This is the time of the year that I receive my copy of the Unitarian General Assembly Directory. I usually do a bit of comparing and number-crunching as I read through the new directory.
The most significant thing is the number of Unitarian congregations. Although you would have thought this kind of thing is what would be included in the General Assembly Annual Report, and discussed at the Annual Meetings, it's actually in the Directory that you get a clearer picture of the health of the Unitarian community.
So 2010-2011 Directory tells me that there are 173 member congregations in Great Britain. This is down 2 from last year. And trawling through the pages you can work out that Bournemouth Unitarian Church has died in the last year, as well as Exeter Unitarian Fellowship.
I've only been getting directories for five years but I can tell you that in five years 8 Unitarian congregations have died.
I'm not prepared to say "this is a terrible thing, we should do all we can to make sure no more close down" because I'm not sure that's a good use of national resources. If a congregation's within 5 years of dying, then I'm not sure it's a good use of resources to try to extend that life. The question is what congregations could survive, grow, and prosper if they received appropriate support? And which ones need to be left to slip away?
And when do we consider the possibility of starting new congregations?
The most significant thing is the number of Unitarian congregations. Although you would have thought this kind of thing is what would be included in the General Assembly Annual Report, and discussed at the Annual Meetings, it's actually in the Directory that you get a clearer picture of the health of the Unitarian community.
So 2010-2011 Directory tells me that there are 173 member congregations in Great Britain. This is down 2 from last year. And trawling through the pages you can work out that Bournemouth Unitarian Church has died in the last year, as well as Exeter Unitarian Fellowship.
I've only been getting directories for five years but I can tell you that in five years 8 Unitarian congregations have died.
I'm not prepared to say "this is a terrible thing, we should do all we can to make sure no more close down" because I'm not sure that's a good use of national resources. If a congregation's within 5 years of dying, then I'm not sure it's a good use of resources to try to extend that life. The question is what congregations could survive, grow, and prosper if they received appropriate support? And which ones need to be left to slip away?
And when do we consider the possibility of starting new congregations?
Comments
173 congregations is not good. I've got no plans to move location, but if I did my search would be limited if I also wanted to belong to a good congregation.
What do you think the reasons for decline are?
Secondly, and this is my personal opinion only, I feel that the modern Unitarian drift away from its Christian origins has not helped. Most people in this country come from a Christian background. Many do not believe in the standard beliefs of most churches. These people would perhaps be open to Unitarianism but either don't know anything about it, or dismiss it because it appears "new-age". And most people interested in Buddhism, Paganism et al, would become Buddhists or Pagans not Unitarians!!
I also think there is a certain lack of intellectual honesty in Modern Unitarianism, reflected by on the one hand a total rejection of any set theological beliefs due to proud anti-creedalism but an almost creedal view regarding social or political issues.
Clearly the reasons for the decline are persistent, but not irreversible, and we must all work to find the causes and fix them.
In Wicca, because there are so few elders (because Wicca only started 50 years ago), they are revered and treasured. Unitarians should also revere and treasure the elders - in many cases, these are the people who went on demos for LGBT rights and feminism in the 1960s and 70s.
I think the nearness or farness from Christianity varies across the country. But also, liberal Christianity isn't actually doing that well in the mainstream - the big growth is evangelical and pentecostal.
I'm also not sure that most people come from a Christian background. Most people (especially if they are under 35 or so) are unchurched, not former believers. At best they might want a church wedding. And probably a vicar for a funeral. But that's it.
Stephen, I have found it very hard to find Unitarian books. While Amazon has been good for finding 19th century Unitarian books and some modern books, I still find a huge lack of a range of books that can provide Unitarian perspectives to many areas of life. Or simply provide some soul nourishing moments of devotional reading.