2022 UUA Certification Report
Executive Summary
The 2022 report is provided for those wanting to do multiyear analysis on the data. Please note that this report does not include the same level of narrative and chart descriptions as done in the 2023 report.
Larry Stritof
UUA ITS Director
Changes to the 2022 Certification Process
Nearly all of the open-ended questions were replaced with "Select all that apply" lists of commonly entered responses from 2021. Users still can enter other suggestions, but this change makes it significantly easier to analyze the data.
How we track member participation continues to evolve as congregations go from being fully virtual to in person and multiplatform. For 2022 we are now asking for total participation through all channels as well as what percentage is from virtual/online participation.
The Office of Lifespan Faith Engagement is now asking congregations to estimate how many youths will be bridging to anticipate and support these communities.
A one-time question from the Article 2 Commission as well as three pandemic specific questions around PPP loans were removed.
Section 1: Counting UU Congregations
The 2022 certification process only included member congregations who need to complete the certification process each year to stay in good standing. Missing from these stats are the Emerging, Covenanting, and Multisite communities all of whom are just as engaged in our faith movement as our member congregations. Ongoing work is being done to update the certification process to include these other communities going forward.
UU Communities Served
As of September 2022, the UUA serves 1,087 UU congregations and communities. This is made up of 1,007 Member, 27 Emerging, 32 Covenanting, and 21 International congregations and communities.
Note that these classifications may overlap and the sum of these does not reflect the total communities served. For example, many Canadian congregations still hold UUA membership and are counted as members and international congregations.
Member Congregations
These congregations completed the application process (opens in a new tab) and were admitted by the UUA board. As a member, these congregations are able to send delegates to General Assembly to vote on business and in UUA elections.
Emerging Congregations:
actively working toward becoming member congregations in our larger association.Covenanting Communities:
an alternative kind of Unitarian Universalist (UU) group. They claim a UU identity and advance UU values, but they look and feel different from a traditional congregation.International Member Congregations
Certified Member Congregations / Non-Certified Member Congregations
Complete list of Certified Congregations can be found at: 2022 Certified Congregations (opens in a new tab)
Complete list of Non-Certified Congregations can be found at: 2022 Non-Certified Congregations (opens in a new tab)
Section 2: Staff Counts
Staff Counts
Serving Minister Counts
Section 3: Finances
Pledging Income and Total Operating Expenses
Average Operating Expenses by Region
2022 Average and Median Operating Expenses by Region
Total Operating Expenses per Member by Region
Section 4: Membership
Members and Non-member Friends
Membership and Religious Education Enrollment
Youth Bridging
269 congregations made at least one selection, 331 reported none or 0, and 172 skipped the question.
Total Community and Average Attendance
Membership by Region
Membership Variation by Region
Section 5: Diversity & Demographics
To understand and analyze the impact of racial disparities in Unitarian Universalist faith communities, we need to understand the racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity of our congregational members, staff, and leadership teams. This work is a small part of a long-term commitment to better understanding congregations' ability to nurture antiracist and antioppressive ministry along with understanding the quality of livelihood of our religious professionals.
While the certification period is a great time to collect some of this information, we recognize that it often falls upon individual administrators to complete the certification process, many of whom may not fully know the makeup or extent of diversity within staff and leadership teams.
This year's diversity questionnaire results: 733 congregations completed the questionnaire with 170 opting out. These congregations represent 143,634 members and non-member friends, 3,587 paid full-time and part-time staff—including ministers—made up of 711 administrative/facilities staff and 874 religious professional staff, and 5,302 board/standing committee positions.
Of the 143,634 congregational members and non-member friends, 7,182-7,183 (5-9%) are estimated to be BIPOC and 14,363-14,363 (10-24%) are estimated to be LGBTQ+. The questionnaire did not consider any overlap between these two identity groups.
Of the reported 3,587 paid full-time and part-time staff, 375 (10.45%) identify as BIPOC. This includes 141 (3.93%) religious professionals and 234 (6.52%) administrative/facilities staff.
Of the reported 5,302 board/standing committee positions, 398 (7.51%) identify as BIPOC.
The table below shows these numbers between the five regions and international congregations.
Reported change in BIPOC leadership over the past year
668 congregations made one selection, and 65 skipped the question.
Section 6: Congregational Questionnaire
How helpful has the UUA (including regional staff) been in assisting congregations with advancing their mission and addressing key challenges?
748 congregations made one selection, and 24 skipped the question.
Conflict in Congregations
755 congregations made one selection, and 17 skipped the question.
(1) Aware of Conflict and is Well Within Healthy Range The Conflict is Causing the Congregation to Implode (10)
Safe Congregational Policies Adoption
715 congregations made at least one selection, 6 reported none, and 51 skipped the question.
The Extent which mission and strategic goals drive and challenge the work and ministry of congregations
743 congregations made one selection, and 29 skipped the question.
Congregational Collaboration with Other Congregations
624 congregations made at least one selection, 16 reported none, and 132 skipped the question.
Congregational Public Support of Social Justice Issues
694 congregations made at least one selection, 6 reported none, and 72 skipped the question.
Multicultural or Anti-Racism Learning Program Engagement
436 congregations made at least one selection, 17 reported none, and 319 skipped the question.
Faith Development / Religious Education Resources Usage
628 congregations made at least one selection, 12 reported none, and 132 skipped the question.
UUA.org Resources Used by Congregations
689 congregations made at least one selection, 7 reported none, and 76 skipped the question.
UUA Region Services, Resources, and Programs Usage/Participation
651 congregations made at least one selection, 10 reported none, and 111 skipped the question.
Identity Based Caucus or Covenant Groups/Circles
359 congregations made at least one selection, 20 reported none, and 393 skipped the question.
Youth Bridging
Question 12 is shown in Section 4. Jump to Question 12.
Platforms/services used during the Pandemic
Skip the WordCloud (press Enter)How the UUA can help Congregations
664 congregations made at least one selection, 6 reported none, and 102 skipped the question.
Feedback
Send your questions or feedback regarding the 2022 Certification Report to app.support@uua.org.