Notes from our second "Visioning Conversation"

Futures Team Parlor Conversation #2
3/11/2012

Why do we exist?

Form a community of open-minded people; expand awareness; include lots of people in
different ways; spiritual home for people who are questioning dogma and want to have
thoughtful conversations; provide a spiritual community for folks who need a community
but can’t adhere to the dogma; a place where people can have different beliefs; to let
people be themselves and who are free to bring their whole self; making known the idea
of a sacred power without the hierarchical structure; to learn how to be better people; to
make the world a better place; have no dogma allows us to be less hypocritical; to walk
our talk and talk our walk; to support individuals.

What do you get here that you can’t get anywhere else?

Ability to share as much or as little as one chooses; surrounded by like-minded people;
affirmed for being oneself; freedom to be authentic; appreciated for being authentic (not
leaving church with the feeling that “I’m damned if I do and I’m damned if I don’t);
sermons that resonate into daily life; chance to explore spiritual topics without being
corrected; open-mindedness with respect; intellectual and reasoned discussions without
someone beating their own drum expecting everyone else to follow; aesthetic and poetic
discussions; UU Principles to give us guidance; UU Principles are our creed; open-
minded acceptance; feeling of being valued, appreciated, contributing as part of a team;
at our best we can be passionate about our believes and still maintain relationships with
some who believes/feels differently; acceptance; support; kindness; open-mindedness;
contributing to the future by helping to develop youth who embody our UU Principles;
feeling at home; a place where one’s spirituality can be discovered and come out to play;
affirmation that deeply held beliefs are accepted here; acceptance; cared about; positive
feelings about being able to contribute; great feelings from giving to others; feeling of
pride; freedom to be “as is” and not having to dissect oneself before coming through the
doors.

What do you give here that you can’t give anywhere else?

Community Plate offering; my presence; attendance; my mind; my openness; my open-
mind; tolerance; my love; kindness; willingness to share my thoughts and ideas; sharing
what I think; outreach to others; relationships; presence to another person; out of the
ordinary gifts, such as a female being allowed to sing tenor; participate in diverse music
experiences; energy; enthusiasm; participation in events; outreach to people on the edge;
time; uncertainty; total honesty; confusion; chances to explore new things

Total Attendance: 30 (including all FT members)
Facilitated by Edie Daigle