Harbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation has been a home for those who seek a liberal faith community in Muskegon since 1954!
We recently conducted a survey based on that posted on the UUA website, which we modified slightly to more closely reflect the character and needs of our own congregation. Much of the information presented here is taken from that survey.
At present we are a somewhat aging congregation, with 68% of respondents over the age of 50 (almost 28% between 50 and 59 years), and 30% in their 30s and 40s. We have only one member with a child in preschool, and fewer than 10 school-age children who attend regularly, although we have an active youth group open to those between the ages of 12 and 18, whether or not their parents are affiliated with HUUC.
One of our priorities is to increase our membership, especially of young families. We have been fortunate in the past few months to have had an influx of younger visitors, although none has yet joined, and most are single. The majority of our members are married and most members have spouses who are also members. The number of years of affiliation with HUUC is quite varied: 19% of respondents have been associated with HUUC for 1-2 years, 27% for 3-5 years, 12.5% for the categories of 6-10 years and 11-15 years, 8% for 16-20 years, and 18% for more than 20 years. A significant number have considered themselves to be UUs for more than 20 years.
Our official membership numbers 63. The "friend" category is about equal to the number of members and consists in part of non-member spouses. We reached our peak membership of 87 just prior to the retirement of our long-time minister in 2007, and although we have lost members with her departure and during the transition, we have also gained newcomers who are vital to our congregation. Many are waiting before committing to membership to see what the future brings in terms of a new minister.
We e-mailed to the survey to 99 members, friends and some who are no longer involved with our congregation. Additional paper surveys were also provided. We received responses from 54 individuals, of whom 37 (77%, or 59% of the official number) identified themselves as members. Most stated they first came to HUUC because of the following reasons which (in decreasing order) are extremely or very important to them: intellectual stimulation, celebrating common values, fellowship, social interaction, community, UU beliefs, and spiritual growth. They continue to come for many of the same reasons as well as social action/service activities, music and choir, and worship. Celebration of common values is the single most important aspect of Sunday services, followed closely by intellectual stimulation.
The beliefs and backgrounds of our congregation are quite varied, although earthbased spiritualism, Christianity and humanism were identified by 41% as being important to their own religious development, and Buddhism was identified by 32%. A few members identify with Judaism.
We are fortunate to have a gifted music director and a very talented choir and musicians in our small congregation. The choir, special vocal music, singing of hymns and the coffee hour are extremely important to those who attend services. Readings, lay participation and the sermon are also considered very important.
Other than our beliefs and backgrounds, we are fairly homogeneous, with fewer than 5% of congregants belonging to the GLBT community, and even fewer of non-Caucasian ethnicity. We are quite diverse socioeconomically; a majority of members and friends are college-educated, and over half of respondents have at least a master’s degree, although not all are in the work force, and some exist on very slender means.
After a couple of rocky years, we again have a dedicated RE director who is employing the Tapestries of Faith curriculum by the UUA. We have the usual official committees including the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee, as well as Building and Grounds, Worship and Music, Caring Ministry and Membership, Endowment, and Leadership Development.
We have a variety of informal groups, some of which are open to those not affiliated with HUUC: Writers Group, the Humanist Group, CoKnittee (yarn crafts), Peace-Keeping (which applies martial arts for nonviolent purposes), a women's dining group, a men's dining group, and Welcoming UU Teens, our youth group, which serves an important outreach function. Our RE department helps to support a young student in Nepal. We support a community Supper House, and sponsor a Food Truck each year to distribute food to needy families in the community. For many years we have cosponsored the Women’s Equality Day Dinner with the local chapter of NOW. In the past our members marched to oppose racism, held a Peace Camp for children, and a toy exchange providing nonviolent toys to replace toy weapons. We have supported and worked with and for various community programs. A couple of years ago we officially became a Welcoming Congregation and continue to provide a safe haven where GLBT youth and adults can meet.
We have a weekly television program, A Liberal Voice, hosted by one of our members, which is featured on local cable channels. We publish a monthly newsletter and a one-page mid-month update. One of our newer friends has been indispensable in organizing fund-raising concerts for HUUC by lending his own audio equipment and bringing in professional folk musicians. Several times in the past year we have put on coffee houses, which are hugely popular.