In this feature we seek out answers to questions of broad interest, drawing on experts in congregations, the UUA, and elsewhere. If you would like to submit a question, please write to InterConnections at 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, or email dskinner@uua.org. Q Our congregation wants to attract new members; we also want to manage our money in a responsible way. We estimate that it costs $75 minimum to keep a member on the church list for a year. This includes newsletter costs and the support we provide to our district and the UUA. Should we insist that every member pay at least $75 per year? A Wayne Clark, the UUA's director of Congregational Fundraising Services, cautions that asking members for only a minimum contribution can lead them to expect that their church won't ask much of them in any area: "If you use the lowest common denominator, that's usually what people will give. And it's often much less than what they would give if they'd been asked differently." Clark prefers to give them the UUA's Suggested Fair Share Giving Guide (at www.uua.org/cde/fundraising). He recommends asking new folks for a financial commitment as soon as they join or become regularly involved. Q What is the
best procedure for getting new members signed up to receive UU World? A "As long as we get the names of new members two to three weeks before we mail out a new issue we can usually get them entered into the system in time to receive that issue," says data entry technician Nick Rafeal. He said congregations can email new names as often as monthly to circulation@uua.org. Saving up names for several months can delay getting the magazine started. And at times in past years the office has been backed up, further delaying data entry. A congregation's membership chair or other designated person can go
to www.uua.org/congregation,
enter the church ID number (in the Congregational Directory) and a password,
and access a list of subscribers to see which members are yet to be
added to the UU World list. When sending in new names, remember
to list people whose addresses have changed in your records and of people
who have died or left the congregation. Q Sometimes I have
difficulty explaining to new people at our congregation just why the
UUA is so involved in political activity, including environmentalism
and taking positions on Supreme Court nominees. I know it's the right
thing to do, but could you help me explain it? A Janet Hayes, the UUA's information officer, explains that Unitarian Universalists have a long history of social justice activity stemming from the earliest days of Unitarianism and Universalism. "We feel a responsibility as a religious community to stand up for people who are oppressed, to speak out for equality, and to safeguard the Earth. It is impossible to separate our faith from the social and political movements of the years. The UUA's administration is responsible for implementing the goals determined by our member congregations. Each year thousands of congregational delegates shape the UUA's social justice agenda by drafting and voting on resolutions at General Assembly." In 2004, GA delegates approved a Statement of Conscience on civil liberties that specifically says, "We oppose nominees to the federal appeals courts or to the Supreme Court whose records demonstrate insensitivity to the protection of civil liberties." Visit the UUA's Commission on Social Witness website at www.uua.org/csw. |
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