building intergenerational events: camping, retreats to foster inclusiveness

More overlapping and intersection of all groups, intergenerational and others

More outreach to the community of all ages and all beliefs

More intergenerational activities, i.e., more opportunities for intergenerationalcommunication like this one

Outreach to youth and families

More intergenerational involvement and interaction

More integration of ages (church as a village)

Better integration of RE teachers with the service (more RE teachers!)

Attracting and bringing in younger members and keeping them

More diversity – respecting differences (spiritual, ethnic, physical, political, age)Intentional outreach and congregational change to invite racial diversity

Add more community outreach: interfaith exchanges, college outreachGreater diversity within

Promote outreach at college campusesMore warmth/welcomingCulture of love and generosity

Better outreach to find latent UUsMore sharing beliefs

More outreach both with social activism and other religions

Social justice focus of whole congregation on 2 or 3 issues each year (not 20 or 30issues)

Mentoring including tutoring for all ages and all beliefs (Sat. AM)More UU presence in the larger community

Greater presence in community

Greater diversity in age, ethnic background, politics

Diversity –ethnic and economic

Racial outreach – known in the community for social justice

Activities with other organizations for community links and outreach, e.g. Sierra Club hikes

Building – new sanctuary for 125-150 participants

Better care of physical facilityAnother room to hold 100 to 120 people with modern architecture

Proper facilities maintenanceBe better stewards of our physical plant (buildings and grounds)

Facilities (more money needed; two out of five were okay with possibility of changingsites)

Enhanced music – including: intergenerational participation, choir, sound system,instrumentalists

Better music (variety, instrumentation, bigger choir)

More and better music – uplifting, more consistent

Improve quality of music

Expand all aesthetic elements – visual, musical, and technical

More financial stability; increase pledging

Increase pledges

DRE who is a minister – can share the ministry to the congregation, i.e., supervise summer services

Outgrow our self-satisfied complacency

Improve communication with the office and within our community

UU heritage study, literature