Growing Your Congregation's Membership
There are many ways to describe congregational growth. An enduring means is the four types of growth devised by Ted Buckle and popularized by Loren Mead in his book More Than Numbers: the Way Churches Grow. These types of growth are: numerical (the number of people attending worship and programs, or number of members), maturational (growth in the spiritual maturity of each member), organic (a congregation's ability to maintain its health and to engage with the world), and incarnational (making real and living our values in the world).
Relevant resources on the topic of growth for congregations are grouped here by congregational size and by specific topic. What works will differ in congregations according to varying sizes of membership and attendance. Please refer to the "top picks" pages for small (1-150 adult members), midsize (151-549 adult members), and large (550 or more adult members) congregations. Also please see the resources on specific growth-related topics, below. You may wish to pursue the page on your congregation's size and also a resource on a topic, such as adding a new worship service or on websites and new media, depending upon your current needs.
Please contact me at growthresources @ uua.org if you would like to discuss these or if you would like to know more.
Congregational Growth Overview
- Congregational Growth in Unitarian Universalism (PDF, 23 pages)
A brief and general treatment of the subject of Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregational growth.
- Growth Resources List for Small Congregations (PDF, 23 pages)
An extensive list for smaller congregations (1-150 adult members) organized by subtopics.
- Growth Resources List for Midsize Congregations (PDF, 25 pages)
An extensive list for smaller midsize congregations (151-549 adult members) organized by subtopics.
- Growth in Larger Midsize and Large Congregations
Resources for those in large (550 or more adult members) and larger midsize congregations (351-549 adult members).
- Size Transitions in UU Congregations (PDF, 7 pages)
Topics and Resources Related to Congregational Growth
- Adding Worship Services (PDF, 49 pages): A How-To Manual
- Breakthrough Congregations
- The Congregational Handbook
- Congregational Life Dynamics and Conflict Management: An Application of Family Systems Theory:
- Demographic Research and Information
- Effective Congregational Committees (PDF, 36 pages)
- Facilitating Fruitful Retreats (PDF, 6 pages)
- Faith Communities Today
- Governance for UU Congregations (PDF, 19 pages)
- InterConnections newsletter and archive
- Leap of Faith: Congregations Learning Together
- Marketing and Public Relations (PDF, 121 pages)
- Meetings That Work (PDF, 38 pages)
- New media for congregations: Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and podcasts
- The Membership Journey (PDF, 52 pages)
- Religious Education Programming
RE programming can be a growth strategy for congregations.
- Social Justice for Congregations
Justice work can be a growth strategy.
- Vision, Mission, and Covenant (PDF, 97 pages): Creating a Future Together
- Websites for Congregations
- Your Congregation's Bylaws: A Guide to Effective Writing and Revising
- Your Congregation's Facilities (PDF, 4 pages)
For more information contact conglife @ uua.org.
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Last updated on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.
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