UUA Membership Statistics And Artificial Intelligence - What's The Connection?

How about this Google AI Overview that resulted from a Google search for - UUA membership statistics - I ran minutes ago?

Please note that Unitarian Universalist membership has been in steady decline since 2008 when Rev. Dr. Peter "Beyond Belief" Morales was elected as UUA President on a platform that promised to not only significantly (if not dramatically) increase membership in UUA congregations, but to transform Unitarian*Universalism from "a tiny, declining, fringe religion" into "The Religion For Our Time".

Please also note that "Racial diversity aka Minority membership has also declined from 11% in 2008 to between 6-9% in 2024, according to surveys."

Unitarian*Universalism in North America has been predominantly white for decades, to say nothing of some centuries, but U*Uism is whiter than ever before, and U*Us really need to ask themselves why it is that there are fewer "people of color" attending U*U "churches" than ever before, despite the UUA implementing "anti-racism" programs for over a decade now? 

What went wrong? 

Why and how did the UUA's "anti-racism" policies and programs not only result in fewer "racialized" people of colour choosing to join UUA congregations, but even drove many existing "racialized" U*Us away from U*Uism?  

 

As of late 2024 and early 2025, the

Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) reports a decline in membership, with a 16% drop over the past decade, reaching historic lows in recent years. The number of congregations and church school enrollees have also fallen, though a recent survey indicates combined in-person and online attendance increased from 88% to 93% from 2018 to 2023 due to the growth of online options. 

 

Recent trends

• Membership decline: Since 2008, there has been a decline in certified membership.
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• Congregational numbers: The number of congregations has also fallen to a historic low in recent years.
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• Racial diversity: Minority membership has fallen from 11% in 2008 to between 6-9% in 2024, according to surveys.
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• Attendance: While in-person attendance has declined, total combined in-person and online attendance grew from 88% to 93% between 2018 and 2023, indicating a successful pivot to online options.
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• Ministerial concerns: Since 2020, 7% of UU parish ministers have seriously doubted their calling, and 18% have often considered leaving parish ministry. 

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Historical context

• Peak membership: The UUA's membership peaked at over 177,000 in 1968 before a steady decline until 1982.
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• Membership growth: Membership grew throughout the 1980s and 1990s, exceeding 164,000 in 2009.
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• Decline since 2009: Since 2009, membership has declined, but remained in the 150,000 range for most of the 2010s.