Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County

1. Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County Putting the Pieces together

2. “Jigsaw puzzles come in a jumbled mess, shaken up by shipping and with no one right place to begin. Jigsaw puzzles don’t come with an instruction manual or directions for assembly. You can begin to piece together the puzzle in any way that you choose.” Rev. Peter Friedrichs

3. How It All Began - The1950’s • November 1951:Unitariansfrom the Philadelphia area explored forming a new group in Delaware County instead of traveling to Philadelphia. • January 1952: The group was chartered as the Unitarian Society of Delaware County. • They sought affiliation with the American Unitarian Association. • This was the first new Unitarian group in the Philadelphia area since 1865. • May 1952: The congregation adopted its first budget of $479.00.

4. 1955: Our first building, Curtis Chapel was purchased with financial help from two neighboring Unitarian congregations. Armed with shovels, wheelbarrows and cases of beer members spent many hours excavating a basement under the Chapel for six religious education classrooms.

5. The 1960’s • Our 2nd minister Rev. Dave Kibby helped organize The Delaware County Unitarians for Social Justice, voicing opinions and holding public forums on: • Fair housing • Bible-reading in public schools • The actions of the House Un-American Activities Committee • Rev. Kibby’s home was vandalized as a result.

6. October 1963: Land was purchased at our current location. 1965: Ground breaking 1966: Building was dedicated UUCDC, Rose Tree Road, Media PA

7. The 1970’s • We were one of the first churches in the US to become involved in the Bail Bond program (providing bail assistance for people who otherwise would remain in jail). • In 1977 the church became involved in multiple Social Justice projects: • Child Abuse Prevention Effort • Haitian Refugee Project • Helping Older People - HOP • Abortion Forum • Gay Rights issues

8. September 1979: UCDC opened Rose Tree Day School. • Improving community outreach • Addressing an unmet need for preschool education • Providing services for children with special needs

9. The 1980’s 1981: UCDC voted to become the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County (UUCDC). 1982: Joys and Concerns were initiated during Sunday services. 1987: A building committee drew up architectural sketches for an addition/renovation. The Caring Committee was established. 1988:Rev. Judith Downing was welcomed as our fifth minister.

10. The 1990’s 1991: In response to the Gulf War, a vigil was held at UUCDC. Some members joined a bus entourage to Washington D.C. as part of a denomination led protest against the war. 1992: Two services were held on Sunday due to increased attendance. A Growth Committee was established to study “expanding membership and shrinking space.”

11. May 1998: Ground breaking for a new entry, sanctuary, and offices. September 1999: Services began in the new sanctuary.

12. The 2000’s April 2002: The Congregation voted overwhelmingly to become a Welcoming Congregation. May 2002: We celebrated our 50th anniversary.

13. 2006: Rev. Peter Friedrichs was called to be our sixth settled minister. Our rainbow flag was burned.  This was reported as a hate crime. Candlelight vigils were held. April 2007: A new rainbow flag sculpture was dedicated.

14. 2008:Policy Governance was initiated. A Lay Leadership Council and five ministry teams were formed. July 2011: 26 UUCDC members attended General Assembly in Charlotte, NC (10% of our membership). September 2011: A second Sunday worship service was added to position us for growth.

15. “ The mystery of a jigsaw puzzle is that you know that all the pieces fit together, but you don’t know just how they fit. Every piece of the puzzle is unique in its shape and its size and its color, yet it belongs within the larger whole. And you know that all these separate pieces do come together, eventually, to make a beautiful picture.” Rev. Peter Friedrichs

16. Our Location Media, Pennsylvania Delaware County: • Oldest settled section of Pennsylvania • 4th most populous county in the state • 2010 Population - 558,979 (70% Caucasian) • Square miles - 184 • Median household income -$50,092 • Media is 20 miles SW of Philadelphia. • UUCDC is not within walking distance of Media. • There is no public transportation to UUCDC. • UUCDC is a liberal enclave in a conservative region.

17. Vision for Growth • We are energized by a 22% increase in membership in the past 5 years. • We would like to continue to grow in the following ways: • Sharing the life-affirming message of our faith. • Advocating for Social Justice • Expanding programs and services for our members and friends • Fulfilling our mission to “provide a haven for nourishing the spirit and mind, while we strive to build a just and sustainable world”

18. Our Impact in the Community • Share the Plate on a monthly basis • Provide and serve meals at a local shelter • House homeless families thru Interfaith Hospitality Network • Provide food donations to the local food bank • Host Social Justice workshops • Provide facilities for groups such as PFLAG, and Depression/Bipolar Support Alliance • Fund NAACP Scholarships • Sponsor Adopt a Family at Christmas • Host Interweave “Music OUT Loud” concerts

19. Major Issues Affecting the Congregation • Absence of a compelling church identity • Inadequate Lay Leadership succession planning • Need for volunteers who are eager to serve • Effectiveness of policy governance and ministry team structure • Need for planned facility maintenance, upgrades and expansion • Not enough participation from members on Social Justice actions

20. Our Vision We would be successful as a church community if we saw continued significant numerical growth. But more than that, success would be evidenced by significant culture change. UUCDC would be a place of engagement, energy and commitment across all segments of a community that truly embraces diversity, multiculturalism, and anti-racism/anti-oppression practices.

