Inclusiveness
In 1987 the Welcoming Congregation Program was established to assist congregations in becoming more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. That program has born some real fruit. We need now to be equally welcoming of many others: African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, the physically handicapped, the elderly, etc. We need to become more intentional about being welcoming, in general.
We need to be welcoming, not because “they” are not currently members, but because we can still think in terms of “us” and “them”. A large percentage of the American population might find a Unitarian Universalist church to be exactly the right church for them, if they only could find us. At many weddings and funerals those attending approach me with amazement at how appropriate the service seems to them. The conversation usually turns to what is Unitarian Universalism. They often find that congenial to be equally real and appropriate for them. I find the same phenomenon in many social justice groups that I meet with as well as liberal political colleagues.
While we are not proselytizers we could serve as a “beacon”. We need to refrain from hiding our churches in the woods (though I agree that it is wonderful to be “in” nature). We need to make sure that we have large and welcoming signs in front. We need to publicize our programs in the community. And we need to have programming in the church that focuses on the needs of the surrounding community. We need to follow the lead of other churches in offering soup kitchens, bi-lingual programs, English classes, etc. We found a wonderful home – let’s share it.