Circle Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Our Membership Journey

Making New Friends and Keeping the Old

Membership and Growth

. . .  membership is about growth in every sense. In the numerical sense, adding members means growth. Existing members, even ones who joined relatively recently, are often wary of numerical growth and the changes that they anticipate it will bring. Based on past experience or simply a fear of the unknown, they may actively work to discourage growth or at least be lukewarm about it. This sort of reticence can lead to ambiguous feelings about new members and a lack of welcoming. Congregations that do not grow, however, will lose members rather than stay stable. Natural attrition will affect congregations, and a failure to bring in new people will result in stagnation and eventually, decline.

Growth does bring change, and change brings awkward feelings and moments that cannot and should not be denied. Such feelings can be discussed in open and honest conversations that also point out the gifts and opportunities that come with additional members.

            Graceful Actions for Awkward Times

            Growth means change, and change can be uncomfortable.

            Congregational reticence about growth can be tied to the desire to

            avoid such awkwardness. A willingness to look intentionally at the

            awkwardness that growth brings can help people welcome

            newcomers more wholeheartedly. (For more information, see Alice

            Mann’s presentation at archive.uua.org/cde/midsize2000/theme.html.)

Intentional reflection about the kind of growth they want to see will help congregations weather the awkwardness through a driving sense of mission and purpose. Instead of waiting for people to stumble across the congregation and its programming, leaders can ensure that the door is open, the welcome mat is out, and the programming is geared to attract those the congregation seeks to serve.

If membership is thought of as a life cycle, then opportunities for all four kinds of growth—numerical, maturational, organic, and incarnational—can be developed. For more information on welcoming practices and getting out the word about Unitarian Universalism in your community, refer to The Uncommon Denomination resources at archive.uua.org/programs/congservices/uncommon/.