First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

What First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington does

First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, MA is a nonprofit Unitarian Universalist congregation first gathered in 1678 as the First Parish of West Cambridge. The congregation allied with the American Unitarian Association in 1829 and adopted its current name in 1962 following the Universalist Church in Arlington's merger with First Parish. It operates under congregational polity, with members retaining authority over bylaws, mission, and the calling of clergy, and is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association. The legal entity, "First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, MA," is headquartered at 630 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, MA. A Settled Minister Search Committee elected at the May 2025 Annual Meeting is preparing to call a new settled minister to begin in Fall 2027; the congregation is currently in a UUA-structured interim period with Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong serving as Interim Lead Minister since August 2025.

Name

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington

Legal name

First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, MA

Website

https://firstparish.info

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington, MA is a nonprofit liberal religious congregation founded in 1678, serving individuals and families through weekly in-person and Zoom worship, religious education for all ages, social justice programs, music, pastoral care, and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Religious education
• Spiritual community
• Social justice programs
• Community gatherings

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Pledges and Contributions: Nearly 70% of church support comes from member contributions including annual pledges. The congregation runs a Stewardship campaign (Pledge for Tomorrow) for the fiscal year July 2026 – June 2027. Pledges are made through Realm online system or pledge cards at Sunday services.
2. Facility Rentals: Revenue from renting church spaces including Sanctuary ($135-145/hour), Vestry ($110-120/hour), Parlor ($85-95/hour), Bailey Room ($50-60/hour), meeting rooms ($30-40/hour), and kitchen ($30-40 additional). Damage/cleaning deposits of $100-200 required. Discounts available for nonprofits sponsored by First Parish and personal use by pledging members.
3. Donations and Special Appeals: Additional giving including 'Giving First' monthly charitable giving to external organizations, planned giving, and securities donations. Text-to-give option available via 'fpuu offering' to 73256.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington is a religious congregation that provides weekly Unitarian Universalist worship services, religious education for children, youth, and adults, social justice and outreach programs, and pastoral/community care for its members. It also offers facility rentals and community-wide events as part of its engagement with the broader Arlington, Massachusetts area.

Product overview

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington is a liberal religious congregation offering a comprehensive set of programs and services centered on worship, religious education, community building, and social justice. The church provides Sunday worship services (both in-person and online via Zoom), Religious Education programs for children and youth, STAR Adult Education including spiritual practices like Lectio Divina and meditation, music programs, and social justice initiatives. Additional services include facility rentals, community gatherings, and digital communications through the weekly eBulletin and monthly Spire newsletter. The church is in an interim period following the retirement of its previous settled minister, with three full-time ordained ministers providing pastoral care and programmatic leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekly Worship Services Sunday worship services held in-person at the church and livestreamed online via Zoom, open to members and the broader community.
• Religious Education Program Structured religious education classes for children, youth, and adults that explore Unitarian Universalist beliefs, ethics, and community values.
• Welcoming Congregation Programming Programs and affirming practices supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion and broader welcome, sustained through the congregation's Welcoming Congregation designation.
• Green Sanctuary Environmental Program Environmental stewardship and sustainability programming within the UUA Green Sanctuary accreditation framework, supporting creation-care education and action.
• Social Justice and Outreach Partnerships Coordinated outreach and partnership programs with community organizations such as the UU Urban Ministry and other local nonprofits serving those in need.
• Facility Rentals Rental of the church's meeting and event spaces to outside groups and individuals for community events, with inquiries handled by the church office.
• Pastoral Care Services Pastoral care and supportive ministry provided to congregation members during life events, times of need, and spiritual reflection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 70% of church budget funded through member pledges, demonstrating strong financial commitment from congregation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, which provides denominational support, ministerial credentialing, and programmatic resources. The UUA framework guides the congregation's interim ministry process and settled minister search. First Parish participates in UUA initiatives including the Welcoming Congregations program and Green Sanctuary certification.
• UUA Welcoming Congregations ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish is a certified 'Welcoming Congregation' through the UUA's program, demonstrating commitment to providing a warm and open environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
• UUA Green Sanctuary ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish is certified as a Green Sanctuary by the Unitarian Universalist Association, demonstrating commitment to environmental policies and sustainability.
• Ferry Beach RetreatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFerry Beach Retreat in Saco, Maine is a UU-affiliated camp and conference center where First Parish holds annual retreats (Ferry Beach Weekend). Next scheduled: September 25-27, 2026.
• UU Urban MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish is associated with the UU Urban Ministry and participates in their programs including the Roxbury Art and Music Saturday cultural events.
• MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority)minorOthersPublic transit access via MBTA bus routes connecting Arlington center to Red Line at Alewife station. Sunday service accessible via Route 77 bus from Harvard or Porter Square.
• Robbins Library (Arlington)minorOthersTown library adjacent to First Parish. Church parking available in library lot on Sunday mornings and when library is closed. Accessible entrance next to library.
• Rowe Camp and Conference CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUU camp in Rowe, MA. Several staff members (Rev. Stevie Carmody, Bella Jaffe) have connections through attendance and staff roles. First Parish youth and adults participate in programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arlington Street Church: A large urban Unitarian Universalist congregation in downtown Boston with progressive theology, strong music program, and active social justice engagement — closely aligned with First Parish's value proposition and target member profile.
• First Unitarian Church of Belmont: Adjacent suburban UU congregation serving a similar Greater Boston demographic with comparable programming mix. Located just over the Arlington/Cambridge line and competes for the same local member pool.
• First Unitarian Society in Newton: A nearby suburban UU congregation in West Newton with similar progressive programming, strong religious education for children and youth, and an active social justice ministry serving a comparable Greater Boston demographic.
• Judson Memorial Church: A historic progressive Protestant congregation in Greenwich Village, NYC, known for social justice activism, arts programming, and inclusive theology. Comparable in progressive values orientation and community-based programming despite different denominational lineage.
• First Church in Boston: Historic Boston UU congregation with deep New England roots, professional music program, and progressive social justice programming. Comparable institutional heritage (centuries-old) and similar congregational polity model.
• First Parish Cambridge: A historic Unitarian Universalist congregation in neighboring Cambridge, MA with comparable progressive programming, hybrid worship, and similar congregation size and budget profile. The most directly comparable peer in the same metropolitan area.
• Mt. Auburn Church (Watertown): A Watertown, MA UU congregation with progressive social justice focus, adult education programs, and similar congregation scale — directly comparable in programmatic scope and metropolitan positioning.

Broad incumbents

• The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA): The national UU denomination that provides ministerial credentialing, programmatic resources, and certification programs (Welcoming Congregation, Green Sanctuary) that First Parish participates in. The umbrella body but not a direct competitor for members.
• The Riverside Church (New York City): A large progressive Protestant (interdenominational, UCC- and AMA-affiliated) congregation in NYC with a strong social justice ministry, music program, and Welcoming Congregation-style inclusion commitments. Comparable in mission and programming but much larger and denominational peer rather than direct UU competitor.

Regional players

• First Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester: A UU congregation in Worcester, MA serving a similar New England progressive religious community but in a different metropolitan market. Comparable in programming and theology but not in direct competition for the same local members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2ZAxV75bsnz8O_v4n52D3Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstParishArlington
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-parish-unitarian-universalist-church-of-arlington

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington