STRATEGIC PLAN OF SECOND UNITARIAN CHURCH OF CHICAGO ADOPTED BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 8, 2019

BACKGROUND

THE CHARGE TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING TEAM FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

The task of the Strategic Planning Team is to provide 2U with a five-year plan, including milestones and a three-year “progress snapshot,” describing what 2U will look like regarding areas of church life including, but not limited to: mission, growth, our neighbors/who we serve, staffing, social justice commitments, outreach, leadership development, and fellowship. This work should be approached with an explicitly anti- racist, anti-oppressive, radically hospitable lens/ethic/framework; success compared to the plan should not require 2U to reach a specific and arbitrary demographic distribution of the membership.

The team was not charged with evaluating the church’s buildings, infrastructure and grounds. However, due to the foundational importance of our congregation’s physical home, the Board of Trustees has included this topic in the Growth section.

The Strategic Planning Team was made up of Berlinda Browne, Tyler Duston, Elizabeth Kindig, Maureen King, Bill Morrice, and Kio Polson.

WORK PROCESS/METHODOLOGY:

The Strategic Planning team met approximately monthly from April 2017 through early November 2018, when there was a 3 ½ month hiatus until work resumed in late February 2019. Phase One was information gathering from committees and board members first, inviting heads or representatives of each committee to meet with us. Phase Two was structured feedback from the congregation in the form of online surveys (58 respondents) and two well-attended 1 ½ hour listening forums (50 attendees) in September 2018. Phase Three was data analysis, synthesis, and the drafting of the final plan. This plan was submitted to the Board of Trustees on April 3, 2019.

The Board reviewed the team’s plan and made some modifications, generally to create more measurable goals. The Board is in full agreement with the direction of the team’s plan.

This document consists of the three parts. The first part is a summary of the “Learnings from Committees and Board” which was produced for the Strategic Plan Team by a subcommittee of Berlinda Browne, Tyler Duston and Maureen King. It is presented here with no changes.

Second is the Five Year Plan, as modified by the Board of Trustees, and which is hereby presented to the congregation for its consideration.

Third, are several appendices of comments received by the Strategic Plan Team during its structured feedback opportunities.

The plan was reviewed by the congregation and discussed at a town hall meeting on June 9, 2019. Suggestions have been incorporated into this draft.

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The Board of Trustees views our Strategic Plan as something like a sail on a boat, which is adjusted as need be in order to reach the desired destination.

LEARNINGS FROM COMMITTEES & BOARD

The strategic Planning Team met with staff and leaders from various committees at 2U. We asked each person who met with us to answer the following questions:

1. What’s the mission of the committee or council? 2. How does it serve the community? 3. What are its strengths and opportunities? 4. What are its needs from 2U and are they being met?

The committees and individuals we heard from included the Church Committee Council, the Sunday Services, Finance, Marketing and Fundraising, Membership, and Social Justice Committees, the Congregational Administrator, Director of Faith Development, and the Board Chair, Past Chair, and Chair- Elect.

What follows is a summation of some of the themes that emerged:

1. There is a need for growth. We are at a plateau in terms of size. We need to get bigger to do what we want as a congregation.

2. There is a need for greater participation. Volunteering at the church suffers from low participation, leading to the same few people being relied on, and this can be exhausting for those people. Perhaps other people are waiting for someone to throw out a big idea that they can get behind. What would motivate people to get involved?

3. There is a need for changing expectations of volunteers. Participation might be lower than it could be because it is hard to learn about all of the opportunities available at 2U. We need to make clear avenues for people to get involved in the church, possibly introducing new means to advertise for volunteers. There is a desire for engagement, but we may need to rethink what engagement looks like. This could involve finding ways to reduce the time commitment for people.

4. There is a need for more reflection and assessment. Surveys have been used, but we need a regular protocol for gathering and recording feedback on a regular basis and at the end of an event or project, and this information needs to be accessible by new leaders.

5. There is a need for more communication. Despite the good work of the Committee Council, we have heard feedback about the need for more communication between committees; between committees and the Board; and between committees and the congregation.

6. There is a need for a regular calendar, so that events can be anticipated. The timeline for things is sometimes too short, especially for things like signing up for small groups, canvassing, and knowing when special services are happening throughout the year.

FIVE-YEAR PLAN

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Vision:

Within five years, 2U will be a widely recognized presence in Chicago, respected for nurturing its members and friends and for its good works, with a reputation for being active rather than passive.

Category 1: Mission

There are several things that congregants are looking for from 2U:  Ritual: a regular weekly practice including recurring observances of special events (Homecoming/Water Communion, service in the park, Solstice, etc.)  Music: People enjoy hearing the choir and other music, as well as singing hymns as a group.  Religious education: Children’s RE is one of the things that draws people to the church, and adult RE provides depth that Sunday services cannot.  Church community: congregants appreciate the 2U community for its  Like-minded individuals, who share an interest in ■ Open-mindedness: a willingness to listen to others’ truth ■ Diversity: beyond tolerance to inviting and welcoming different races, cultures, theologies and religions, gender identity, and sexual orientation  Spiritual exploration: engaging in questioning and truth-seeking individually yet together  Sanctuary/haven/acceptance/welcome  Involvement in the larger community: Congregants want 2U to be known in its neighborhood as a liberal mainstay, and to take action on social justice issues.

Three-year benchmark:

 Ritual: maintain and grow 2U traditions and seasonal celebrations like Solstice and Flower Communion. Publicize these celebrations on external signage in front of the church, and ensure that they are planned well in advance and publicized within the congregation.  Measurements: 15% increase in attendance in 2019/2020 (over previous year), and 7% increase in attendance (year over year) subsequently. Each year more people bring flowers/water/etc. for rituals. Each year more people express understanding of and appreciation for the rituals.  Music: The choir includes at least 50 people, and sings at least twice per month (excluding summers). See “Staffing” for discussion of Music Director.  RE: have a full pre-K‒12 CRE program with full teacher staff, enrollment of 50 families, regular attendance of 30% or more, multiple Adult RE programs per year (including Beloved Conversations) with at least 8 people per program. See “Staffing” for discussion of Director of Faith Development. Church leaders will provide emotional and/or other support to Beloved Conversations facilitators of color.  Church community: an increase in diversity and feeling of welcoming among all congregants in general and among people of color in particular determined by survey,or other method determined by the Anti-Racism Committee; larger share of congregants in volunteer roles; increased rate of visitor engagement; active small groups program. Complete UUA’s Accessibility and Inclusion Ministry (AIM) certification. Renew UUA Welcoming Congregation status. Each

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committee shall be led by a unique individual, rather than one individual chairing more than one committee.

Five-year goal:

 Ritual: increased attendance at 2U traditions and seasonal celebrations  Music: same as three-year goals  RE: have a full pre-K‒12 CRE program with full teacher staff, 25+ hour DFD, enrollment of 60 families, regular attendance of 40% or more, multiple Adult RE programs per year in addition to small groups and diversity education such as Beloved Conversations.

Category 2: Growth

There is strong interest in growth for the sake of...  Financial security: having more congregants means more revenue to do the things that we’d like to, including funding more DRE hours, social justice actions, building maintenance and updates, etc. As membership grows the church should invest more of its budget in reserves to fund future improvements and repairs in the church building, and establish a reserve to pay a part-time minister when the settled minister takes a sabbatical.  Diversity: more congregants of different races, cultures, and backgrounds will make the church more vibrant and the experience richer for all.  Vitality: more and newer congregants will provide new energy and diversity of thought for the vigor of the church.  Resources: a larger congregation will provide a larger volunteer base to draw from for all the programs of the church.

