I thought you might be interested in some of the findings from PRRI's 2016 American Values Atlas, the single largest survey of American religious and denominational identity ever conducted. This landmark report, just published, is based on a sample of more than 101,000 Americans from all 50 states and includes detailed information about their religious affiliation, denominational ties, political affiliation, and other important demographic attributes. You can read the report here.

As a teaser, I have excerpted a few findings specifically related to UU. They are interesting as stand-alone statistics, but much more so if you look at them in context of the whole study and the relationship of the UU numbers relative to other religions. 

• Jews, Hindus, and Unitarian Universalists stand out as the most educated groups in the American religious landscape. More than one-third of Jews, Hindus, and Unitarian Universalists hold post-graduate degrees. No religious group has a higher proportion of members with post-graduate degrees than Unitarian Universalists. Nearly two-thirds have a college education, including more than four in ten who have an advanced degree.
• Women continue to make up the majority of most religious groups, including most Christian groups. While most Christian denominations have an imbalance around 55/45, the gender imbalance among Unitarian Universalists is 64/36.
• Unitarian Universalists are also fairly well off financially. Only 18% report living in households making less than $30,000 annually, and 22% report having incomes exceeding $100,000. More than seven in ten Unitarian Universalists own their home, while just over half of religiously unaffiliated Americans are homeowners.
• Nearly half of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are religiously unaffiliated. Notably, Buddhists and Unitarian Universalists have a much higher proportion of LGBT members than other religious traditions. One in seven Buddhists and Unitarian Universalists identify as LGBT.
• No religious group is less likely to identify as Republican than Unitarian Universalists. Only three percent of Unitarian Universalists are Republican. A majority identify as Democrat, and one-third are independent. No religious group is as politically progressive as Unitarian Universalists. Seven in ten Unitarian Universalists identify as liberal; only six percent are conservative.

In many areas of the study, we do not differ much, if at all, from the norm. I highlighted the areas in which, maybe no surprise, our denomination is significantly different from other religious groups.  I'm aware that these numbers are not much different from previous surveys, which means that this data continues to offer support for the perception of UUs as elitist.  As we seek to broaden our impact, become more inclusive and live out our seven principles, I wonder how much those differences in reality and perception serve us.

I also got to wondering how much we, in Durango, differ from the norm of UU-ism and how that helps or hinders us from applying the work of our mission locally. My sense is that we have a better gender balance and maybe a wider range of financial circumstances than UUs generally. And I'm pretty sure that we don't think of ourselves as elitist. While we probably have a similar educational level and political persuasion as the national figures, I think these are underplayed in our Fellowship. The skills and knowledge people have gained from their education and the practice of their professions are quietly and profitably applied to our mission and to the needs of the Fellowship as they arise. 

The study also doesn't address several important areas. Our strong sense of community has been amply demonstrated over time, notably in recent weeks with many members contributing to the renovations of the Columbine and San Juan Houses, the playground, and putting together our wonderful 50 th anniversary celebration. The statistics do not address either the breadth or depth of social justice activities. I think anyone paying attention would see that on a per capita basis, our focused social justice efforts would stand up with anyone (not that we're in any kind of competition).  The Durango area is becoming more aware of the positive impact that our congregation is making right here.  And finally, we should acknowledge the movement toward deeper spiritual focus, growth and understanding that has been stimulated by Rev. Katie's presence with us as well as our growing Faith Formation program. 

I encourage you to hit the link, look through the study, and ponder some questions: 

• How do you think these statistics reflect UUFD's position in Durango?
• What implications do you think these statistics have for us as we begin to implement our new strategic plan, specifically with regard to how we deliver on our mission and our ability to attract new members? 
• To what extent does knowing this general information affect how you think about yourself and your life as a UU in Durango?
• Can you imagine starting up a conversation or two to share your reactions to this information? 

Of course, all these issues are just a small part of what we are as a liberal religious body. As we start to deal more formally with Goal I of our new Strategic Plan - revisiting our mission and covenant - and as a fellow seeker and wonderer, I hope we can go beyond the surface numbers and find real meaning in what we offer to ourselves and our community. 

