Supporting New Models of Doing Church: A Vision Statement of the UUA’s Multisite Support Team

Core Assumptions

Impact and covenant are enhanced by interdependence. Our Unitarian Universalist (UU) belief in the power of interdependence has not influenced our models of church as fully as it can. Multiple congregations sharing programing, vision and staff is a needed tool as Unitarian Universalism prepares for the increasingly challenging economics of “doing church.” More importantly, multisite networks allow us to embody our commitment to covenantal connection and our theology of interdependence more deeply.

The rise of multi-site networks challenges us to rethink all of our systems. A thriving network of multisite congregations requires us to enhance how we prepare, settle and support professional staff. Thus our seminaries, settlement system, fellowshipping process and continuing education programming will need to change in significant and coordinated ways.

Many models and paths are needed…as well as humility. Effective multisite relationships take into account the unique “DNA” of the congregations involved as well as their unique contexts and cultures. Models of existing multisites provide insights; they are not meant to be imitated. Multisite is a broadly applicable strategy, but the form of each multisite needs to be carefully chosen on the basis of deep local knowledge. Multisite can work in a wide variety of settings and with all sizes of congregations. At the same time, multisite is not right for every congregation. Successful support of multisite efforts requires that we articulate not only when a multisite strategy can work well but also when one would recommend against using it.

The best wisdom is yet to be found. Again, models of existing multisites provide insights; they are not meant to be imitated. Our best insights emerge as various partnerships share their learnings with each other. Believing that grace and wisdom arise from creative interchange, we strive to facilitate an exchange of ideas rather than the promotion of particular programs.

Guiding Vision

Multisites can take various forms: satellite campuses, existing congregations “yoking” together, mergers, networked congregations keeping their own budgets and boards but sharing staff and programming, larger and smaller congregations partnering, numerous smaller partnering, virtual church, etc. Multisites can begin with simply sharing a couple of staff members or some programming for efficiency sake, and they can progress to being leaders of our movement striving to deepen the architecture of our interdependence with the goal of sharing “congregational DNA.” Some can even seek to become “one church in many locations.” They can see those they serve, not just as the members already in the pews, but as the entire region in which they live.

If you’re interested in partnering in this way, talk to you Congregational Life regional staff to get connected and started.