Three-year benchmark:

 Beginning in 2019, the Building-Infrastructure-Grounds (BIG) committee will create an annual Facilities Plan for 2U. This will include, at a minimum, a schedule of repairs that should be anticipated over the coming 15-20 years, with approximate timeframes. For instance, it would include those repairs anticipated to be required in the coming year, 1 – 3 years, 3 – 5 years, and so forth, along with the estimated cost of these repairs whenever possible. The plan may also include information about suggested improvements. The Board of Trustees will use this information in planning and budgeting, as well as responding to immediate concerns.  By 2022, membership of 250 (it is currently approximately 200).  An increase in racial diversity, as reported by congregational surveys or other method determined by the Anti-Racism Committee  A larger share of the congregation involved in volunteer roles, as tracked by survey, or committee reports  Determination as to whether to create two weekly services. Both of these services need not be on Sunday morning; a weeknight service such as a Vespers might be preferred.

Five-year goal:

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 By 2024, membership of 300.  Strong, consistent attendance at two weekly services… Note that both services need not be on Sunday morning; a weekday evening service might be preferred.  A further increase in racial diversity, as reported by congregational surveys or other method determined by the Anti-Racism Committee  A larger share of the congregation involved in volunteer roles, as tracked by survey, committee reports, or Engagement Coordinator (see Staffing)

Category 3: Our neighbors/who we serve

Our neighbors and who we serve are separate but overlapping populations. We define our neighborhood as everything within walking distance (approximately 1.5 miles) of 2U, though many congregants come from beyond this area. Over the last few decades, the neighborhood has become more affluent and populated with young professionals. Though the Marketing & Fundraising committee has taken steps in the last few years to raise the church’s profile, 2U still has relatively low name recognition in the neighborhood and should put volunteer, staffing and/or budgetary resources toward raising awareness among nearby residents and organizations in surrounding neighborhoods.

Who we serve is a large and inclusive community, extending beyond the neighborhood and even beyond Chicago’s borders, and resulting from our congregation’s covenant to social justice and service to others. Within this community are the organizations that are plate-sharing recipients, like Jane Addams Senior Caucus and ONE Northside, as well as the organizations that share our space free of charge like the Black and Pink prison ministry, Quad A (atheist AA group) and Night Ministry.

Three-year benchmark:

 Be an active member of interfaith and community organizations \. “Active member” means that 2U members represent the congregation in the group, and that 2U pays dues to those organizations as appropriate.  See that neighborhood awareness is boosted with signage in front of church and ideally street pole banners at each end of Barry and in front of church.  Routine participation in annual community events, such as the Lakeview Festival of the Arts and the Chicago Pride Fest.

Five-year goal:

 Be a widely and authentically recognized presence in Chicago, respected for good works, with a reputation for being active rather than passive.

Category 4: Staffing

Church staff are critical to the smooth functioning of the church. Each role serves functions essential to the things that congregants are seeking. 2U’s current staff includes a Minister (full-time), a Director of Faith Development (part-time), a Director of Music (part-time), and a Congregational Administrator (full- time). In addition, there are many operational roles that are filled by volunteers, such as teaching RE, planning and executing fundraisers, and gardening, to name just a few.

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Three-year benchmark:

 Minister: A minister who is broadly supported by the congregation, who provides services that present liberal faith in a way that brings people into the church and keeps them returning. Measured by church attendance, with the goal being an average attendance of 70% of membership. The minister will serve the pastoral needs of the congregation and will support the pastoral care team and provide oversight and training as necessary. The effectiveness of the pastoral care program shall be tracked via annual survey.  Director of Faith Development: A 20+ hour (per week) position providing leadership to a full RE program for all youth age groups.  Director of Music (or Minister of Music): A 15 hour (per week) position organizing a music program including a congregational choir, and other music as a part of 2U's music ministries (see Music).  Congregational Administrator: As currently, a full-time position overseeing the operations of the church, including facilities, accounting, and membership management.  Community Coordinator: A role filled by a volunteer, or a Community Minister that serves as the church’s connection to the larger community and provides support for all-church social justice actions.  Volunteer Roles: In addition to the roles described above, several new positions could be filled by volunteers from the congregation, including  Engagement Coordinator: Oversees the involvement of both members and friends of the congregation, inviting them to join in the functioning of the church through committee participation or other volunteer roles. This position could keep a running list of who is serving in what roles within the church in order to track congregants’ level of involvement, identify opportunities for them to serve, and avoid people being overcommitted. Performance measured by number of volunteers.  A Social Justice Committee chair to organize and coordinate the social justice activities of the church.

Five-year goal:

 Senior Minister: same as Three-year goals  Community Coordinator: same Three-year goals  Director of Faith Development: 20 to 30 hours per week  Director of Music (or Minister of Music): at least 20 hours per week  Congregational Administrator: Same as Three-year goals  Volunteer Roles: In addition to the roles described above,  The Social Justice Committee chair could grow into a Social Action Coordinator to oversee, coordinate, and integrate the various social justice activities going on in the church at any given time, including standing arrangements like the Night Ministry. The Social Action Coordinator would address staffing to ensure that activities have enough volunteers and that volunteers don’t get spread too thin. Performance measured by number of volunteers contributing vs. number sought.

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Category 5: Social Justice

For much of its recent history, Second Unitarian was known for its work with the marginalized and underserved LGBTQ community, partly due to its location in Boystown. As parts of this community have been more broadly accepted into the mainstream of American life, 2U lost some its importance to the surrounding LGBTQ population. During discussions and listening forums the Strategic Planning Team heard several comments about how this change left the church without a clear focus for its social justice work.

It should be noted that the Beloved Conversations program is considered an important Adult RE program, but not a Social Justice program for purposes of this section. That is because Beloved Conversations is designed to enhance racial justice within our congregation and Social Justice, for purposes of this plan and the church budget, are activities and initiatives designed to go outside our walls. Therefore, continued offering of Beloved Conversations is described in the Mission section of this plan.

Through surveys and the listening forums, the congregation expressed a strong desire to:

 Expand social justice activity...  Working with UUA and UUSC, along with local and national groups, on social justice issues  Involving families and our youth in social justice programs  Put financial support behind social justice programs for...  more programs at 2U like guest speakers and workshops  Social justice and anti-racist themed Small Groups  An annual social justice retreat that includes training for members  Create a part-time or full-time staffing role for social justice (see Staffing)

Three-year benchmark:

 Strong Social Justice Committee (see Mission)  2-3 congregation-wide social justice activities per year (such as organized participation in city-wide actions where 2Uers show up as a group)  At least 30 2U members/friends/children participate in each action  Social justice-themed Small Groups, possibly including anti-racist issues, LGBTQ support, climate action, prison reform, etc.   Financial support for social justice programs of $1,200 per year (in addition to dues paid to community organizations)

Five-year goal:

 2U is known in the Chicago area, the UUA, and UUSC as a strong Social Justice congregation.  Continued growth of Social Justice Committee  4-5 congregation-wide social justice activities per year  At least 30 2Uers in each action

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 Financial support for social justice programs of $2000 per year (in addition to dues paid to community organizations)

Category 6: Outreach

As noted earlier, there is a congregation-wide interest in growth. For significant growth to develop, we need a sustained and adequately-resourced commitment to an outreach program aimed at bringing in visitors, with the hope that they eventually convert to members. We know that about half of new visitors to 2U arrive on our doorstep after searching online for area churches. It is essential that any comprehensive marketing plan include funding and board support for a website redesign and ongoing technical support. While responsibility for the development of a comprehensive plan should lie with the Marketing and Fundraising committee, the Membership and Hospitality (see Fellowship section) committees are also key participants in the process, as is the Congregational Administrator. The plan should include processes and responsibilities assigned for the maintenance and refreshing of content, and should be grounded in current data showing how visitors make decisions to come to 2U.

Three-year benchmark:

 Comprehensive marketing plan is developed and execution begun  As a key component of the marketing plan, a website and digital marketing plan is fully developed, including email, search (SEO), social media and content strategies, based on results of congregation and visitor research, with a goal of producing an engaging, welcoming and robust website as well as an ongoing content calendar.

