Strategic Plan

Thomas Jefferson District

Unitarian Universalist Association

Vision

The Thomas Jefferson District is a vibrant, diverse faith community of healthy congregations that is a prophetic model of anti-racism and anti-oppression. We are called to collaborate with other faith and community groups to transform our society.

We live our faith and principles together. Congregations throughout the district collaborate with each other while maintaining strong connections to the wider Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations. Together we encourage personal spiritual growth and development to give life to the values we want to see in the world. We offer a clear religious alternative to all the people of our region by making our existence known as a welcoming denomination for all people regardless of belief, race, sexual and gender orientation, age, physical and mental ability, and socio-economic class.

We are a clear and visible voice for positive social change in the southeastern United States. We take the Unitarian Universalist message of hope, faith and religious freedom to the wider community. We witness our shared Unitarian Universalist principles as we strive to achieve social justice in our own communities, our states, and in the wider world. We form mission-driven interfaith relationships in the communities and region we serve. Our commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism is evident in district meetings, events, leadership development, and the use of district resources.

We are growing in spiritual depth, strength, and numbers. Our congregations are strong, healthy organizations, grounded in the spiritual faith development of their members, with ample fiscal resources to support their missions. Our congregational and district leaders, ministers, consultants, and volunteers have deep knowledge of Unitarian Universalism, are well-grounded in leadership skills, comfortable in dealing with conflict effectively, and experienced with managing change.

We are preparing for the future. We cherish our children, youth, and young adults by guiding their personal and spiritual growth and nurturing each young person’s gifts and talents. Children, youth, and young adults throughout the district, including those on college campuses, have a deep understanding of and are proud of their faith.

We are the stewards of our district resources. We are a district association of congregations which has fully evaluated our mission and the needs and wants of the member congregations to decide how district resources are spent. We maintain sufficient staffing to respond to the needs of the district and give our employees just compensation for their work. The democratic process governs our district business. Our member congregations maintain a strong connection to the Thomas Jefferson District and to the Unitarian Universalist Association to which they pay their fair share. We keep pace with technological advances to assure that communication systems and resource sharing among congregations are the most effective and efficient possible.

We joyfully accept our responsibilities and give generously of our time, talent, energy and financial resources to keep this vision alive.

Our Six Strategic Goals

1. We will provide a wide-range of effective and geographically-accessible training opportunities and programming for our member congregations within the Thomas Jefferson District focused on Unitarian Universalist faith development, leadership development, congregational health, social justice, and stewardship.
2. We will continually work toward living in right relations with each other by striving to transform the district and assisting its member congregations in living their covenant to be in relationship with each other and toward becoming anti-racist, anti-oppressive communities.
3. We will provide consultation services to member congregations to assist them in assuring successful searches and transitions of ministers and other religious professionals.
4. We will grow membership within existing congregations and support new congregations to, at a minimum, keep pace with the population increases in our region.
5. We will develop strong lifespan faith development programs throughout the district with a special focus on programming for youth, young adult and campus ministry.
6. We will be good stewards of financial and paid and volunteer human resources while educating congregations about the benefits of generosity and collaboration.