Rev. Krista promised to answer the questions she couldn't get to on Sunday.

Marge Bergfeld: Will we ever have a pet blessing service?

Yes, this coming spring. 

When did you first convert to UU? What drew you to it?

I first stepped into a UU church when I was 27, during my graduate studies. I was looking for a spiritual community where I could feel the close connections like I did in my childhood church with a theology that I could commit to and make my own. I became a member a few months later.

Steve Harvey: Can you suggest a definition of the UU denomination that is 3 sentences or less?

This is my elevator speak, borrowed from Rev. Cheryl Walker, a UU minister:

From our Unitarian heritage we proclaimed that God is one. From our Universalist heritage we proclaim that all are saved. As Unitarian Universalists we proclaim that we are all connected and that we are held by a love beyond our imagining.

Henry Schweinsberg: Is there an attempt to engage similar minded people whose faith of origin might have been Hindu or Islam or Indigeneous (vs. wasp - White Anglo Saxon Protestant).

Linda Carter: How can we become more diverse?

The best way to become a diverse congregation in terms of ethnic or religious background is not to try to get people to come to our church. It's to create a transformed church culture that is truly welcoming of diversity so that when people check us out, there is a clear path. Too often, people of color or from non-Christian backgrounds have to carve their own path into our congregations. 

If we want to transform this congregation into a truly anti-racist congregation, that means each of us doing out work. I would recommend that members and friends register for these programs: "Witnessing Whiteness," which begins soon, "Raising Anti-Racist Children" which begins in the winter, or "Love at the Center," a Wellspring Program which is a members-only program for those who are firmly anchored in their UU faith. You can register for these programs at the links.

Another effective way is social justice engagement which brings us into relationship a diversity of people. When trust and friendship is built, that may create an opening for someone to consider our congregation. If you would like to be part of this important work, email socialjustice@eliotchapel.org.