Name Change Workshop - 2002-05-18
About 20 members and friends of the UUCB attended a workshop
held on May 18th, 2002 to discuss the pros and cons of the UUCB
changing its name.
This workshop was held at the UUCB Retreat in Allenspark.
Those in attendance broke into several groups to discuss their
feelings and concerns about the prospect of a name change for the
UUCB. Later, all the small groups reported to the larger group about
their discussions.
The following is a list (not in any order of significance) of the
issues, perceptions, and concerns voiced at the workshop.
- We're mostly comfortable changing the name.
- We're on the fence.
- Perhaps we should use "approval voting", and just put all the
possible names, including the current name, in the running.
Everyone votes for as many names as they "approve of", and
the name getting the most votes, and thus the most approval, is chosen.
The part of the name that matters the most is "Unitarian Universalist".
- I don't want to change for the sake of change.
- How about the names "Connection" or "Cooperation"?
- The vote should be a consensus.
- Lets turn lemons into lemonade - an opportunity to have a conversation
to identify and define who we are as UUs.
- It's important to be doing healing work.
- Saying "I go to church on Sunday" is awkward - some people assume
I'm christian, assume it is the Unity church.
- We should talk to Jewish Renewal.
- I was in a UU "society" in Milford that changed the name to
"Congregation" - the change was painless.
- This discussion feels safe.
- There are some parallels between our use of "RE" vs "Sunday School"
and "UU" vs "church".
- We started using the term "UUCB" much more after Kurt became minister.
- It's challenging to find one word that will satisfy everyone but not
bear the historical burdens of "church".
- Current UUCB members and friends know what it is all about, so
the name may actually affect our sense of "identity" less.
Perhaps we should be asking what name would best represent who we
are to those who don't know us.
- I'm still wrestling with the question of whether we try to
use traditional terms and let them adopt new meanings, or to let
them go and use new ones that have less negative value attached to them.
- I know people who don't come because of the name. Leaning towards
"community" or "congregation".
- I like the spiritual connotation of "church" or "congregation" vs
"community".
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