Dear Readers...I am going to say the most politically incorrect thing that can be said in UU circles, but I truly believe it.
The children are NOT the future of UUism.
The future is NOW people! Church growth does not happen because of youth programs. Church growth happens because you keep the ADULTS who bring the youth. (no ad campaign is going to work unless you have something to back it up) What are you offering them? Why do we have the same number of members now as we did 30 years ago?
Where is the Adult Religious Education curricula? Why has there not been the same effort in adult curricula that there has been in children/youth curricula?
UUs are squandering such an opportunity for real growth by not looking at the situation as it is. The growth in churches regardless of theological perspective is having adult programming that puts people in small group, intimate contact with others. Look at the megachurches (I know you don't want to, but you should). Do you see all the small groups that they have? Do you see what those groups are formed around? Do you see their educational offerings (not just about spiritual matters but on all kinds of things)?
The church is supposed to be about building relationships and spiritual/moral growth. We do ok with the kids in UUism. We just don't do it with adults. And that's the shame.
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Have you checked out the Evensong curriculum? (There are two volumes out, plus another for families and one for men's groups.) I had a great experience with this program.
The UUA is currently field-testing another adult curriculum by the same author, Spirit of Life.
Obviously, there are differences of opinion about the merits of these and any other curricula, but there are resources available to religious educators and others who want to put together good religious education opportunities for adults.
I know of the Evensong curriculum. And I'm glad to hear that there is testing of a new curriculum.
However I think this illustrates my point. Other than these two and Build Your Own Theology, where are the curricula? With as many people who come into UU churches with NO religious background as have one, where are the curricula that introduce them to the different faith traditions that we say influence us? Or the curricula on ethics from a variety of traditions?
Where is the real effort at small group ministry? I know there's the small group ministry network, but what office on Beacon Street is really working on this?
There is a reason that megachurches and other churches who understand their mission are growing. They truly understand what radical hospitality is and the importance of intergrating new people into the community. I'm afraid that UUs know the words but don't know how to do it.
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