As part of exploring all that our Unitarian movement has to offer, I joined the Millennial Meetup group via Zoom on a Wednesday evening. A regular listening circle of young(er) Unitarians (a ‘Millennial’ is anyone born between 1981-1996), the group takes a different theme for discussion each month. To quote Gavin Howell, the UK Unitarian Safeguarding Officer and Youth Coordinator):

“It’s a bit of an experiment really… It came about when a group of us had a conversation along the lines of, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we had a space for those of millennial age (roughly those born between 1980 and 1996) to meet and explore spiritual life together?’

So, for about a year, a group of us have been doing just that. We’ve been playing with formats and seeing what works well for us. It’s still a work in progress but we’re quite pleased with what we’ve achieved. We’re just letting it evolve and take shape organically. There’s a nice little community emerging. You’d be more than welcome to join us. If it’s your thing, simply read the stimulus for the discussion and turn up with an open heart and mind.”

It’s a self-led group, where members have agreed to follow this session structure:

1. Introductions and check-in
2. Introduction of the theme or stimulus for discussion
3. First round of (optional) sharing – ‘The view from my window’
   • Question – How does the theme speak to you?
4. Pause point
5. Second round of (optional) sharing –
   • Question – What, if anything, has emerged for you after hearing the perspective of others?
6. Pause point
7. Final thoughts and check-out
8. Confirm date of next meetup!

Millennial Meetups are based on the Chalice Circle model, which provides good enough structure for those taking part to share their various perspectives well. Here’s a video about this approach (3 minutes long):

Chalice Circles are inspired by the ‘Panikkar’s Window’ metaphor – here’s a video if you’d like to find out more (3 minutes long):

The overall experience is quite similar to our ‘Discover and Discuss’ services at Newcastle. For November’s Millennial Meetup, we had ‘Comparison’ as our theme, and six of us shared our thoughts on it, inspired by the excerpt (see below) and beginning with a very funny poem by the great Ogden Nash, ‘So That’s Who I Remind Me Of‘.

Thoughts included; is comparison a good thing? It’s an instinctive thing. Does it demoralise us by making us think ‘there’s always someone better’, or does it encourage us to be inspired by the achievements of others? Would do better never to compare, and to seek only inner fulfilment? Or, as in Ogden Nash’s poem, does comparison just amuse us by reminding us that even the greatest of human beings have foibles and imperfections? It was a fascinating and rewarding discussion, and many thanks to all who attended. If you’re curious, email Gavin Howell for more information: g.howell@unitarian.org.uk