Frequently Asked Questions

Our congregation is made up of people from all walks of life. We are a faith that values diversity and honors the struggles of minorities--be they ethnic, racial, sexual, or physically different--to participate fully and equally in our society.

Of course! Everyone is welcome at our church and we value the diversity that everyone brings to our community.

We are a Welcoming Congregation that seeks to celebrate and support the lives, the relationships, and contributions of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual members and friends. We affirm and promote full participation of everyone in the life of our congregation and our community.

Our church school offers Lifespan Religious Education classes for Preschool through 8th grade. Nursery care is also available in the cradle room during both services.  Our senior high youth group, the Y.U.C.K.I.s, and Coming of Age (Grade 9) meet on Sunday evenings from 6-8:30. Guest children are welcome in all LRE classes, YUCKI meetings, and the cradle room. On Sundays at the 9:15 service, pre-K to grade 6 children, attend Chapel together in Fellowship Hall before going to classes.  The 11:15 Sunday School is a multiage (one room-schoolhouse) class for Pre-K to Grade 6 and will run through March 25, 2012. Neighboring Faiths (Grade 7) and Our Whole Lives (Grade 8) classes meet on a different schedule. Please contact our Director of Lifespan Religious Education for more information. 

Of course! Although we hope that your child will want to participate in age-appropriate group activities and children's chapel, they are always welcome in our services. You are also welcome to join your child in his or her classroom.

Our church welcomes you in whatever attire you are comfortable. Some members dress up and some dress very casually. Children should come in comfortable clothing so that they may participate in all physical and creative church school activities.

At UUCDC, we strive to make our church and facilities accessible to all people, to create an environment in which we all can live, learn, play, sing, work, meditate, reflect, and pray, so that everyone may grow and thrive together.

We have a number of facilities and programs designed to help persons who have special needs. Our aim is to meet the needs of persons with ambulatory problems, those who are sight and hearing impaired, and others, as well. Follow this link to learn more about accessibility at UUCDC.

Our services vary throughout the year. Some are more traditional in style, while others are quite unique experiences. Worship services generally include opening words, hymns or other music, the sharing of our joys and concerns, and a sermon, presentation, or an interactive activity. Many of our services are intergenerational.

Our Minister, Rev. Peter Friedrichs and our Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Irene Friedrichs, are both available to speak with you after church services on Sundays.

Whether you’re high tech or computer-phobic, there are lots of ways to stay connected at UUCDC. Our Website has a host of information about upcoming services, church events, directions, childcare, and a wealth of resources, including Podcasts of past sermons and information on Unitarian Universalism. If you’d like to talk to someone directly or have an immediate need, call the church office (610-566-4853) to reach a church staff member or our minister. The monthly Focus newsletter, available via email or in print, provides in-depth information on church happenings and initiatives. In addition, the UUCDC Digest, sent weekly via email, provides timely updates on the next Sunday service and the week’s events. Church announcements also are published in the Sunday Order of Service. Another great way to find out what’s going on - join us for coffee and conversation right after most Sunday services in Fellowship Hall, directly across from the sanctuary. And, you’re welcome to “friend” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

There are needs for volunteers at every level of operation in our church. The opportunities range from volunteering for a few hours in the office, to assisting on Sunday morning (greeter, usher, religious education teacher, worship associate, or coffee server) to a variety of social justice efforts and other activities.

Everyone is encouraged to join one (or more) Ministry Team(s). See the following entries for more information on the teams. Choose the team that interests you the most. The Ministry Team leaders regularly recruit folks for activities from their team membership rosters. Additionally, watch for events and opportunities described in the weekly Digest (brief electronic newsletter) and monthly Focus newsletter. If you do not currently receive the Digest and/or Focus, sign up using the form on the left or contact the church office.

New activities get started because someone is interested enough to work with others to launch it. The church staff and/or the Ministry Team Leaders will be pleased to discuss new ideas and be able to help facilitate the process and identify others that may be interested. If you don’t know which Ministry Team to approach, contact the Lay Leadership Council Chairperson or attend a Lay Leadership Council meeting (fourth Monday of every month at 7 pm).