Five-year goal:

 Website is completed and launched with clear volunteer/staff/outside vendor responsibilities  Marketing plan is fully executed

Category 7: Leadership Development

There is an interest in developing strong new leaders in order to avoid burnout, promote greater diversity, introduce new ideas, and create more representative leadership.

Three-year benchmark:

 Council Chair ensures that new committee chairs are aware of the “2U Cloud” which includes descriptions of committee roles and other important information  Nominating Committee provides job descriptions and other appropriate information from the “2U Cloud” to recruits  Committee chairs have a clear understanding of the internal working of 2U  No member will have more than one leadership position at a time  Annual facilitated leadership workshop or retreat  Mentorship and Succession Planning

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 Identify and implement process for ensuring that the next chair will have institutional memory and knowledge of the committee/tasks  Outgoing committee chair is responsible for giving support to new chair, answering questions, and any other help needed  New leaders are identified for the canvass and Fall Fest at the beginning of the church year, and committees identify which member is their chair elect.

Five-year goal:

 More people volunteering for committee chair positions, as tracked by turn-over rate in leadership positions by Council Chair  Term limits are instituted for leadership positions, to avoid burnout and to ensure that more members can be engaged  1-2 members per year are sent (paid for by the congregation) to UUA leadership programs

Category 8: Fellowship

Fellowship, often described in comments as a “sense of community” or “a feeling of connection with others,” is highly valued by 2U congregants and often cited as a reason for staying with 2U, especially for long-time members. A strong sense of fellowship is most linked to rituals in the Sunday service and fun social activities. Some respondents note that it can be difficult for new people to feel they’re part of the community. We must build and maintain a culture of connection to grow as a congregation, with a full understanding that it’s everyone’s responsibility to be welcoming. To that end, we recommend the creation of a 2U Welcome Team as a program of the Hospitality committee to ensure that visitors are welcomed, invited to coffee hour, introduced to others and followed up with. And to provide a way to take the pulse of the congregation on an ongoing basis, we recommend that a monthly emailed or texted mini- survey be developed, perhaps included in or linked to from the Anvil and billed as a “60-second survey”, to ask for feedback and track various metrics during the church year.

Three-year benchmark:  Collaborating with the membership committee to develop new protocols for how visitors are welcomed, e.g. starting a “gold cup” practice so that visitors have the option to use a different color cup at coffee hour, allowing members to speak to them and welcome them  Create a 2U Welcome Team to develop a plan/structure for welcoming visitors and hosting coffee hour, including planning for those financially unequipped to buy the food for coffee hour.  “60-second survey” is established as a monthly communication to the church community  New Member Orientation program includes information about the Breeze database, including how to keep it updated.  100% of members are in the Breeze database, providing contact information as they are comfortable.  New Member Orientation specifically invites new members to participate with the Hospitality Committee.  A church calendar of events including all the church's annual major events is easily found on our website and elsewhere, and major event dates are set at the beginning of the church year.

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Five-year goal:  Continue activities described in three-year benchmark.

Category 9: Music Music is consistently recognized by 2U members as a means for building community, seeking spiritual fulfillment, and articulating a commitment to justice.

Three-year benchmarks  Children's choirs for intergenerational services, and/or children instrumental participation  One-hour choir (just show up for one hour before the service to rehearse and then perform, no commitment – Summer only  Recruit members to play or sing solos or in small ensembles  Train more song leaders for Sunday morning worship  Choir group created for singing a social justice activities  Sunday choir exchanges with other churches (both UU and non-UU)  Choir members respect others' pronouns and foster gender-inclusive environment  Concert space rental for up and coming musicians to hone their craft  Better hymn selections

Five-year Goals

 All the three-benchmarks, plus:  Small ensemble to take on more challenging repertoire  Traveling music ministry for those hospitalized, homebound, or in hospice  Participate in choir festivals, whether UU, ecumenical, interfaith, or secular  Christmas Caroling in public places  Choir concert outside Sunday worship  Sunday afternoon benefit concert series  Host concerts highlighting diverse and under-represented voices/performers  Family Choir and YA choir groups  Rent sanctuary to up-and-coming artists and music teachers for recitals

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Appendix A: MAY 2018 REPORT TO THE BOARD

The strategic Planning Team made an interim report to the board in May 2018 about what we have learned from representatives and leaders from various committees at 2U. We asked each person who met with us to answer the following questions: 1. What’s the mission of the committee or council? 2. How does it serve the community? 3. What are its strengths and opportunities? 4. What are its needs from 2U and are they being met?

The committees and individuals we heard from included:  Mary-Helen Steindler of Church Committee Council  Margaret Redlich from the Sunday Services Committee  Andrew Zallar, former Congregational Administrator  Alicia Obando, Director of Faith Development  Kim Warman of the Social Justice Council  Jackie Dienstag from Finance Committee  Susan Ziegler from Marketing and Fundraising Committee  Karen Fort from Membership Committee  Tom Denio, the immediate past Board chair at the time; Tom Clowes, chair elect at the time; and Dan Lewis, current Board chair at the time

What follows is a summation of some of the themes that emerged:

1. We are stuck in the middle in terms of size. We either need to get smaller or we need to 1. get bigger. The dominant message we’ve heard is that we need to get bigger to do what we want as a congregation.

2. Our current programming may not be serving our current needs or wants of the congregation and may need expansion or reorganization. Some things we have heard that have led to this conclusion are as follows: a. It is too common for one or a few people to be relied on to know how everything works and this can be exhausting for those people, b. There is a concern about low levels of energy, and there is difficulty getting people to volunteer for various activities and events to meet the needs of the Church.

As such, some questions we are asking are: c. What are our true needs as a congregation right now? d. Are people waiting for someone to step up and throw out big ideas that people can get behind? e. How can we make our programming more sustainable through building succession plans for knowledge and expertise to be passed to new leaders in the church?

We have discussed the idea that small group ministries could serve as a way to disseminate information and serve as a place for social bonding and gathering of resources, and that this may be a way to better meet the needs of the church.

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3. We heard about a lot of growing pains our congregation is experiencing. It can be hard for new members to learn about all of the opportunities available at 2U after they have gone through orientation. New questions might arise after three months of being a member. It has also been hard for organizers to find volunteers for events. This suggests we need to get creative in making sure there are clear avenues for people to get involved in the congregation. Whether those people are newer members, or veterans who might not have known about a new program introduced. This could involve things like introducing digital committee meetings to make it an easier time commitment for people. Introducing more smaller gatherings outside of the church. Introducing a time at coffee hour to make it clear anybody with an event they want to advertise can do so. There is a great desire for engagement and our size may require us to rethink what engagement looks like and how to support one another as we learn and grow.

4. There is a need for more reflection and self-assessment. Surveys have been used, but are they being used regularly and/or are they working? We need a regular protocol for gathering and recording feedback at the end of an event or project, and this information needs to be accessible by church members so that new leaders can step up and have what they need.

5. There is a need for more communication. Despite the good work of the Committee Council, somewhere there is still a breakdown in communication because we have heard a lot of feedback about the need for more communication between committees; between committees and the Board; and between committees and the whole congregation.

6. Lastly, we think there is a strong need for a regular calendar, so that events can be expected, such as small groups, especially. We are hearing that the timeline for things is too short, especially for things like signing up for small groups; canvassing; and knowing when special services are happening throughout the year.

