Preliminary Readout November, 2009

Imagine: Who do we want to be? What do we want to do? What do we need to do it? In order to get input into the Morristown Unitarian Fellowships next five year plan, members were invited to participate in one of four strategic planning sessions which were held over three days to discuss: What have been the blessings of your involvement with our Fellowship? What might make your relationship with us more fulfilling? How do we want to help deepen and grow what we offer in our shared ministries of worship, religious education, social justice, pastoral care, leadership development, stewardship and community fun?

Who Participated? 150 People attended 139 Filled out demographic survey 120 Members, 19 non-members 40 Current religious education (RE) parents 99 Non-RE parents Self-identified: 115 Heterosexuals 19 Unidentified 3 Gay 2 Bisexual Continued…

Who Participated? 89 Females 30s – 9 40s – 26 50s – No Response Males 20s – 3 40s – 9 50s – Continued… …Continued

Who Participated? Years of Attendance <= 1 year – years – years – years – years – years – 40 …Continued

Life Span Religious Education

Facilities

Life Span Religious Education

Facilities Life Span Religious Education

Facilities Life Span Religious Education

Facilities Life Span Religious Education

Imagination Sessions Questions What Blessings Have You Received From MUF? What Are Your Predictions for MUF 5 Years From Now If NOTHING CHANGES? What Are You Proud Of At or About MUF? What Are You Sorry About At MUF?

Facilities Life Span Religious Education

Blessings Breakdown Community, Caring, Connection Connections – 99 Diversity, Inclusivity – 56 Membership – 17 Pastoral Care – 11 Facilities - 19 Grounds – 10 Location – 4 Space - 5

Blessings Breakdown (cont.) Leadership and Stewardship - 22 Leadership and Volunteers – 9 Organizational Structure and Policies – 3 Professional Staff – 10 Life Span RE - 55 Adult RE and Programs – 13 Childrens RE and Programs – 37 OWL - 5

Blessings Breakdown (concluded) Sharing Our Values in the Community - 30 Community Voice – 7 Environmental Responsibility – 2 Social Action – 21 Spiritual Growth and Exploration Music, Art, Creativity – 22 Personal Growth – 85 Right Relationships – 10 Worship - 17

Blessings – Initial Observations Reflective of Personal Experience, not group We are a Great Community Majority cited Connections We Foster Personal Growth Again, cited by Majority Religious Education, especially for our children, is important

Facilities Life Span Religious Education

Predictions Breakdown Community, Caring, Connection – 91 Connections – 8 Diversity, Inclusivity – 22 Membership – 61 Facilities – 86 Accessibility, Parking – 9 Distraction from Mission – 9 Green – 1 Location – 4 Safety, Condition – 39 Space - 24

Predictions Breakdown (cont.) Leadership and Stewardship - 97 Finances – 24 Leadership and Volunteers – 16 Mission and Vision – 15 Organizational Structure and Policies – 27 Professional Staff – 15 Life Span RE – 10 Adult RE and Programs – 3 Childrens RE and Programs – 6 OWL - 1

Predictions Breakdown (concluded) Sharing Our Values in the Community – 30 Environmental Responsibility – 3 Community Voice – 21 Social Action – 5 Building Use by Community – 1 Spiritual Growth and Exploration – 31 Membership – 1 Morale – 13 Personal Growth – 8 Worship - 6

Predictions – Initial Observations Most, But Not All, Negative Fewer Comments Perhaps Indicate Areas of Strength E.g. RE Concern over Condition of Building Change Happens Change Needed to Keep Strong Community Going

Facilities Life Span Religious Education

Prouds Breakdown Community, Caring, Connection – 85 Connections – 21 Membership – 24 Pastoral Care – 4 Diversity, Inclusivity – 36 Facilities – 26 Grounds – 11 Location – 2 Space - 13

Prouds Breakdown (cont.) Leadership and Stewardship Finances – 3 Leadership and Volunteers – 9 Organizational Structure and Policies – 10 Professional Staff - 13 Life Span Religious Education – 44 Adult RE and Programs – 11 Childrens RE and Programs – 26 OWL – 8

Prouds Breakdown (concluded) Sharing Our Values in the Community -96 Community Voice – 29 Denominational Affairs – 6 Environmental Responsibility – 3 Social Action – 50 Building Use by Community - 8 Spiritual Growth and Exploration – 51 Music, Art, Creativity – 12 Other – 1 Personal Growth – 9 Right Relationships – 11 Worship – 18

Prouds – Initial Observations Move from Personal to Group Majority Proud of our Community and Our Outreach into the Community

Facilities Life Span RE

Sorries Breakdown Community, Caring, Connections – 46 Connections – 20 Diversity, Inclusivity – 19 Membership – 7 Facilities – 84 Accessibility, Parking – 20 Distraction from Mission – 4 Grounds – 4 Location – 9 Safety, Condition – 34 Space - 13

Sorries Breakdown (cont.) Leadership and Stewardship – 52 Finances – 17 Leadership and Volunteers – 16 Mission and Vision – 2 Organizational Structure and Policies – 13 Professional Staff – 4 Life Span Religious Education – 10 Adult RE and Programs – 1 Childrens RE and Programs - 9

Sorries Breakdown (concluded) Sharing Our Values in the Community Community Voice – 30 Denominational Affairs – 3 Environmental Responsibility – 4 Social Action – 4 Spiritual Growth and Exploration – 66 Music, Art, Creativity – 4 Personal Growth – 12 Right Relationships – 28 Worship - 22

Sorries – Initial Observations We are Worried About the Building More are Sorry about Accessibility and Parking, Safety and Condition than are Sorry about Finances We can Improve Our Practice of Right Relationships

Next Steps Preliminary slide show – Nov 15 and Nov 22 Discussion in Meeting Room, Nov 22, after second service Raw data available on web site Hard Copy Available in Library Strategic Planning Committee will host discussions around powerful questions presented in the data. For example, how can we as a congregation want more diversity at the same time we crave a community of like-minded people? More Research – Other Churches, Engineering, etc. Timeline Follows