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At the service of October 12, 2008, "Reflections on our 50th Year" (presented by Carmen Buford-Paige, Dottie Oliver, and Susan Bullivant), those present gathered into small groups, each of which focused on one of six discussion questions.

Each group reported its answers to their question, which were synopsized on posterboard in a word or two. The brief summaries at right are based on those synopses with some expansion by your webmaster, who hopes she has properly expressed the intent of those present.

 

Reflections on our 50th Year:
responses to six questions

Question 1: Why do you come to DUUF?

• Children - finding a religious home for one's children, one with a good RE program

• Participation - mentioned were the feeling of equality this provides (including not having a minister), discussions following presentations, the feeling of one's service as a gift to the Fellowship

• Respite from a busy week

• Laughter

• Ownership of one's own religious experience, fulfillment, the feeling that it is okay to be different

• Small size

• Socializing with like-minded people

Question 2: What do you value?

• Community - including its openness, tolerance, reflection, mindfulness

• Children - having an RE program which is "open" and deals with morals and ethics

• Self-structure - not having a minister

• Fellowship house - warm atmosphere, small, central

Question 3: What are you seeking?

• Children's program - one which is open but structured

• Intellectual and spiritual challenges

• A like-minded community

• Social interaction

Question 4: What has kept the Fellowship going?

• Its liberal religious orientation

• Diversity of intellectual opinions

• The children and the Fellowship's RE program

• Its smallness, which fosters intimacy

• Laughter

• Volunteerism

• Leadership

Question 5: What will help sustain us in the future?

• Personal Relationships - including group activities and being welcoming to newcomers

• A Caring Committee - providing needed help to members and helping to retain members

• Sunday School (RE); interaction among adults and children

• Making room for both "Feelies and Realies" (Betty Nordgren's terminology; i.e., the heart and the head, more or less)

• Being an extended family, honoring both likenesses/differences

• Having sufficient funds

Question 6: What does spirituality mean to you?

• Community with common goals

• Time to think

• Questions but not necessarily answers

• Music/art appreciation

• Nature

• Rituals/traditions

• Spiritual flexibility