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Appendix B: LEARNINGS FROM LISTENING SESSIONS

Two Listening Sessions were held to hear first-hand feedback from congregants about their experiences of 2U. Session #1 was held September 16, 2018 after Sunday service and attracted 36 attendees. It was facilitated by Elizabeth Kindig and lasted 90 minutes. Session #2 was held September 19, 2018 on a Wednesday evening and had 13 attendees. It was facilitated by Ben Polson and lasted about 105 minutes. Responses from both sessions are combined:

What brought you to 2U and what keeps you coming back?  Came for religious education for child, stayed for sense of community  Came because of church involvement with labor reform, stayed for the wonderful people, feels like home  Came for religious education for child, stayed for the people and ability to take collective action  His first service was a Homecoming service and he found it very moving  Came out of grief and personal losses, stayed for open and accepting community, loves the plate-sharing  Came when dealing with loss of relative who was a UU and felt it kept the relative close, stayed because of meaningful engagement opportunities  Came after search for “my church”, wanted to avoid the dogma remembered from childhood  Wanted to find an inclusive space to help raise child and be a place for healing, stayed because it feels like a place of lived values  Was connected to 2 other UU churches earlier but this one felt most comfortable  Was raised in another UU church, comes here because of sense of community  Was member of other UU churches in other cities, appreciates the people and size (not too big)  Came here and found family, felt accepted  Came in ’88 after being raised UU, feels the choice of religious community should be an intentional choice, has found so much value in having people who will be there for you over the long term during tough times and caring for you  Came from dysfunctional family—this is my real family  Comes because 2U has people who care about you, it has been a rock for her over the years  Joined in ‘80s looking for liberal interesting people and wasn’t thinking about community at the time but has come to understand and really value community  Came for child’s sake but the community keeps me accountable and helps me be my best self  Was raised UU and sought out UU church on moving to Chicago, keeps keeps coming back through ups and downs with congregation but has found it worth staying for like-minded people  Grew up UU and this church is close to current home plus had active young adult group  Grew up UU, has been member in different-sized congregations, likes this size and age diversity  Came to 2U by referral and lives nearby, stayed because of strong social concerns mission and experience of spiritual growth, feels a connectivity  Came for spiritual connection and wanted a center for social justice and connection with others, found it here

What’s an anecdote or specific memory that epitomizes or characterizes 2U to you?  The experience of doing Beloved Conversations, loved that 2U did it

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 Remembers a memorial service here shortly after she joined, so joyful and gave such a sense of the values of the person and 2U  at his first service, heard Spirit of Life for the first time and found it so moving, sees the music program as so important and wishes it were shared with the community as it would draw people into the church  Memory of Andy Cook, rushing the altar to wrap his arms around him as he was weeping over the death of his mother  Loves the way we treat children—they are loved and respected and have a special role in the life of the congregation  Remembers that when she had a baby less that a year after joining, members she’d never even talked to brought meals and a quilt and followed up with her, found it very moving  Remembers teaching downstairs and talking about love and a 3 y.o. told her “You know boys marry boys” which delighted her and felt so 2U  Remembers being at first One North Side meeting and feeling proud of 2U for being a founding church  At 2U, he feels bonded to others even when he disagrees  Remembers being welcomed back after several weeks of not attending, even by someone he thought didn’t like him, and was surprised and felt accepted  Remembers an atonement ceremony that was powerful for her and helped her deal with some persona issues  Most meaningful experiences for her: teaching children, singing in the choir, having church members help her with moving to a new condo  Found small group experience very meaningful, especially in people’s home, formed strong bonds that continue years later  Remembers Annual Meeting when there was discussion about removing the word “conflict” from our covenant and was so moved by hearing so many people speak out about keeping the word, made her feel “Yes, I want to stay here—this is worth staying for even through bad times.”  His first service was the last service with a previous minister—it was very rough but intrigued him and having other members talk to him about it openly made him want to come back, he felt he could be part of a solution  Memories of a piece of music speaking to her at just the right time, moving her to tears  Favorite memories are of times when we all do something together in a service, there’s a strong sense of everyone coming together from our separate ways to focus together  Attended the Sing & Stomp (held at 2U) and felt so proud to be part of the church, also loves the candle-lighting ceremony each week as a reminder that everyone has things going on in their lives that we may not know about  Loves the services welcoming new members—really communicates the joy and welcome  Loves moments of children bouncing around the church, bringing their own wonderful energy to the service  remembers children in the opening welcome going to the back of the church to greet an elderly member in wheelchair  Loves the Thanksgiving potluck, one of favorite events of the year  has had unhappy experiences with 2U where his ideas for contributing in music were not supported, this has mostly been his experience here, finds it sad

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What are some opportunities for 2U?  Increase the diversity of the congregation  Get the word out more in the community—we need to share what we’re about  We’re ambitious as a church with lots of plans and committees, need more people so the same people aren’t always tapped for committee work  We need to foster a strong culture of connection. Research says when people make 5 meaningful connections they will feel part of the community.  Often meets young men and women visitors who don’t come back—feels it’s extremely important that new minister be good at talking to young people  Wishes there was a way for introverts like me to come together and feel connection  There should be multiple opportunities for people to hear about activities, more entryways for people to get engaged other than Sunday services  Music events like the jazz night Carl Kennedy did, or lecture series with interesting speakers and topics—the idea is to draw people in  Sees opportunities to move forward, not look back, which we still do too much  Wants to see small groups come back. He doesn’t really see 2U as a community. We are a congregation of individualists, not naturally communal, and small groups are a way to form deeper bonds and know others in more profound ways  Also wants small groups, doesn’t enjoy coffee hour and making small talk but does want a greater feeling of connection  Wants to see more ambitious events or programs, referenced an event at Naperville UU church with students from Parkland FL—saw a huge difference in level of engagement, tons of church volunteers, very well-oiled machine  Also supports small groups and feels 2U doesn’t promote its programs far enough in advance to give people a chance

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Appendix C: LEARNINGS FROM CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY

An online survey was created to gather feedback from as many people as possible. In the end, 57 congregants provided their input.

Total responses: 57

Are you a member of 2U? Yes: 47, No: 9

What is your relationship to Unitarian Universalism? I grew up as a Unitarian Universalist (started attending UU events regularly in high school or earlier): 19 I learned about Unitarian Universalism as an adult: 38

What would you like to see happen at 2U in 3-5 years?  This question feels almost too open-ended, but I suppose I'd like to see our social justice activism revitalized and expanded.  I'd like to see 2U continue to grow a diverse congregation  Loosen up! Stop talking and start doing! Would like Sunday services to be less stuffy, more stirring, more musical - metaphorically, more poetry and less prose. Would like the church to have more hands-on action projects - consult neighborhood agencies, figure out what specific and concrete things we can do to help our neighborhood / community / world - and then DO it! Stop fussing about commas and grammar and semantics and DO something!!!  Growth and more activities for new members. It is an amazing space and group of loving people.  Be more of a participant (as an organization) in service to the community, state, nation, and world.  I would love for us to continue our efforts to welcome everyone who walks in our doors and begin having a public face in our neighborhood. I am excited to begin working with a truly "freshly- called" minister with whom our congregation can partner.  Don’t know; give me some options to prioritize. Maybe more public service use of the space but probably that requires meeting safety requirements; meetings during the week, a day care center  I’d love to see the church grow.  More active involvement in social justice issues.  Holistic investment in social justice as well as meaningful programs for youth 7th - 12th grade.  More non-white attendance. More of a forum for me to share my spirituality through my own artwork, writing, and ideas.  2 services, more programs for kids and families, community outreach activities  Grow in size, and become more racially diverse.  See us grow to 250-275 members, be known as a liberal voice in Chicago with a dynamic minister.  Financial security and new members  better inclusion of elderly  Increased visibility in Lakeview community, greater sense of common goals, a called minister with both pastoral skills and deeply thought-provoking sermons

