Reviewing the packet of Unitarian Universalist Association Board of Trustees for their forthcoming meeting, including minutes from their meeting in October. No new congregations affiliated with the UUA (but none disaffiliated either.) One moved districts. No evidence of an congregational action in the January meeting
A worrying sign following several years of almost no congregational growth.
There is a live site for new and emerging congregations according to this report. That was the first I heard of it. UUA.org organization is Byzantine (at best) so perhaps this is the site in question; there was no link from the report. Surely not this one, unrevised since last April. And if neither of these, then where? And just jargony online pamphlets? Seems a bit half-hearted to me.
According to the report, the new live site was created by over 20 people collaborating on the project. But the 2 sites you point to could have been created by a part-time staffer at a District office. If either is the new site, it is a rather pathetic effort at new church extension.
Very worrisome indeed. According to Alban Institute research, any growing religious movement will generally have at least 30% of its congregations founded in the past 30 years. And as the years click by for the UUA, that percentage grows lower and lower. Students of history should also note that when the Universalist Church almost collapsed in Ohio and Indiana in the 1930-1950 period, there were almost no new church plants (1 in Indiana, 2 in Ohio).
I know of one emerging congregation here in Ohio…