Congregational Connections
Congregations can provide an amazing level of support for your campus ministry. The key is to prioritize what you need from them in order to build a successful campus ministry program. Here are some ideas:Official recognition from the Board of Trustees
- Funding and a budgetary line-item in the congregational budget
- Creation of a Board recognized Campus Ministry Committee
- Questions for Campus Ministry Allies (Board of Trustees, Youth Advisors, Youth, Young Adults)
- Are we, as Unitarian Universalists (UU), willing to invest the energy and effort actively to invite and retain today's college students in our liberal religious community? Why?
Questions for Church Members
- Do you have a small group of lay leaders who understand why campus ministry is an asset to the church and can articulate this in public?
- Is there support from the Board of Trustees?
- What do the minister(s) think?
- Will or is the membership supportive in general of campus ministry?
- How far is the central campus to the church?
- How many students attend church services or other programs?
[From InterConnections: For Lay Leaders of UU Congregations]
To Attract Young Adults Try Treating Them as Equals
The voice of experience belongs to Deirdre Shaw when it comes to attracting young adults to UU congregations. Three times in ten years she tried to form a Young Adult group in her own congregation. Twice she failed. But the third time she succeeded and now on any given Sunday five to fifteen young adults attend services at the UU Church of Amherst, Williamsville, NY (280 members), and the group's frequent social events attract upwards of twenty people.
The secret? Food, fun and opportunities for intimate worship with other young people. The group has potlucks, movie and game nights, and a monthly Friday night vespers-type service.
"Visibility is also important," says Shaw, a life-long member of her congregation. When young adult visitors enter the Amherst church on Sunday morning, the greeters automatically hand them over to Shaw, who, at age thirty-three happens to be board chair while still in the 18-35 young adult age group. Her advice: Make sure that visitors know there are other young adults in the congregation. "The Sunday service may be what attracted them," she says, "but they stay because they see other young people like themselves, helping with the service or serving on committees." "Visibility is very important," says Shaw. "Young adult visitors want to see faces that look like theirs – people they can network with."
Young adults are in short supply at many UU congregations. Busy starting careers and families, religion is often not a priority. "When they do come, it's important to connect with them quickly," says Rev. Donna DiSciullo, director of the Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA) Young Adult/Campus Ministry office. It's important for a congregation to have not only a Sunday service they can relate to, but also a young adult group for socializing.
DiSciullo notes that young adults often prefer a style of worship that's more intimate and participatory than many UU services. To find out what they like, ask them. Also consider organizing a separate, informal service, perhaps on Friday nights, geared for young adults but open to anyone.
Shaw credited Amherst's co ministers, Revs. Carl and Maureen Quinlan Thitchener, with making the young adult group work. "They come to about half our events and even dress up silly for Halloween," she said. "They've said it gives them a way to get to know people who might otherwise just be lurking around the edges."
For Michele Begley, member of the Ubiquitous UUs young adult group at UU Church of Boulder, CO (153), "Having a peer group my own age has kept me involved in the church. It makes me feel more at home to be with people who mirror my experiences." She is on the nominating committee, was chair of the caring committee, and recently helped prepare a Sunday service about generations.
Meg Muckenhoupt, with the young adult group at First Parish, Cambridge, MA (200), cautioned that young adults shouldn't be treated as babysitters nor as a source of strong backs. If you ask them to move tables before a party, make sure you've also asked them to help plan the party. And don't single out one person as the Designated Young Adult, to be on every committee, and then ignore the rest.
Muckenhoupt suggested that older UUs get to know younger members as a first step in making sure they're included in congregational life. She said: "Ask yourself how many individuals you know between the ages of eighteen and thirty who are not your children's friends or your subordinates at work, but who are your equals?"
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