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 A new minister, friendships growing, living out our values through more social and environmental action.  A budget line item that sets money aside for the future of our building. Renovation of the old basement  I would like to see us have more presence in the community.  A commitment to racial equity, and dismantling racist structures.  I'd like for 2U to find a new minister who's an excellent preacher and a capable administrator. I'd like for the congregation to feel re-energized following a 2-year period of interim ministry. I hope that we can attend to, and improve, the building and grounds: we need a new floor in the sanctuary and new chairs, and we'd be smart to make improvements in the loft (refinish the floor, install new windows), which could help us generate more rental income. We should get a new sign for the front yard (to replace the temporary sign). I'd like for 2U to continue to engage deeply with issues related to social justice and continue to grow our children's RE program. I'd like to increase our membership enough and educate members adequately in order to raise more money for 2U--so that we can add hours for our music director and RE director. One pie-in-the- sky idea: 2U organizes a block party!  A more robust community with more volunteers and enough folks to have critical mass in areas such as Sunday school, social justice efforts, and in other areas. Would like to have a settled minister who is happy to be with us and in the city of Chicago.  I'd like to see it thrive and become and offer more support and joy to its members and to its community.  Find a great new minister, rebuild the Social Justice Committee (not for me, but I know it's important to a lot of people), take steps to maintain the church building, grow the congregation by 10-20%  1. New settled minister who continues to build on our tradition of inclusion and leadership development of members. 2. Increased membership and/or total pledge income so that we have enough money to pay competitive salaries for not only the minister and office manager but also the Director of Religious Education and Music Director. Increase time for Director of Religious Education to at least half- time to provide some programs for adults. 3. Increased number of members to provide an adequate number of volunteers to support all of the programming that the church has to offer. I feel that committees and/or programs compete for volunteers. For example the choir has a large number of members now but that means that there are fewer adults available to teach religious education classes or to serve on the hospitality committee or to provide coffee and food for coffee hour. Now it is possible to be in the choir and also volunteer in other Sunday morning activities, but it would be a challenge for most of us! 4. Sufficient pledge money to the physical integrity of the church. 5. Elevator or other mechanism so the loft can be used for church activities for all members including those who are handicapped or unable to use the stairs.  More young people and more diversity  I'd like to see our children's programming become even more active, and to get a settled minister that is exciting and interesting.  Membership growth, a new minister becoming well accepted.  I would like to see the congregation grow, especially with older children.

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 "To reach out more to the community. To be a better community partner. Offer workshops, lectures, social events and advertise to the community. We are too insular.  To provide a variety of worship opportunities from different faiths. Invite leaders of other community faiths to do a service at 2U - a service in their format, not fitting them into our format.  To guard against being "clique-ish." It is difficult for a newcomer to become engaged with 2U activities. The same strong people seem to take charge without asking the larger congregation if someone would like to step up. Invite more collegiality and input. Don't be afraid of new ideas and new ways of doing things.  Anti-racist work. Becoming a welcoming congregation  Keep some traditions and build new ones. Ask us old timers about traditions we miss.  Become more engaged with the critical issues in our city and country  I would like to see 2U attract and become home for more people of color, a wider variety of cultures and financial means. I would also like to see a minister who awakens deep spirit and passion for living and inspires congregants to act boldly on the side of justice.  Financial ease  More cohesive presentation of Social Justice. Better Fundraising.  more culture of learning and growing; less aversion to conflict, being wrong sometimes, confronting harmful behaviors, group norms, approaches that we do because we always have; anti-oppression in all aspects of church life not just talking about it in social justice council; being able to hear people's messages not just their tones - just fyi mine will be snarky at times  I would like to see a growing congregation, more social events, and more volunteering in the community (greater involvement in the Night Ministry and other social service organizations).  More inclusion rather than groups of those whose opinions are always followed.  I would like to see 2U maintain its strong sense of community/fellowship, supportive and somewhat informal structure. I would like to see a progression in the calibre of music and speaking at the church over the next few years. I think 2U needs to grow a bit more in order to function well (I see a lot of people spread too thin).  I would also like to see 2U continue to acknowledge and work through issues related to being a welcoming community for members of racial/ethnic minorities. My hope is that its growth will including growing diversity in membership as well."  growth in members, strong commitment to anti-racism, more programs that improve the quality of people's lives  Achieve a more solid financial footing, with a settled minister, strong coming of age support for youth, and a more structured social justice program.  More supportive services for members.  Continue on the present course - Although I am interested in the role of Thomas Jefferson as an advocate of Unitarian(?ism)  Membership grows, net of members who depart, by at least 20 percent.  Increase our membership from 200 to 300 members, and that the diversity of our membership increases.  I would like to see 2U offer multiple services to accommodate different needs of its membership. I would like to see 2U help to facilitate the swift creation of small groups when a member indicates interest leading such a thing. I would like to see 2U to host more workshops that help our membership gain more community building tools. I would like to see 2U learn about nearby community groups in our neighborhood. I want to coordinate events or meetings between our

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communities, with the caveat that organizing these events allow for marginalized groups to veto and make demands in a structural way and not just a theoretical way. Some ideas for organizations to coordinate with include, but is not limited to, the nearby homeless community, LGBT organizations, latinx organizations, native communities, etc. We have some opt in opportunities with groups, but I don't often see situations where our church and another group coordinate efforts on equal footing to do something together with the general membership. I want to see our elevator be extended to our second floor.  Grow and diversify, attract a more diverse and a younger congregation.  To become a truly anti-racist congregation (see rubric)

What does 2U provide for you personally that you don't receive elsewhere in your life?  A spiritual home and ritual. When I was Methodist as a kid, I went to church every Sunday. Then, I decided Christianity no longer worked for me. But I found as an adult that I still missed the ritual of going to church and doing church-like things, which I find grounding.  A community of people who are friendly and interested in knowing the truth  Reflections on the big questions in life. Deeper connections with people I know. A sense of community.  Why does this survey keep erasing my answers??? Maybe because I wrestle with this question so much. Mostly, 2U is a place where I can gather with other like-minded folks.  A sense of spiritual journey together with other justice-oriented people.  A place and time to focus on something beyond my daily routine living.  2U is truly my anchor in Chicago. That means to me, if it doesn't happen at or associated with 2U, it doesn't exist in my day-to-day world.  Association with sincere people trying to find ways to make sense of the world and make it better don’t know  Religious community and education for my children  A stable, congenial community with values not necessarily tied to religious faith  Hello, Strategic Planning Committee! This is Megan Selby. I've been meaning to share some of these thoughts with the board for a while, especially during the canvassing process but i didn't get around to it. You're asking a lot of the questions I wanted to address. Thank you for providing this mechanism to share some reflections. I attended 2U from 2011 - 2016, but stopped coming, in part due to much of what I share throughout this survey. when I was attending it was a great a wonderful weekly homecoming of people I cared about, a rededication to my values, and at least a small group of people with whom to engage in local social justice work  Safe space to be myself, and engage with ideas; emotional and spiritual centering; engaging w a broad cross-section of people  It's a place to go where I can get community and spiritual sustenance.  a place where I can feel welcomed and supported without judgement  Spiritual reflection, a community of friends.  2U helps me articulate my beliefs.  Inspiration and community  friends with like interests  Deeper conversations more quickly with a weekly gathering that I can count on.  Community of like-minded open-minded people

