Choosing a Name

Current members of our congregation are working together to come up with a new name for our church that speaks to our identity today. 

We have developed and affirmed a procedure, you can read all about it HERE. Having completed Step I: Organizing, this is Step II: Gathering. Step II will end on December 24, 2018. Step III: Voting begins on Sunday, January 6.

Thank you to all the members who submitted 50 ideas for our naming! You can see all the names and ideas suggested below.

Suggested Names for Our Congregation

Amado

Member: Marlene Martin

Name: UU Amado

Says who we are and where we are
Member: Loretta Carmickle

Name: Amado UU Church

I wish there were some way to keep "Amado" (Beloved) in our name. We are quite generally known now as the Amado UU Church.​
Member: Deanna Brooks

Name: Amado Territory UU

​Says where we are - use of Territory fits the large sign at the entrance and gives a bit of SW flavor + history to our space.
UU is always part of it though would spell it out in newspaper ads.
Member: Juliana Sandahl


Name: UU Church of Amado Territory

​Like the name, but UU needs to be first in the name.

Borderlands

Member: Patricia Fletcher

Name: Arizona Borderlands Unitarian Universalist in Amado

Our geographic proximity and long history with cross-border activities makes it logical. A geographic identity means we are easier to find and a place newcomers want to find and associate with.
Member: Nancy Murphy

Name: Borderlands UU 

Blends our location with our dedication to social justice
Member: Barbara Lemmon

Name: Borderlands UU in Amado

​It places us where we are in Amado but also at an important location of borders - which are national, local, natural and personal. 

We endeavor to reach across all of those borders to recognize our oneness.
Member: Juliana Sandahl

Name: UU Church of Arizona Borderlands in Amado
 
​Like the name but UU needs to be first in the name.

Desert Chalice

Member: Ann Rangos

Name: Desert Chalice

​The chalice is important to us. When people visit they see what our chalice is about in our services. It is a symbol about us.
Member: Judy Harmer

Name: Desert Chalice UU Church

​The Chalice is our UU symbol, and we are in the Sonoran desert. I feel strongly that we are a CHURCH, not a congregation wandering from bank rooms to GVR facility and not having a real home. We have a home, we ARE a church.
Member: Corrine Bartell

Name: Desert Chalice

They will be aware of the chalice signifying the UU church and the desert is so important to Arizona.
Member: Diane Farone

Name: Desert Chalice Congregation

​Desert suggests our physical context, as well as having some sacred meaning (40 days in the desert; sacred to some Native American traditions) for those to whom that matters. Chalice is an important UU symbol and one that means you are safe and welcome here. It would convey to UU's that this is a UU congregation.

​Congregation conveys that we are a community, something more than a lecture hall, while at the same time avoiding the use of the word church, which is problematic for some. For those, like me, who want to experience us as a church, congregation may come close enough.
Member: Juliana Sandahl

Name: UU Desert Chalice Congregation

Like the name but UU needs to be first in the name.

Green Valley

Member: Marilyn Taylor

Name: UU Congregation of Green Valley

​​UU is important for any visitors and some people would like to keep the old name but haven't listed it - we should have a chance to vote on it.
Member: Larry Parker

Name: Green Valley UU Fellowship

​​​1. We are more of a 'Fellowship' than a 'church'
2. Our primary source of growth will be visitors and residents of Green Valley. It is important that they see we are one of the many Green Valley 'churches'. Using other 'nice' sounding terms like 'Chalice', 'Santa Cruz', 'Valley' etc. makes it a little harder for those looking for a local UU type of fellowship to understand what it really is.
3. I think we have, unfortunately, learned that our appeal to the wider population outside of GV is rather limited. Yes, we certainly want to be open to all, and hope to attract anyone from anywhere, but the fact is that most of our growth will come from GV. 
4. Now a-days 'UU' is pretty well understood to stand for 'Unitarian Universalist', and is much easier to say/write.

Santa Cruz

Member: Joanna Brunso

Name: Santa Cruz Valley Congregation of Unitarian Universalists

​It is inclusive of the many neighborhoods in this region, including Green Valley where this congregation began.

Congregation represents the people rather than a building.

In the town where I live in the summer the UU Congregation had to use the name First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Seattle, a congregation in Seattle which was abandoned years ago. So the name here has become the First UU Congregation of Seattle doing business as the Salt Water UU Congregation. This church shares a boundary with Salt Water State Park, hence the name.
Member: Deanna Brooks

Name: Santa Cruz Valley UU (Unitarian Universalist Congregation)

We should focus on our location and the larger community we serve. Santa Cruz Valley covers Tucson to the Border.
Member: Juliana Sandahl

Name: Unitarian Universalist Church of the Santa Cruz Valley

From my experience in naming our church in Oregon, it was a mistake not to have Unitarian Universalists as the first two words in the name. It was difficult for people to locate us in a directory. When new people arrive in a community, they look for their church of choice by the denomination first.

Otherwise, I like all the other names --- but Unitarian Universalist should be the first two words for very practical reasons.
Member: Loretta Carmickle

Name: Santa Cruz Valley Unitarian Universalist Church

It is inclusive of the entire region. 

