Settled Search Small Group Conversations

If you feel invested enough in FPUUA’s future to spend a bit of your time helping us, the Settled Minister Search Committee, gather feedback and data about our community, its priorities, and its areas for growth, then you are welcome to participate in a discussion group! Registration is required – please register online.

Open Small Group discussions are events where folks from all across different areas and ways of engaging with First Parish will talk about Search and our congregation together.

Focus Group discussions are events that intentionally create space for voices from communities that make up minority populations in our congregation to be amplified, allowing the Search Committee to hear from folks whose perspectives may be less prevalent in Open Small Groups. The goal of Focus Groups is inclusion in the Search process for as many perspectives as possible. To achieve this goal, it is sometimes necessary to facilitate spaces where minority voices do not have to compete with majority voices to be heard.

Each event is a one-time gathering. Each Focus Group is limited to 12 participants or less and will happen via Zoom. Open Small Group events will offer multiple concurrent discussions with 12 or fewer participants. To leave space for others to participate, please do not register for multiple Open Small Group dates. If you would like to attend more than one Focus Group, or to attend both an Open Small Group and a Focus Group, you will need to fill out this form once for each. As you decide how to participate in this part of the Search process, please be mindful of the goal to include as many unique participants as possible across the whole slate of events.

Questions or having difficulty registering? Please reach out the Search Committee at settled-search@firstparish.info

OPEN SMALL GROUPS:

• Zoom open small groups #1 — Oct. 24, 2pm, Zoom
• In-person open small groups #1 — Oct. 25, after worship/12pm, FPUUA
• Zoom open small groups #2 — Oct. 25, after worship/12pm, Zoom
• Zoom open small groups #3 — Oct. 30, 6pm, Zoom
• In-person open small groups #2 — Nov. 1, after worship/12pm, FPUUA
• Zoom open small groups #4 — Nov 1, after worship/12pm, Zoom

FOCUS GROUPS:

• Jewish congregant’s focus group — Oct. 13, 7pm, Zoom
• Non-parents focus group — Oct. 15, 7pm, Zoom
• LGBTQIA+ focus group — Oct. 19, 7pm, Zoom
• Singles focus group — Oct. 20, 7pm, Zoom
• Families with children focus group — Oct. 22, 8pm, Zoom
• Access and disability focus group — Oct. 26, 7pm, Zoom
• Young adults focus group — Oct. 27, 7pm, Zoom
• BIPOC congregant’s focus group — Oct. 29, 7pm, Zoom