Here & Now Outcomes: Fractals & Networks

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3 Missional Perspectives

Deepening Belonging
Deepening Belonging

Through our process we sought to clarify what is the experience of belonging within our congregation. You can explore some of the themes related to belonging we found in our interviews at the bottom of this document.

Through this interviews, and the foundational work of Peter Block’s book Community: The Structure of Belonging, we distinguished a few key aspects of belonging.

What are the keys to deepening belonging?

I become embedded in intentional and committed relationships

There is a role for me to play (Invitational)

There is a place for me to be (Unconditional)

I become fluent in the communities culture

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Short Video explaining the diagram below

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Interview Learnings: Belonging

Summaries of interview content related to belonging, categorized by theme.

Being Real and Meaningful Relationships

Being known to and in a group for who the person is, being accepted as one is authentically themselves, with artifaces stripped away by time and intentional practice (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.29)

Values creating diverse community, connection especially in person, but now in other ways (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.30)

Having close, more intimate connections with others. Having the opportunity to connect in deeper ways -- maybe more one-on-one vs group connections, but some small groups do offer this.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.22)

Being part of a group in which people can be truly authentic, support, do soul work, and call her back from too deep of introspection  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.30)

Meaningful friendships is belonging (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.23)

Personal Commitment: Belonging is a Choice & Action

Belonging means hanging around, even in hard times (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.8)

Belonging is mutual commitment, best felt when doing things together. H (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.23)

Strong opinion that belonging is a choice (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.30)

Belonging means being active (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.8)

Belonging is Contextual

Connection to earth and commitment to her acre of land where she has lived for 40+ years fosters a sense of belonging, which was strengthened in the pandemic as father and stepmother died due to covid in April and she honored by establishing a garden in their memory (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.30)

Feels very much a part of neighborhood, Foothills, and her work. Belonging means being entrenched in a group.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.30)

There is a Comfort Being On Common Ground

Knowing there are others around you who share your values, political views. Especially when you live somewhere where you feel like you feel different from everyone else. (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.3)

Sharing a common purpose and connection. Knowing that she adds value to someone else’s life and they add value to hers (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.2)

Church is my community/the container where I belong. It provides a place where I can experience a range of emotions and offers a place with a variety of experiences.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.2)

Diverse Pathways towards Belonging

Doesn’t attend Sunday morning services often due to baggage from previous church experiences (likes them when she does attend though). Although very involved in other parts of church life, this impacts how she sees her level of engagement (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.2)

Mores isolated during Covid, misses dinners with friends. Connects with podcasts from Foothills (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.3)

Base camp helped me feel connected. I almost want to do Base Camp again. (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.8)

She acknowledges having cycles of being more or less active with the church.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.22)

She feels committed to the life of the church, but became much less active as she got older (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.10)

They still donate because they believe Foothills is fulfilling its mission. Grateful for the 11:00 service which they watch on TV.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.19)

Lifestage Impacts How We Belong

[Name] was enthusiastically involved with Foothills before COVID. That has changed both with COVID and as a first time mom. The relationships she started to develop at Foothills pre-COVID have continued to be a source of connection and support as she’s reached out to deepen those relationships. Though it’s been harder to be involved with Foothills,  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.16)

Worship Creates An Experiences of Communal Belonging

She has a sense of belonging at FUC. “At my first service, I felt that this is where I belonged.” “I resonate with the energy, conversation, atmosphere, and teachings [at FUC].” (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.22)

“I loved being at Foothills before, and now (post-COVID) I love it times 27!” “I’m closer to the church now than I was before, and in many ways it feels more intimate, Breakout groups are an opportunity to get to know people I wouldn’t otherwise.” (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.23)

Services (zoom or in person) “comfort” her. Feels we are all in this together.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.23)

The church is woven into the everyday fabric of our lives (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.24)

Serving and Purpose Cultivate Belonging (Clarity in how to be ‘part’, experience of making an impact)

I experience belonging when I am doing something (vs thinking), ie working on a project with others. (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.22)

Mary washes the tablecloths for the church and has for many years; this brought her to the church building 1-2 times per week. (BTW no one is thanking her for this, since Kathryn departed)  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.10)

Being a part of the food bank team as been a huge asset to belonging as well. Having so many people willing to spend their time to not only share food, but in such a compassionate and meaningful way.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.23)

Feels more connected to Foothills in her role as leader in immigrant community than as an individual. Although people have reached out to her, time has not allowed many relationships.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.23)

There are Many Barriers to Belonging

Didn’t Reach Back

Expressed interest in Caring Team on church connect card, but no one reached out to her, that didn’t feel good  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.2)

Does find the church to have “in groups” and she feels on the outside. (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.23)

COVID Specific Barriers

Generalized Sense of Disconnection

His connections to the church are primarily through the choir and the Food Bank, and he feels that has been a “waiting game” during covid. He feels committed to the church and they have fulfilled their pledge, but he says the church does not seem real to him in the current situation.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.9)

Belonging feels different because of isolation, more important, less satisfying  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.8)

Have been less involved since Covid. Is troubled that he feels less connected since covid and thinks he may need to work harder at being connected. (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.9)

Challenge of Lack of Physical Presence

I experience a sense of connection during live services when I am surrounded by others - I get the vague sense that we all are part of a larger “whole”. That does not happen on Zoom (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.22)

Longing for the Familiar

Because physical space and ritual is so important, [she] has is gravitating toward online services with her church in Indiana during the pandemic because they are recording familiar elements in the sanctuary, or great room,, giving a greater sense of belonging that online experience separated from that space.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.30)

Foothills Isn’t Where I Am

She is not on Facebook and finds that they is where there are a lot of reminders and community building. Additionally, he finds the lack of tech support for people has been really exclusive and isolating.  (Aggregated Data by Affinity Group, p.24)