Why are we being asked to increase our pledges for 2013-14? The simplest answer is that the proposed expenditures and promised pledges don’t match up. Here’s the rest of the story:
We’re growing younger.
We are saying “good-bye” to some older, more established members of the congregation, who are moving on. Many of them are moving on to new adventures away from Tallahassee. Some are moving to be closer to their adult children. Some have died, leaving us sadder, but, enriched by their sojourn with us. At the same time, we’re experiencing an influx of younger members. Young adults. Young families. We are a vital, growing, “youthening” congregation.
The energy and needs of new members of every age is changing the congregation. Their needs move us to expand Religious Exploration programming by offering courses on parenting, and world religions, and by starting a Spiral Scouts group. Their interests are leading us in new directions in music, and in creating a modest multi-media experience in the sanctuary.
We’re more available.
The 9:00 a.m. service opens a new door for people who want to explore Unitarian Universalism. Five of our newest members became members solely through attendance at that early service.
Our internet presence is expanding all the time. The website continues to grow to meet expressed needs. We have multiple Facebook pages - disseminating information and encouraging connections. We use the internet for everything from greeter sign-up lists to sharing the concerns of Freethinkers. Thanks to the work of many dedicated members, we are ever more widely represented outside the walls of our congregation.
Our newsletter, the Meridian, is becoming more user friendly for smartphones and tablets. Evolving changes in the newsletter mean that instead of writing one “minister’s column” for the monthly newsletter, I’m writing four times as frequently and posting to this Tallahassee UU blog.
People are generous.
Two-thirds of the people who returned their pledges by last week, had already increased their pledges. New members are offering many different kinds of support for the congregation - enlivening our music programs, stepping in to manage the sound system, teaching, joining classes themselves, and helping with the Shelter Meal. Still, to maintain our services and programs, and to protect the accomplishments of the past, including our property and buildings...we need everyone who can be generous to share in the excitement of all our activities and the promises offered by pledging.
Membership, enthusiasm and energy is up, and pledges are down. Why?
Often younger members, many of them new to Unitarian Universalism, are not able to pledge at the same level as their older counterparts. All of our new members are in the process of becoming established, committed Unitarian Universalists. Every congregation that is growing has an opportunity to experience this same problem. We are living into the gap created by a younger, growing congregation. Isn’t it exciting?
