Here is what we learned from our survey and our conversations about what is important to us about TJ, being UU, and our future name. In order to present the big picture for the whole congregation, we have taken nuggets from the response and grouped them into several concept clusters. This chart shows the frequency with which each concept came up in either a group discussion or survey response. Those with #’s in the label are clusters anchored by one of the seven UU principles. More often than not, the principles were not stated overtly, but if someone mentioned exploring different beliefs, that was grouped with the third principle. Single responses were often tagged in more than one concept.
Even more than was true of the breakdown of UU congregation names, there are many, many different ways these concept clusters could have been divided, reconstructed, or interpreted. This is by no means the only way to interpret what was said, but is more of a rough approximation of the big picture – seen at a great distance – of what makes us UU’s at TJ and what we want to say about ourselves in a name.
Principle 3: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
Many of these responses highlight the importance of freedom and diversity of belief at TJ. Some value TJ as a place where we can find our own paths.
Follow Your Own Path, Acceptance, Diversity of Beliefs, Build Your Own Theology, Exploration Encouraged
Principle #6: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
These responses highlight the social justice work of the church and the various ways we help the larger community.
Social Justice, Responsible to Larger Community, the Parker/King quote about the arc of history
Community
The shared element of the UU experience was central to many responses. Many highlighted the value of the church being a place where congregants can be together with those who share their values. Also important was the reciprocity of congregants taking care of one another in times of need.
Beloved Community, Friendships, Openness, Chalice Circles, Involvement, Where I belong, Solidarity
Principle #2: Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
These responses highlighted the importance of ethical living and treating people well. Some responses specifically noted TJ as a place where children can be raised with good values.
Ethical Guidance, Fairness, Caring, Golden Rule
Not a Traditional Religion
Many responses held up TJ as positive for ways that it is different from other religious institutions. The foremost among these is the requirement of specific beliefs. Others were exclusivity, conservative thought, and the focus on an afterlife as opposed to this life.
No creed or doctrine, Unity not division, Not dogmatic, Deeds not creeds
Principle #4: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
While broadly popular, this one was especially important for our atheists and humanists. Responses highlighted the freedom of thought, the value of having our preconceptions challenged, intellectual pursuits, and the option to disagree.
Open Minded, Independent Thinking, Sermons challenge us to think
Intellectual
These responses highlighted intellectual aspects of the TJ experience such as rich discussions and opportunities to learn.
Critical Discussions, Diverse sources of wisdom, Thoughtful
Principle #1: The inherent worth and dignity of every person
Frequently invoked overtly by name.
Love, You are one of us [as a message in an ideal name]
Diversity
These responses highlight the proactive intent to be welcoming to diversity in all forms and to confront oppression. This includes race, gender/sexual orientation, and religious beliefs.
Be myself and be accepted, Welcoming Congregation
Liberal
These responses lifted up the overt progressive stance of the church and UUA on most social issues as well as the liberal/progressive norm of congregants.
Liberal Theology, Progressives
Principle #7: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
Some responses overtly named the interdependent web from the principle and others highlighted the importance of the environment and the various environmental and conservational efforts of the church and its congregants.
Web of Life, Environmental sustainability
Spirituality
These responses highlighted the value of spiritual practices and experiences associated with TJ.
Healing, Renewal, Wonder, Coming Together
Commonality
These responses value the commonality of perspective – that UU’s share all the other values shown above, and this is not necessarily the case in the larger world. Some cited TJ as a safe place for this reason.
Lots of good like-minded people, Shared Interest, Group of people there for a reason
Some highlights of specific that overlapped more than one of the concepts above:
Inspiration
Love and Service
Doers and Thinkers
Vision of Hope
The We Love You Believe What You Want UU Church
One other thought: An interesting pattern emerged in the whole of the responses with a juxtaposition of seeming dichotomies. These ideas are in opposition at face value, but when seen together, they seem to point to a greater whole idea that is not self-contradictory. One such dichotomy was between the value of openness and diversity of perspective, as opposed to the value of TJ as a place to come together with like-minded folks to be stronger together. Another was the large emphasis on our inner community – who we are when we come together as TJ, as opposed to our service/justice-oriented focus on the outer community around us.