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 An opportunity to participate in social justice activities in a group, opportunity to learn about different social services (through plate sharing), and new opportunities for spiritual growth.  Spirituality, opportunities to give back, varied community  Regular chances for in-person spiritual fellowship.  2U provides thought-provoking services, classes, and activities. It challenges me in the best ways to be a better person. I enjoy the community of people, who share my values and on whom I can rely. I appreciate the goodness of those who congregate at 2U. I get to sing! and reflect and see the whole sweep of life every week (new babies, kids, teenagers, young adults, middle adults, older adults). I have a sanctuary at 2U. Where else do I hold hands with friends and strangers-- and discuss the big questions?!  A chance to be my true self, and support in becoming a better person.  Spiritual guidance and renewal.  Community in the very specific sense that exists at church.  a supportive community where I can be myself  Community of like-minded individuals; community of all ages.  Opportunity to get outside of myself once a week, think about the big picture, and be in a community of people that has good values  2U provides me with a place to celebrate differences, and allows me to have an inner sense of peace when my life is actually pretty chaotic.  A safe place for my religious ideas.  Spiritual community  A community of caring people that are looking for spiritual growth.  A place to share my personal spirituality and belief system without judgment. I don't have to explain myself at 2U.  Framework and support for learning about religious traditions  singing in the choir, and larger view of life than I can see by myself  sermons  People who care about me and honestly want the best for me. Friendships with people who share respect for all spiritual approaches,  Motivation for kindness  a wider community to be a part of.  I'm really re-evaluating my relationship to uuism and I'm not sure how to answer this except I enjoy being at coffee hour and other fellowship events with people I've come to know and love over the years at 2u  A long-lasting community. I started going to 2U while in college, and it is the one consistency in my life for the past 13 years.  A spiritual space  Place of reflection and personal insight, intergenerational community  spiritual community (something I find elsewhere, but still appreciate)  Growthful challenges: understanding others, discovering my own path, feeling like a valued contributor  Helps keep me focus and center  a sense of community  Affirmation that it’s OK not to be a fanatic about religion.  A community that is alike in many ways but also has people exploring different spiritual paths

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 It does not currently provide something that I don't get elsewhere. It currently feels like it is draining my resources.  A safe place to explore spiritual issues and a place to challenge me.  Opportunity to sing in a choir and sing with others in the congregation on Sun. AM.

What do you want to see happen in our congregation even if it does not benefit you directly?  More community engagement, especially as it relates to social justice  I want the children's programming to be good enough to attract the children and their parents.  Strong r.e. program. Alicia has already done wonderful things - just want the program to keep getting stronger.  More diversity  Direct assistance to members (car rides, food, job search help, etc.) and surrounding community.  I would love for our congregation to continue its inclusive focus and expanding programming.  Better attention to Energy; a good elevator from basement to 2nd floor;  More active social justice involvement  INVEST IN SOCIAL JUSTICE! Make sure the next minister has experience and ongoing interest in supporting the social justice work, not only of 2U, but the larger communities we are a part of (Chicago and beyond0  greater stability in religious edu staffing/scheduling; consistent/adequate number of teachers for Sunday school  More diverse attendance, including services led by nonwhite folks.  more adult RE  Become more financially stable. Become more racially diverse.  Can't really say.  Growth in membership  sponsor refugee families  Increased visibility, common goals  More engagement each in their own way.  More varied services. Musical meditation a good example  2U continuing to evolve in a healthy way after I am gone.  Increase the number of volunteers  More trans-inclusive space and culture.  Most of what I wrote in response to the first question is that.  I think we can have a greater impact in the community and we should be more outward focused. Not trying very hard if we think Sunday attendance of 100 folks in the densely populated north side is good.  To help people, members and non-members, in times of trouble.  Greater commitment to anti-racism throughout the congregation.  rebuild the Social Justice Committee, become a congregation where people of color feel welcome  Religious education for high school youth and young adults, 18 to 35 years of age.  I'd like to see a larger minority representation in our pews on a Sunday and at other 2U events. I'd like to hear people talk about how interesting the sermon was, and how great the music was.  Membership growth.  offer church as sanctuary and temporary housing for those needing it  I would like to have more young adults attending and involved.

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 More communication among all areas of 2U. Why are we so segmented? Each committee seems to operate as a silo. We need more ways of keeping everyone informed of what's going on and when. Use all of modern tech to get this done. Don't wait till 2 weeks before and event to promote it. Make sure the info on it is available far in advance. Don't assume people all know things like what nights the choir rehearses, or we always have a giving tree in December.  Better community partnerships for social justice  increasing ethnic diversity (always a challenge)  I think every instance of growth and or evolution of the church body benefits every single person no matter what the change I think every instance of growth and or evolution of the church body benefits every single person no matter what the change is.  upgrade and finish the sanctuary floor  more attention to groups or individuals who do not have a large representation or committee  wow, definitely throwing out all the stuff that we do a certain way because a power from above has told us to (whether it's from a uu organization's recommendations or how the confident assume is right because they've seen it in their roles forever) and really pooling our collective knowledge (not just that of the business and nonprofit industrial complex types) and reworking how leadership and group representation/decision-making happen  N/A, everything in the congregation benefits me because it strengthens the community  A more active young adults group  strong commitment to anti-racism, more programs that improve the quality of people's lives  Treat our staff better, address building issues, become fully accessible  no opinion - ask again in a year  Growth sufficient to sustain financial stability.  Everything in the community/congregation impacts everyone. Increase membership is extremely important.  To connect members with spare bedrooms with homeless queer youth.  More involvement with the community  Support for a strong RE program (toddlers through high school)

In 2-4 sentences, how would you describe 2U to a friend looking for a congregation?  When I was a kid going to church, I asked too many questions. 2U is church for people who have questions. You can come here and ask and find other people that have questions, too. And you won't be judged for having those questions.  It's a community with all the good parts of religion and none of the guilt  It is a welcoming place to meet other people who share ideas of how to relate to others and to the world around us.  Motley! (Motley's a big plus!!!) Urban! Struggling! Still in recovery from the Jennifer years - still timid and cautious. If you want answers, 2U is not the place for you. If you want a place that welcomes your doubts and ambiguities, 2U's the spot. Verbose! Contentious! Has the same struggles as all other churches.  It is a congregation focused on justice-oriented action, that is radically inclusive and full of powerful love.  Truthfully, 2U is a little dried up (spiritually) and too thin skinned to be very dynamic. But it provides a place for those who can't find another place to be their church home.

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 2U is a congregation that truly lives the tradition of shared leadership and ministry and looks to meet the current and anticipated needs of its members and friends.  Open minded church; in Judeo- Christian tradition with open minded attitude about god, and trying to be racially sensitive. About 200 members, Small Sunday School.  It is a safe space to explore religious thought and a friendly community. I would warn them that it is a small church and they will need to put effort into reaching out to others if they want to get to know people quickly.  A stable, congenial community that accommodates multiple faiths or none  It's a lovely group of people. As with most UU congregations it is predominantly white and middle/upper class, tho there certainly are working class folks and people of color who attend and are members. If you're looking to explore UUism, the ideas of theology, and make new friends you'll be very happy with 2U. If you're looking to practice your faith by building radically inclusive and supportive community that centers, and is in solidarity with, those at the margins, then 2U might be a lonely or frustrating place for you. There are people who are part of multi-racial, multi- class movements for racial and economic justice, but the congregation hasn't adequately rallied it's resources and power for social justice work (ie: there are no staff dedicated to structural support of social justice work). It is often the same few people showing up at all meetings. So if you're looking to build power towards a more just society with a large group of people, church and social justice organizing can feel like a lot of work at 2U.  Humanities class; more community than any particular religious philosophy  "If you're interested in spending time acting to care for your fellow humans and world, and if you want to have a feeling of connection, 2U is for you."  2U is a liberal church that welcomes people of all faiths, colors, genders, sexual orientations and abilities as visitors, members, leaders and staff. It is a place to get inspired each week for how you can help to make the world a better place. You'll find out ways to act on your values and people who share these values to join you along the way.  We are a friendly community of people who are searching for our individual spiritual truths, and who work together to live them.  Neat church filled with interesting people of all ages. Wonderful music program, some of the neatest children I know. A place with members of a variety of beliefs, but no creed and very little God talk.  A community that seeks not only life’s answers but continually searches for relevant questions.  you will be accepted you will be encouraged to grow  An open, informal, diverse congregation  Liberal community, some role models for justice activism.  2U is a place you might explore your spirituality. You are welcomed.  A welcoming place, with diverse membership, opportunities for spiritual growth, social justice activities, and strong sense of community.  A place to go where we ask questions, not where we get answers.  It’s very white, and means well. There’s some diversity - more than other places. There’s a lot of work to do toward equity.  2U is a collection of diverse people interested in living lives of goodness and supporting one another on life's journey. They value the opportunity to engage with life's big questions and work together to create a better world for all.

