My partner and I joined Wildflower after about 6 months of visiting. We had just moved to Austin a couple of years ago and wanted to get involved with a spiritual fellowship--not connected to specific dogma, though--in order to put down some roots here and find friends. Everyone was extremely welcoming and friendly, but never pushy or greedy for new members. It has been very laid-back and warm each step of the way.
They recently got a new minister as well as a ministerial intern, about six months ago. They are fantastic and have very complementary styles. There is a lot of discussion of faith traditions from around the world; discussion of Unitarian Christian heritage at times; and many, many events for intellectual, spiritual, and social growth.
One of my favorite things about Wildflower is its emphasis on progressivism and social justice. There are teams of activists that work on climate, LGBT+, racial justice, interfaith, and local Austin issues that affect the most vulnerable. I personally have gotten involved in intra-church anti-racist work as well as some communications service with the church. There is also a Refugee Welcoming Team that I am a part of through Wildflower and Texas Refugee Services.
I do not have children, but UU churches are known for their excellent children's religious education. Rather than drilling in a specific set of beliefs, the children's RE classes foster the children's own inquiry and budding spiritual growth. There are a lot of service projects and thoughtful activities that go way beyond coloring pages (how about progressive sex education for the 5th/6th grade group??).
I highly recommend this Unitarian Universalist community for anyone looking for a real family feel that touches your heart, mind, and social self without any pushiness or manipulation. read more