In November RVUUF celebrated its 14 Founders during a Sunday service. An important annual ritual to help new members, and remind longer term members, to understand and answer the question “Where do we come from?”. This is only the first of three very important questions for a congregation to address more than once during its lifetime.

The second important question is “What are we?” in the present sense of knowing RVUUF’s identity and being clear about “who we are” as you share your lives with each other and with those in the world as Unitarian Universalists. The Developmental Ministry model offers the opportunity to gain confidence, during a four year period, to know “what/who we are” in relation to each other and ‘what/who we are’ to the Rogue Valley and beyond, particularly in ways that differentiate RVUUF from the many other religious institutions in the valley.

In the new year your Boards objective is to begin a process of discernment in knowing what identifies RVUUF to be RVUUF and to address the third important question, which is, “Where are we going?”. The Board has tasked an ad hoc team, with my support, to create a process so that every member and friend of RVUUF can have an impact reclaiming “what/who we are” and “where we are going” as a unified congregation.

Congregations of all sizes, shapes and leanings within Unitarian Universalism must repeatedly ask these three questions of itself about every five years or so, if there is desire to stay relevant to the present generations and to pass on to generations who will follow you. Each generation is accountable to the next.

January 2016 will begin the process of answering “what/who are we” and “where are we going” and everyone is needed. Those of you who’ve been through this kind of process in the past I encourage you to participate because you bring the wisdom and experience of the past that can help inform the future vision and mission. Those of you new to RVUUF, or anywhere in between, I encourage you to participate equally because your new ideas and experiences you bring from other places, and your new energy will help impact the future of RVUUF in ways that build confidence and courage to live into 2025.

R.F. Mayer suggests that “If you don’t know where you are going, you are liable to end up someplace else.” Think about it! Join the process in January by watching for articles in News to Note, on the blog on the website, and in the inserts of the Order of Worship, and Facebook Page.

Rev. Nan L. White
RVUUF Developmental Minister