I think people in general understand the word "church" more than they do "congregation." 
Member: Sandra Rees

Name: Santa Cruz River Valley Unitarian Universalist Church

​I very much like Loretta's suggestion but I have added River to my suggestion to acknowledge that it is the River itself that created the valley which made subsistence possible for peoples and animals as early as 11,000 BC. It is a culturally and spiritually rich historic, and diverse area. (Like the present day church in Amado)
Today people from all over the world come to visit the historic sites, hike and bird watch and to lean more about the first peoples of the area. The Santa Cruz River Valley encompasses Tucson south along the I19 Corridor to the Mexican Border. For much more information on the Santa Cruz River Valley please check out the Southern Arizona Guide on line.
Member: Marilyn Taylor

Name: Santa Cruz UU

​This says here we are as well as who we are. Name needs to be concise for ads.

Santa Rita

Member: Mary Lou James

Name: Santa Rita Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation

​We already have the Santa Rita Choral singers that people may be familiar with. Also, it marks and expands the area that we serve better than talking about Green Valley when we are in Amado.
Member: Sonia Collins

Name: Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Cruz Valley, Arizona

​It includes a large area without focusing on a specific community. I added Arizona to the name because it sounds more intriguing to someone considering moving to a warmer climate.
​
Member: Martha House

Name: UU Santa Cruz Valley Congregation

I think it represents our intent to be inclusive of the entire valley area. I am partial to having UU first as that is our primary work & identity - Unitarian Universalists who live the principals & values of UU. I also prefer Congregation because many of our members (present & perspective) may be humanists, atheists, Buddhists, etc who do not identify with the word “church” or may even find it off-putting.
Member: Ken Lopez

Name: Unitarian Universalist Santa Rita Congregation

​The name identifies who we are and the area we represent. A name that people look up to every day. A name that signifies permanence in our lives.​
​
Member: Judy Harmer

Name: Santa Cruz Valley UU Church

​We are an inclusive church and welcome people - not just from Green Valley. Our name should include the whole valley - Nogales to Sahuarita to Arivaca to Patagonia.
​
​

Valley

Member: Sally Nagel

Name: UU of the Valleys

​UU first in our name because that’s what visitors/new residents look for in location aids (I.e. phone listings, internet).

Valleys because our congregants live in two valleys-Santa Cruz and Altar. A church that celebrates the earth and all its inhabitants.
Member: Jean Brooks

Name: UU Church of the Valley of Miracles

​Just like the name - it's different
Member: Beth Dingman

Name: River Valley of UU Church

Not sure
Member: Ann Penton

Name: Valley Spirit UU

It hints at setting and mindset, is short and simple. It reflects what could be Green Valley or Santa Cruz Valley or "valley" in general alongside the Santa Ritas. It suggests that we have "spirit"--are spiritual, caring, involved people.
Member: Dana Topping

Name: River Valley Unitarian Universalist Church

Building on - or perhaps unbuilding - on suggestions of Santa Cruz Valley and Santa Cruz River Valley. It's easier to say and read; includes our location and how the valley came to be. Fits with name type of other UUs in SoAZ - Mountain Vista, Sierra Vista.

Other Suggestions

Member: Paul Taylor

Name: Nature's Gift of Life

This name serves as an invitation to visit/join this bold UU church to discover the reach of its religious philosophy. In particular, visitors may be envious of our positions on a number of basic growth-based moral issues.

Some of the following questions could invite visitors of the inquiring mind type. Questions:
1) What range of responses are used to address Nature's Gift of Life?
2) Does this church propose to develop a science of religion?
3) Does the church entertain any supernatural qualities?
4) Is this church membership basically secular humanists?
5) Does this church speak of God?
6) Does this church feel that Nature has been the steward of out existence?
7) Does the church consider that beliefs are properly derived from shared experiences?
8) Will this church ever enter into the political arena?
9) Are our Principles open for discussion and evidenced modifications?
Member: CON NADEAU

Name: (See below, please)

I'd prefer a name that says something about what we stand for, our values, mission, rather than our location. But I can't come up with something I really like other than by using the word chalice or covenant. Thought I'd say this here in case that prompts any new names from others in this short time left.
Member: Karen Kluge

Name: Elephant Head Unitarian Universalists

One of the things I appreciate every time I come to church is the fabulous view of Elephant Head as I exit the interstate and drive towards our building. People in the area know Elephant Head; those not familiar with the landmark may be intrigued by the name. A drawing of the formation would make a nice logo.
Member: Karen Kluge

Name: House of Peace UU

Describes our community as a place of refuge from the violence of this world, and names us as a peaceful people. As an added bonus, this name comes with a hymn already written just for us -- #1054 in the teal hymnal "Let This Be a House of Peace"
Member: Ann Rangos

Name: Sonoran UU Congregation 

​We live in this beautiful desert called Sonoran.
Member: Jim Lund

Name: Uno Terra Uno Genta 

​One Earth One People

We keep UU in the title, Use Spanish to honor our place and use earth and people as to the two things we honor as holy.
Member: Ernie Lopez

Name: Baja AZ UU Fellowship

It signifies our Mexican influence and purpose (unity)​
Member: Loretta Carmickle

Name: Covenant Community Church - Unitarian Universalist

​Covenant is important to us and community applies to us as a congregation as well as to the larger community.
Member: Terry Rosenmeier

Name: Oasis Unitarian Universalist

It is a welcoming name.

It references our desert location.

It suggests a place where spiritual seekers can refresh their souls.

It suggests a place of sanctuary.
Member: Karen Kluge

Name: Beloved Community UU

The name says we treasure our community. The association with Martin Luther King, Jr speaks to our social justice/racial equality focus.
Member: Dana Topping

Name: Open Door Unitarian Universalist Church

Suggests our inclusive values and welcoming nature.
Member: Judy Harmer

Name: Mesquite UU Church

​The mesquites surround our property + are iconic to Southern Arizona