In a non-credal faith like ours, evangelism cannot be founded on convincing someone that we have the truth and the way. However, in a profound sense, evangelism for Unitarian Universalists has everything to do with salvation. A religious community is a place that can save us from the crushing banality of consumerism, instrumental relationships, superficiality, alienation and isolation. Our communities are a place where we can connect with our true selves, with each other, with our communities, with our sense of the sacred. Evangelism is, then, a religious orientation based on an eagerness to share something precious, to share our good news.
Evangelism goes to the core of a church's culture and identity.
A church without energy and enthusiasm cannot become evangelistic by doing some public relations, a bit of advertising, doing a better job greeting visitors and adding programs. All of these can help. The beginning of a transition to a culture of evangelism, a culture of reaching out and sharing, is for our members to touch again the source of their connection to their faith. When each of us can answer why we are Unitarian Universalists and why being a member of our church and what we love about our congregation, then we are on the way to being evangelists. We can't help it.