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 I would describe 2U as a warm congregation with a mix of folks thoughtfully and honestly seeking spirituality and community. A place for fellowship. Opportunities to jump in and make something happen. A little set in our ways.  This is a liberal, non-creedal church -- that means that people of all faiths, including atheists and pagans, are welcome. The congregation is warm, welcoming, and active.  2U is a welcoming congregation where you can be yourself and not need to have all the answers. It is a place to freely explore your own spirituality, your humanity, and your worldview without a dogma that tells you what to think.  2U is a friendly inclusive congregation with strong support for social justice and a history of member participation in providing Sunday Services.  It’s religion without the religion.  It's a place where everyone can celebrate their own faith backgrounds and beliefs. It's a welcoming place that doesn't judge and encourages people to seek their own truth.  2-U is a Unitarian-Universalist community that provides a religious home for participants of all religious backgrounds and encourages members to continue to develop their religious and philosophical understanding of life. It includes a strong Religious Education program for youth, an excellent choir, and a positive presence in the community.  community of open minded people affirming their faith  A place where a diverse group of people with varying beliefs come together to share community and have an impact in the world.  2U is a congregation of like-minded people who respect an individual's personal search for meaning and spirituality. It is a place to come together to advocate for social justice, to celebrate different ways of worship, and to build a community of support, encouragement, and social camaraderie.  Pretty good coverage of a variety of good topics and sermons, not too God focused but a little more than I expected or would like, not too Jesus-y at all  I used to say it's a place an atheist like me can feel respected and comfortable. I feel that less, but there is really no other place than Unitarianism to go for a church. I'm sorry to say I don't talk 2U up for the most part. I need closure re the J. O'Quill ministry, that's why I'm not a member now. There used to be a Friend category and that is currently what I am.  interesting services, friendly congregation  A group of people looking for questions as well as answers. A community of friends with various issues they are working on.  2U is a place where you can explore your spirituality, be challenged in your convictions and find discussion with community to expand your mind and heart.  kind and well-intentioned but has a long way to go with actually being inclusive and welcoming to all and living out stated values. good for having a religious community where you don't have to believe in any certain dogma.  It's like church without being church-y.  Open-minded  2U is a place you can go to feel at home and take some time away to reflect on your most important values. It's great to be exposed to different ideas and people than you might encounter in daily life.

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 An un-churchy place where folks committed to truth, respect and goodness come together to make the world a better, more equitable place; where we can feel loving togetherness (phileo) while we laugh and cry and become more our better selves.  This is a difficult question to answer. I don't have any "friends" that I talk to about religion.  "Whether or not you liked your first 2U visit, come back  at least two more times. Then make up your mind. Each service is different."  A place where you can explore your spirituality in a community that will stand with you in bad times as well as good.  There are some cool individuals associated with the church who do cool stuff on their own. However, it can be really difficult to find a foot hold and community. Direct action from the church as a whole often gets bogged down by committee or delegated to a marginalized person. They also have a history of hiring folks of color and other marginalized folks which is cool.  2U is a community of well-intentioned seekers  A welcoming congregation of people with many positive, different beliefs but shared values

What is something you would like 2U to be known for?  social justice activism  social activism  Welcoming diversity  Music! Music! Music! Diversity! Rich and stirring Sunday services! Living out our UU values in concrete, specific action!  Community leadership  A progressive religious force.  Shared spiritual leadership  Social justice work; but I do not see it as likely  Social justice, diversity of all kinds  living our values  Community; commitment to the communities it brings together; strong across all ages and stages of life  I would like it to be known for having sermons led by a racially diverse and gender balanced group of volunteers.  a place where anyone in the community can come to learn about and practice compassion in the world  social justice (inside and out)  Great music, kids programming and standing strong for social justice, esp Black Lives.  Social activism and warm community that has fun together  compassionate generosity  Community involvement  Courage, integrity, authenticity  Involvement in the larger community beside monetary support of community social action groups. A minor example is being a polling place.  Leader in social justice actions such as support for same-sex marriage, Black Lives Matter, etc.  Social justice, place to go where you can believe whatever you want.  Supporting activist communities in Chicago as an institution.

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 Our progressive values and history, our commitment to creating a more just world, our beautiful building, our role in the history of the city of Chicago, our top-notch RE program, our welcoming congregation, and the high quality of our music-making.  We have been a welcoming congregation in a variety of ways over the past 40 years and I want that to continue.  Persistent inclusion and help for individuals and the community.  I would like 2U to be known for speaking meaningfully to anyone who comes looking for a place to explore their own beliefs; a place where the spiritually curious but non-religious are, and feel, welcome.  2U has supported and nurtured members who have become unitarian universalist ministers.  A young diverse and accepting congregation  Our incredibly welcome, open, and non-judgmental congregation.  A church where reason is taken for granted.  a friendly place to practice your religious conviction  A place where people can engage with others to live out their faith.  The welcoming church for all seekers.  Being radical  Inclusiveness of all kinds.  critical and radical insight  Diversity of all cultures/races/ sexual orientation/socioeconomic class  a haven from the storms  Inclusiveness, kindness, outreach.  being a part of the community and using our resources to further causes of justice and liberation  Being a loving supportive community to its members  Nonjudgmental acceptance  Welcoming atmosphere as a place for spiritual nourishment  strong commitment to anti-racism  Abundant warmth, and love in action  Community Outreach causes  It role in Chicago's (Lake view Township) history  Sermons that entertain and inform about current issues in the world. And, oh yeah, outstanding music.  Its music program  Providing sanctuary  Social action  Best little church in the community, a congregation that takes faith in action seriously.

What aspect of Sunday service do you most enjoy or connect with?  either the candle lighting or the readings  I like both the sermon and the music  It depends on the service, but I like the shared quieter times (covenant, prayerful reflection, closing blessing). Good music is next. A good sermon is a huge plus.  Music! Especially with Carl on the piano and Amanda as music director. Also find the silent candle-lighting very profound.  Music

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 Music and good sermon (note "good")  For me, the sermon is still the key, though the entire service must be taken as a "package" that opens the door to transformation.  Sermon, Plate Sharing, readings, story for all ages (sometimes music  RE and the music  Music  rituals. of singing, of lighting the candles, of reciting our covenant, of learning about and contributing to local justice work  Usually the sermon as good for thought  The singing or music performances  the rituals - Spirit of Life, greeting neighbors, joys and concerns,  music - both the special music and the choir  Music,  Music  sermon  hymns, Carl Kennedy's music, choir  singing along, live piano music, social and environmental justice themes  Singing  Ritual, people sharing their stories, minister preaching inspirational sermons  A good sermon, MUSIC, connecting with interesting people  Singing and candle lighting  I really enjoy every component of our Sunday service: sermon, music (listening and singing), prayers/meditation, readings, plate-split news, story for all ages.  Sometimes it is the sermon, sometimes the music.  The singing and the sermon.  Candle lighting, music  moving and/or thought-provoking sermons  The children's story, the sermon and the music  Candle lighting, silent meditation  The singing, pretty consistently. That's when we sing together as a whole group and the choir is amazing. I also loved Adam's sermons and miss him so much. I don't connect with Rev. Jennie in that same way.  Choir  sermon  The sermons where I'm challenged to think or act are a big reason why I attend regularly.  Candle lighting - as a worship associate, I've helped with that. It really connects me to each person as they approach the candles  Sermons on social justice topics today challenge mainstream narratives  I go to the services when the choir is performing so maybe I miss this at other services, but I always connect with voices and stories of experiences from church members and friends. I seldom connect with what the minister is saying, but it's not her it's all ministers for me, unless they are sharing a personal experience or struggle.  sermon  Music singing friends  Music--choir

