Rooted in Love, Courageous in Action: A New Mission and Vision for First Unitarian Church of Omaha

Every congregation has a story.

It is a story shaped by the people who have come before us, the people who gather with us today, and the future we imagine together. It is a story about what we value, how we care for one another, what we are willing to stand for, and the kind of community we want to become.

As we look toward the next chapter of First Unitarian Church of Omaha, we have been asking ourselves some important questions:

Who are we? Who do we want to be? And what do we want our community—and our world—to look like because we are here?

The Board of Directors developed the church’s mission and vision through a collaborative, member-informed process. The Board reviewed feedback from previous cottage meetings and the ministers’ five-year review to identify the needs, priorities, and aspirations expressed by church members. The Board then participated in a workshop to further explore and narrow these themes. Each Board member drafted potential mission and vision statements drawing on this collective feedback, the workshop, and their own experiences as church members. The proposed statements were then presented to the Board and selected through a confidential secret ballot.

Our Mission

Rooted in love. Courageous in Action. Building a more just and compassionate world.

Our mission is intentionally simple.

Rooted in love reminds us where we begin. Love is not simply something we feel; it is a spiritual practice. It calls us toward connection, compassion, belonging, spiritual growth, and the recognition of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. 

Courageous in Action reminds us that our values call us to do something. We are not simply a community that talks about justice, compassion, and inclusion. We seek to live those values—in our relationships with one another, in our congregation, and in the wider community.

And building a more just and compassionate world reminds us that our work extends beyond our walls. We gather to nurture ourselves and one another, but we also gather because the world needs communities willing to imagine—and work toward—a better future.

Our Vision

Our mission tells us what we are here to do. Our vision describes the kind of community we hope to become.

We are a beloved community grounded in love, where all people are welcomed, valued, and inspired to live with purpose. We strive to be a courageous and compassionate congregation—deepening connection, nurturing spiritual growth, and standing boldly for justice. Together, we seek to transform ourselves and our world, building a future where equity, dignity, and love guide all that we do.

There is a lot in those words.

We envision a congregation where people experience genuine belonging—where people are not merely invited into the room, but welcomed, valued, and known.

We envision a community where spiritual growth takes many forms and where our traditions provide both roots and room to grow.

We envision a congregation that is courageous and compassionate—one that can hold complexity, engage difficult conversations, and respond to conflict not by avoiding it, but by using the spiritual practices and relationships that help us move through it together.

And we envision a community that understands justice as something we practice, not simply something we believe in.

Imagine First Unitarian in 2036

Now imagine that it is 2036.

First Unitarian is a thriving, multicultural community, steadily growing in both spiritual depth and number of participants.

People listen to one another across generations and other differences. They work collaboratively to understand and meet the needs of the community. When conflict arises, we face it directly, drawing upon the spiritual practice of our Right Relations Covenant, open communication, and adaptive leadership.

Trust is high.

The Board of Trustees understands and embraces its role as deliberate fiduciaries and champions of our shared vision. Staff and the Program Team coordinate day-to-day operations with clarity and purpose. Lay leaders are deeply engaged, and our growing staff provides the support needed to sustain and expand our ministries.

Learning, caring, worship, belonging, justice, and stewardship are not the work of a small number of people. They belong to all of us.

Worship is a delightful blend of treasured traditions and new inspiration—sometimes familiar, sometimes surprising, and always inviting us to connect meaningfully with one another and with the deeper questions of life.

Our community has grown enough that we have added a second worship service, whether on Sunday or as a weeknight vespers. More people are finding a spiritual home at First Unitarian, while long-time members continue to shape and enrich the community.

Our beautiful building is cared for as a resource for our mission—a place where people can gather, learn, worship, create community, and do the work of justice. Decisions about the building are guided by inclusion, functionality, and sustainability.

This is not a vision of perfection.

It is a vision of a living community—one that continues to learn, adapt, grow, repair, celebrate, and become.

The Future Is Something We Build Together

A mission and vision are not magic words. They do not create change simply because we print them on a website or put them on a wall.

They become meaningful when they shape what we do.

Every time we welcome someone who has been looking for a spiritual home, we are living our mission.

Every time we listen deeply to someone whose experience differs from our own, we are living our vision.

Every time we practice Right Relations, repair a relationship, navigate conflict with courage, or make room for another perspective, we are building the beloved community we envision.

Every time we learn together, care for one another, worship together, engage in justice work, or offer our time and resources to sustain this community, we are creating the future.

The First Unitarian of 2036 will not be created by a single leader, a board, a staff team, or a strategic plan.

It will be created by all of us.

Our new mission gives us a compass.

Our vision gives us a direction.

And our 2036 story gives us something to imagine together.

So let us be rooted in love.

Let us be courageous in action.

And let us keep building—together—a more just, compassionate, equitable, and loving world.

Warmly,

Jessie

Dr. Jessica Stallings, ATR-BC, LIMHP, LPC, LMHC