If we thought of our congregations as a community of communities, rather than a family, we can shift our self understanding in way that is more inclusive and expansive.

Coming of Age Conversations from Threshold Project panels, writings, and more

When your congregation is developing or revisiting "guiding documents" for leaders that are endorsed by the congregation as a whole (e.g. mission, vision, covenant, bylaws, strategic plan), you will want to have an effective and inclusive process that makes space for creative ideas to emerge.

For congregations that own a parsonage, consider the possibilities as well as implications for structuring a ministerial agreement.

In this seven-part series, participants are introduced to Spiritual Leadership and its five practices: Covenanting, Tending Our Tradition, Doing Our Inner Work, Centering in Gifts, and Faithful Risking. The series centers on questions faithful people are asking: "How can we more actively imagine,...

How do UU communities respond to the growing threats of fascism in all of its forms, find our center, and develop responses grounded in our shared values?

Our spiritual communities are at their best when we support one another. In order to support young adults with mental health issues well, we need to fight the stigma, watch for signs, reach out proactively, and maintain healthy boundaries....

This “next level” training for boards goes into its roles as fiduciary agents, spiritual leaders, strategic thinkers, and change agents.

A few weeks ago, I joined Joe, Meck, and our Region’s Spiritual Leadership for Culture Change Community of Practice (join anytime!) for a conversation on Tending Our Tradition through Reparations. We were looking at how this practice of Spiritual Leadership invites us to bring forward the gifts...

Ministry is a complex profession with a lot of regular duties that are not always apparent. Here is short summary of what parish ministers do.

The seventh in our Skill Up series was a BIPOC panel with Rev. Marisol Caballero, Ayanna Kafi, and Mackenzie MacDade in June 2023. The webinar explored the intersectionality of being BIPOC and neurodivergent. Both of these identities require navigating systems that were not meant for them....

It’s that time of the year again, when new leadership joins congregational boards. Summer is a time of transformation for some congregational leaders. I often receive questions around this time on how to hold a board retreat. Last year, Pat Infante and I held a webinar on holding a board retreat.

Treating zoom participants equitably and caringly in multiplatform worship is an expression of love and justice that can transform the community. Includes discussion questions for a self-led workshop.

[This post is a follow up to "When We Wonder Together" (Practice Makes Possible - March 7, 2023)] In March, the theme for the bi-monthly gathering for our community of practice Spiritual Leadership for Culture Change (SL4CC) was "Discernment for Faithful Risking." We distinguished discernment fro...

As UU congregations are increasingly being targeted by right-wing hate, all of our congregations should be prepared to respond to threats with skill and courage while also remaining grounded in our values.

Pledging trends show that the most efficient methods in stewardship are rarely the most effective.

On top of managing the “logistics” of a staff member’s departure, you will need to manage the emotional component. Congregants may have a whole range of feelings and reactions. It’s important to acknowledge all feelings.

Boards may find that delegating part of their fiduciary work to committees (e.g. safety, finance, personnel) and/or task forces helps to free them up for more strategic work.

Personnel Committees don't hire, manage or supervise staff. Instead they advise the board and the senior minister on best practices.

Policies and procedures are a way of telling future boards “this is our best thinking and guidance on this subject.”