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 the Readings  when it's interactive - talk to your neighbor bits, the singing, when we write something and put it up, the kind of thing where the participants actively contribute and the preacher may learn or be surprised by something in the service too  The songs  Music  Good sermon and music  Candle lighting, Hymn Singing  holding hands  Singing with choir; Candle lighting; good sermons  Greeting, lighting candle, followshiping  folk music: Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and other folk singers  Music  music, the sermon if it is good  Lay led services.  When music, readings, and sermon tie together to inspire

In our church year, what is a "can't miss" event at 2U, and why?  I always like the picnic at the beach. Do we still do that?  The water service that starts the fall calendar.  Thanksgiving potluck - although we've missed it now and then. I like - again - the motley-ness of it, I like gathering with people who want to be there (in contrast to many family Thanksgivings!!!), and I like the way it all comes together in such a happy fashion. Feeds my soul.  Not sure yet, but I have enjoyed the services immensely over the past 6 months that I've been attending.  Thanksgiving pot luck. It's a truly inclusive event with a mystic spiritual quality.  The keystones of water and flower communions really highlight the church year for me.  Lots that I love; none to keep me in town when we could travel  used to be picnic in park, pride events, water ceremony/homecoming, holiday - community, tradition, ritual,  Chili cook off  The flower exchange--it's beautiful!!  Homecoming Sunday - I love hearing where everyone visited over the summer when they pour out their water  Homecoming Sunday...great to see everyone and hear about where folks have been.  Music events and the fall fundraiser  Fundraiser -- silent auction provides opportunities to get to know people  beloved conversations and other commitments  Child dedication  Homecoming Sunday - re-affirming community  Fundraiser, Cookie Sale, Music sundays  Christmas eve service. Mostly music, feels good, something new every year mixed with reliable traditions.  I especially like Homecoming Sunday (it's wonderful to see everyone again!), music Sundays (winter and spring--because they're joyful services), the annual-meeting Sunday (because we get

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to do the "work" of church together). I also like the cookie sale and the Winter Solstice and the Passover Seder...and any time the minister is delivering a strong sermon.  Music Sunday. Annual Meeting.  The annual Worship in the Park and 2U picnic is always a good time to spend with people. I always get a lot out of the in-gatherings when we welcome new members to the church community (with great rejoicing).  Christmas Eve service since my religious background is Christian.  Big choir Sunday events because those are just amazing and cleanse my soul. I also love the Xmas eve service because it is always peaceful and beautiful.  Most Sundays  picnic  I love the service in the park.  There's a couple: Fall Fest (we need the money); Seder (great companionship, a way to get to know people better and still participate in a religious tradition; Cookie Sale (because....well, cookies)  Flower communion and gathering of waters are sentimental to me  Any time the choir sings, because I sing in it!  love the picnic, music sundays, flower/water communion, holiday services  2U Fundraiser. It is different every year, albeit some years better than others. It is good to support the church in an extra way (either buying an item or donating an item).  Seder - the interactive element, how it's a faith tradition shared by a family of that faith, the strong social justice themes  Involvement Fair! Because I like meeting new congregants and telling them about the things I am involved in.  Music Sundays  Christmas Eve, I feel closer to those with me, it is light in the darkness  Music Sunday(s)  Christmas Eve: the music, candlelight  Service in the Park  Beloved Conversations

What is one thing (event/service/etc) within 2U that you would like to see expanded?  I've already said social justice, so that, but also I've been wondering if the church has hobby groups, like a knitting club or card playing club--so people can get together and hang out  Social occasions that are just fun-not a fund raiser or a conscience raiser.  Children's Focus! Story for All Ages! Can't stand the present lackluster just-read-a-story routine. What's the point??? So glad children are now coming forward. either do it or don't do it, but not this half-way half-baked approach. And then, do something interesting! The storybook approach is just a time filler and if we're just filling time, then drop it.  Music  I would hate for us to ever have the default answer: "we have staff for that."  Participation and offerings within social justice action; the Hammer; small groups  Coverage of insights from world religions, both in service and in RE

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 structural/financial/energy investment in social justice work (ie: staff that support the social justice work of the church and support our participation in the larger Chicago community and the larger UU community (ie: GA 2016? resolution to support abolitionist work)  Stronger community of families  Services run by women  family programming  Christmas Eve  Community outreach in new avenues  social justice  Adult RE  percent of people who contribute; too few get burned out  Music  Youth who graduate telling congregation how 2U has affected their lives and prepared them for high school or college or adult life.  Youth outreach and programming  consistently great sermons (meaty, thought-provoking, intelligent, current)  I would like to see resources on mental health issues. For example, how can family members help those with depression, etc. Many of us have friends or family members who suffer from depression and anxiety.  I'd like to see the music program given more freedom.  More socials/potlucks  I would love to have a children's choir.  I would like to see more action in the world.  Winter solstice service. This should not just be for the Pagans. 2U should promote this more.  Social justice  I truly hope there is no decision to go to two services, or if so to limit the choir performance to the later service. For me it would be too much. As mentioned before I'd like to hear a diversity of voices in all services, even for the readings.  adult ed  inviting the community on Barry, Briar, and Oakdale, etc to participate.  New Year's event (labyrinth, special service calling in the New Year)  the youth and young adult worship format is awesome, and I would love to see events along those lines open to all ages  More social events, more chances for members new and old to connect  Increasing calibre of music performed (e.g., choir performing a requiem)  Music  Music. It draws people. And keeps people coming. (Idea: When the weather's nice, how about a mini-choir or instrument duo performing in our front yard for 20 minutes? Lots of pedestrian traffic.  more sermons on spiritual topics  Accessibility  Maybe positive connections with other UU congregations or commitment to GA

Which of the following 2U or 2U-related events do you regularly attend or utilize? Sunday Service: 45

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Fall Festival: 26 Worship in the Park/2U Outdoor Potluck”: 25 An Administrative/Organizing Committee: 23 Choir: 19 Tending the Garden: 11 Children and Youth Religious Education: 11 Adult Religious Education: 5 Beloved Conversations: 10 Small Group Ministries: 8 Social Justice Council: 8 Covenant of Earth and Sky (COVES): 4 Senior luncheon: 2 Working at 2U on building maintenance: 1 Pastoral Care Committee: 1 Climate Action Team: 1 Night Ministry meal prep: 1 Family Group: 4 Dinners at people's homes -- this is a great thing: 1 Library: 1 Buddhist Fellowship: 1

Do you have any religious traditions outside of Unitarian Universalism that you practice? Secular Humanism: 8, Christianity: 7, Folk Religion (Pagan, etc.): 7, Atheism: 5, Catholicism: 2, Quakerism, Hinduism, Druidry, Judaism, Buddhism

How many miles from 2U do you live? Range: 0-15 miles, Average: 3.6 miles

What age range do you fall into? 25-34: 10 35-49: 10 50-59: 9 60-69: 9 70-79: 13 80+: 4

Race/Ethnicity (may select more than one) White: 47 Black or African American: 2 Latinx or Hispanic: 1 Native American, American Indian, or Alaska Native: 1 Member of the Human race with ancestors from Central Europe: 1

Gender (may select more than one) Woman: 36

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Man: 17 Cis, Cisgender: 8 Transgender, Trans: 2 Nonbinary: 4 Genderqueer: 3 Gender Nonconforming or Gender Variant: 1 Gender fluid: 1 Bigender: 1 Agender: 1 Transfeminine: 1 I'm a nonbinary person who's seen by cis normative society as a cis woman, that's an external identity about how I'm perceived and how I have to navigate space, but down to my core I'm just nonbinary stardust poured into a body that society genders a certain way: 1

What was your socioeconomic status growing up? Raised poor: 1 Working class: 8 Lower middle class: 7 Middle class: 29 Upper middle class: 10

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