CER Large Congregation Resources

large congregation worshiping

Congregational life in a large congregation typically includes high level worship experiences as well as a broad range of programming and faith development opportunities, under the leadership of multiple ministers and a well trained professional staff. Facilities are often sought after by outside groups and the buildings seem to hum with excitement throughout the week. The complexity of staffing, administrative management and governance in larger congregations means that many of the common “best practices” are less applicable and a different level of coaching and support is necessary.

In addition to an assigned Primary Contact, the Central East Region has assembled a “Large Congregation Team” comprised of individuals with particular training and experience in working with larger congregation systems. In partnership with your Primary Contact, team members offer coaching and networking services to connect larger congregations with experts within the association and beyond.

The CER Large Congregation Team

  • Rev. David Pyle (Governance, Staffing, Administration)
  • Patricia Hall Infante (Faith Development, Safe Congregations, Stewardship)
  • Rev. Joan van Becelaere (Vision, Justice Ministry, Systems)

Resources

About the Authors

Patricia Infante

Patricia Hall Infante is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist who grew up in a large New York City congregation. Her first career as a contract negotiator was put on hold while she took the job of full-time mother to two wonderful boys (an investment that continues to pay dividends)....

David Pyle

The Rev. David Pyle is the Regional Lead and a Congregational Life Consultant with the MidAmerica Regional Staff. Rev. Pyle holds a Masters of Divinity from the Meadville Lombard Theological School and a Bachelors of Arts in History and Political Science from East Tennessee State University. He...

Joan Van Becelaere

Rev. Joan Van Becelaere is the Executive Director of UU Justice Ohio. She served as a Congregational Life Consultant for the Central East Region from 2007-2018. Previously, Rev. Van Becelaere was Vice President for Student Services at Iliff Theological School in Denver, CO where she also taught...

For more information contact .

Patricia Hall Infante

Patricia Infante

pyle

Rev. David Pyle

Rev. Joan Van Becelaere

Rev. Joan Van Becelaere

Large Congregations

Large Church Resources Stefan Jonasson, our previous Director for Large Congregations, assembled the below list of resources based on the calls and emails he received from leaders in large and midsize congregations seeking insights or information about the challenges faced by congregations of the...

Large Congregations