Linda Coolsen, Board Member
The Power of Listening Circles at UUCCH
Good morning, everyone! I’m Linda Coolsen, a white haired woman of a certain age wearing black rimmed glasses, a blue floral blouse and a salty attitude. I’m a member of the UUCCH Board of Trustees and today I’d like to explore a practice that is both simple yet profoundly powerful: Listening Circles within the Unitarian Universalist community and specifically here at UUCCH. You may remember that we have held them several times over the last few years and many of you have participated.
At last week’s Governance Forum, our Board president spoke of he Annual Vision of Ministry goals which were based on what we heard from you during Board meetings and what we heard during last January’s Open Question listening circles. We were able to build this year’s Annual Vision of Ministry goals because of the invaluable feedback you supplied using the Listening Circle format.
In UUCCH listening circles, participants are invited to reflect on their feelings, struggles and hopes. Often, themes of personal growth, the future of the church, and ways to expand and best serve our community are explored. Because UU values emphasize acceptance of one another and encouragement to grow, these circles embody our covenant to grow together while always keeping love at the center.
One key aspect that makes listening circles so powerful is that they honor the diverse experiences of each person. In these spaces, there is no hierarchy of voices—every participant is equally important, and each voice is heard with reverence. This practice of equality mirrors our commitment to democratic processes and respect for all.
Through listening circles, we deepen our connections—not just with each other, but with ourselves. As we speak and feel truly listened to, we begin to find clarity about our own feelings, insights and wishes. Similarly, when we listen deeply to others, we may recognize shared humanity in stories that differ from our own.
Listening circles can help foster healing, empathy, and trust. They provide an opportunity to practice inclusivity and to live out our faith in a way that transforms relationships and strengthens the bonds within our congregation. As we embrace the practice of listening, we cultivate the community that UUCCH strives to build—a community grounded in respect, compassion, and love.
I’d like to invite you to participate in this very inclusive, very valuable activity which I sincerely hope you will find as rewarding and satisfying as I, a member of the Board and a Listening Circle facilitator since their creation at UUCCH by Reverend Margret, find so incredibly valuable in reaping insight into what is going on in the hearts and minds of our beloved community.
Our next Listening Circles will be coming this winter both in person and on Zoom.
Let us remember that by creating space for each voice to be heard, we not only support one another, but we also affirm the intrinsic worth of every individual.
Thank you.