21. Our Vision Members, friends and visitors would experience radical hospitality in a welcoming, multicultural environment, and a spirit of generosity and commitment would be palpable. New members would be woven seamlessly into the fabric of the community. Our members would be eager to serve each other and the larger community, and they would enthusiastically participate in vibrant lifespan faith development programs.

22. “The church is a jigsaw puzzle, with all of us as pieces. Out of our jumbled lives we gather, each of us separate and unique. Every one of us has distinct talents and different needs. Each of us is whole unto ourselves, yet we have the potential to be so much more when we are joined with others.” Rev. Peter Friedrichs

23. UUCDC Threshold Congregation Goals

24. Goal #1: To increase the level of volunteerism and active participation by church members, both in numbers and intensity.  • Establish relevant metrics in order to measure progress on goals and strategies of our growth plan • Evaluate the Ministry Team concept to determine if this is the most effective means of providing lay leadership and administration of church programs • Evaluate existing programs and projects for continued consonance with the church mission • Actively recruit and train members to design, lead and facilitate adult religious education courses. • Provide greater opportunities for involvement of youth and young adults in church life • Encourage and support greater involvement by members in denominational events and activities, including General Assembly

25. Goal #2: Leadership Development - To execute the “Growth Through Service” Plan and other actions. • Create a team to guide the creation and execution of the GTS plan • Create and implement a Personal Planning Process to determine where most congregants’ interests lie, their skills, experiences and passions • Establish a list of all Leadership positions, write job descriptions and responsibilities, define skill levels, necessary training • Establish succession planning parameters for leadership positions, mentoring guidelines and responsibilities • Create needed infrastructure to document all information needed for the GTS plan • Match members to service opportunities • Create a Leadership Development Plan

26. Goal #3: Create and sustain a climate of support for social, economic and racial justice, with at least 50% of membership actively participating in church sponsored justice activities or events. • Establish a church “identity", likely to involve social justice and outreach. • Strengthen and expand the Justice Ministry team leadership, membership and programs. • Establish at least one “all church” social justice program. • Continue and expand justice related communications. • Establish church budgets for all justice related activities. • Re-establish or initiate associations with justice related groups. • Review and revise church by-laws to allow greater participation as an organization in responding to social justice issues.

27. Goal # 4: To intentionally manage our building, equipment and grounds, providing facilities needed to live out our values. • Finish basement for use as Children’s Chapel/RE space • As a result of a church-wide process of discernment to identify the compelling Social Justice identity of UUCDC, determine what, if any, changes will be needed to our building/environs to live out our vision • Develop a multi-year plan for maintaining/renewing our existing spaces • Implement a capital campaign to fund improvements to support growth such as: air conditioning, acoustic, kitchen, and/or parking • Develop plans and build a labyrinth on church grounds • Develop a Green Sanctuary

28. Goal # 5: To increase opportunities for education and dialogue around anti-racism , anti-oppression and multiculturalism. 25% of members will participate in at least one ARAOM activity per year. • Hold monthly discussion groups with average attendance of at least 10 church members/friends • Hold quarterly book/article/video ARAOM related discussion groups • Institute a yearly “common read” program on a ARAOM related topic followed by facilitated discussions with participation by at lease 50 church members/friends • Incorporate yearly training for leadership/key members of Membership Team using resources such as Multicultural Welcome: A Resource for Greeters and provide greeters with a copy • Consider ways to incorporate multicultural elements in the worship service

29. Goal # 6: To foster relationships among church members, friends and guests, leading to a pervasive sense of community. • Survey congregation to determine a “connectedness” baseline • Establish one activity developed to address the needs of new members • Develop and implement Good Neighbors program with participation by at least 40 church members/friends • Develop and hold at least one new annual all-church social event • Increase small group ministry participation by 20% • Increase attendance at multi-generational activities and events by 25%

30. “Two pieces, once joined, will fit with others, and others still, to form the core of a larger picture.” Rev. Peter Friedrichs Live Your Faith