The MDD 2017-18 Fall Chalice Lighter call supports two congregations seeking to enhance RE programming who will share this award.  Two Rivers UU in Carbondale, CO is seeking to expand RE from one to three classes and establish a "children's chapel." To accomplish these goals, the congregation wants to double the RE director's time to enable her to train volunteers to become Sunday School teachers as well as to organize volunteers and to select curricula. Two Rivers hopes that by expanding their RE they will enable overall growth. They perceive they can grow well beyond their current membership of 60 adults. The grant request is for a total of $7,000 to enable doubling the time for the RE director and to provide for additional training and materials.

Columbine UU Church of Littleton, CO is seeking to hire a "Youth Services Coordinator" at the cost of $3,500 for a year. Columbine is currently at 92 adult members and with a single service on Sunday currently the sanctuary feels "cramped." By adding a second service with a specific youth orientation, crowding would be alleviated and there will be an opportunity to attract more youth to the church. The proposal is for the youth coordinator to work 10 hours per week for 30 Sundays over the course of a year. The total cost of the project is $4,500 with the congregation providing $1,000.

It's easy to donate: Click here. Contributions are being accepted through October 23.

 

Tickets for the 2017-2018 Recital Series can now be purchased online. Both season and individual performance tickets are available here . Subscriptions and admission to individual recitals can be also purchased by mailing your two brochure panels with a check to the church, or purchase at the door.

	Marilyn Garst and Brandon Christensen, performing on Oct. 13

The eleventh season of the Recital Series will begin on Oct. 13 with Brandon Christensen, violin, and Marilyn Garst, piano.  In addition to masterpiece sonatas by Mozart and Brahms, the program will include an arrangement of Gershwin's "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" from Porgy and Bess, an arrangement of the Theme from Schindler's List by John Williams and the dramatic Improvviso by Nino Rota.  Before moving recently to Durango to establish a private violin studio, Brandon was Professor of Music at Southwest Missouri State University.  Prior to that, he was a visiting artist at Dickenson College and a faculty member at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music.  He has been assistant concertmaster of the Paducah Symphony, has appeared as soloist with various symphonies and holds the doctor of musical arts degree from Stony Brook University.  Before moving to Durango in 2005, Marilyn was a faculty member for 25 years at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she taught piano, harpsichord and keyboard ensembles, performed in recitals, and served as Keyboard Studies Coordinator.  She holds the B.M., M.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Southern California, Indiana University and Michigan State University.

Tenor Erik Gustafson will present the second recital on Dec. 8, assisted by Marilyn Garst at the piano.  The program will feature Schumann's exquisite cycle of 16 songs entitled Dichterliebe (Poet's Love).  In addition, there will be three songs by Berlioz and four by Stephen Sondheim.  Erik is Adjunct Instructor of voice at Fort Lewis College.  He is a member of Quadrivium and is active with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Oregon Bach Festival and the Bach Collegium in San Diego. 

The third recital on March 2, 2018, will be presented by Anne Eisfeller, harp.  Durango audiences know Anne as the harpist for Music in the Mountains and a frequent performer with the San Juan Symphony.  She lives in Albuquerque where she is principal harpist of the New Mexico Philharmonic and Santa Fe Symphony.  Summers take her to Italy for the Assisi Festival and Oklahoma to teach at the Oklahoma Arts Institute.  

The series will conclude on April 27, 2018, with the Southwest Piano Trio consisting of Kay Newnam, violin, Bonnie Mangold, cello, and Marilyn Garst, piano.  They will perform two outstanding works for that combination by Haydn and Brahms.  Kay and Marilyn will also perform Stravinsky's Suite from L'Histoire du Soldat with Lori Lovato on clarinet.  Kay served as Concertmaster and violin soloist of the Orchestra of Santa Fe and has been a member of the Ensemble of Santa Fe and the San Juan Symphony.  Bonnie's career included 37 years as cellist in the Utah Symphony, preceded by three years as principal cellist in the National Orchestra of Colombia in Bogota.  Lori is clarinetist for the Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, Sphinx Symphony in Detroit, San Juan Symphony, among others, and founding member of the New Mexico Woodwind Quintet.