Our Unitarian Universalist heritage calls us to serve each other within our own community and to serve the needs of the larger world. This service to others is ministry.

Each Ministry Team is a group of volunteers working on a common theme and is composed of several committees or task forces that cooperate to reach our goals. Each Ministry Team has a representative on the Lay Leadership Council which meets monthly to help coordinate the efforts of the church.

At UUCDC, we have organized service opportunities into five Ministry Teams:

• Membership, Participation and Vitality
  • This team focuses on strengthening and building our community and welcoming others into our congregation.
  • It includes the Membership Hospitality Team, the Communications Committee, and many other groups that help bond us as a community.
• Spiritual Growth and Enrichment
  • This team develops and supports the religious education and faith development of the children, youth, and adults in our community.
  • It includes the Religious Education Council, the Worship Associates, the Music Committee, and other groups supporting our spiritual growth.
• Justice and Outreach
  • This team mobilizes the energies of our congregation and wider community to combat oppression and create a just and compassionate world.
  • It seeks to educate the congregation and others about the root causes of social injustice and to create opportunities to make a difference in the issues of homelessness, poverty, racism, and the environment.
• Congregational Care
  • This team focuses on fostering close relationships and meeting the spiritual and physical needs of our members in times of need.
  • It includes the Caring Committee, the Pastoral Care Team, Small Group Ministry, and the Committee on Ministry.
• Stewardship
  • This team is taking care of the “nuts and bolts” of the church by promoting, preserving, and enhancing the resources of the church.
  • It includes the Finance Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Property Committee and other groups committed to these ideas.

You may register for a Ministry Team through the Church Data Base (DB) system or contact the church office. You also can join a Ministry Team by contacting the Ministry Team Leader. Together you can discuss your specific interests, time availability, and what type of role you might like to play. The team leader will respond and put you in contact with someone involved in your area of interest. Details of ongoing work of the ministry teams can be found in the Get Involved section of our web site.

UUCDC is led by church members who volunteer to serve in leadership roles, such as on the Board of Trustees and the Lay Leadership Council, in collaboration with our Lead Minister, Rev. Peter Friedrichs, and other staff. Dozens of volunteers also help individually and as members of five Ministry Teams, each focused on different areas of service and outreach.

Policy Governance is a form of church management that aims to empower more members to become actively involved as leaders in church affairs, while freeing up the Board to focus on policymaking and oversight. Under Policy Governance, the Board of Trustees focuses on articulating the church’s vision and goals, while the staff and other church leaders have more freedom in making day-to-day decisions. The Board delegates the implementation and administration of policy, vision and direction to our Lead Minister. Two concepts--Ends Statements and Executive Limitations--are integral to Policy Governance:

• Ends Statements are the long-term goals that UUCDC is working to achieve.
• Executive Limitations: Under Policy Governance, the Board does not tell the Lead Minister how to do his or her job, but rather sets boundaries, called Executive Limitations. These limits are the boundaries—what’s unacceptable—and allow the Minister to design their work with freedom within those boundaries.

Under Policy Governance, the Board of Trustees focuses on the long-term vision and direction for the church. The Board also reviews progress towards Ends Statements that serve as goals for the church. Other important roles include developing and revising board policies, and monitoring how well those policies are being met. The Board works closely with the Lead Minister, Lay Leadership Council, and Finance Committee to develop and propose an annual operating budget for the Congregation to vote on. Other responsibilities include evaluating the Lead Minister and Director of Lifespan Religious Education, which is done annually by subcommittees consisting of board representatives and other church members. The Board also conducts an annual self-evaluation.

The Lay Leadership Council oversees the planning, coordination, leadership and operation of most activities of the church and ensures that these activities are promoted and publicized. This is carried out under the leadership of five Ministry Teams. Each Ministry Team is responsible for a wide range of volunteer committees and projects appropriate to its goals and under its guidance. The Lay Leadership council is composed of the Team Leaders and Alternate Team Leaders of the five Ministry Teams, with a chair elected by the congregation for a two-year term.  Please consult Contact Us page for LLC and Ministry Team leader names and email links.

Membership at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County is an important step in your spiritual life here and we will be glad to welcome you as a member. The Pathway to Membership page has the details you need.