[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.” 

Bylaws guide the congregation’s board in governing by articulating board structure and key fiduciary committees and processes for key decision-making.

One of the most important keys to congregational health and vitality--along with a clear purpose--is a cohesive leadership team.

A summary and commentary of the UU congregational results of the Faith Communitities Today (FACT) 2023 survey that was conducted this past February-April. 

Among the things that has kept regional staff busy lately is conducting transition interviews. When a settled ministry ends, we meet with the departing minister to get their responses to a set of questions designed by the Transitions Office. We also meet with the board and ask them the same...

Recordings of workshops on Dream Team Ministry and Productivity to Possibility.

Recordings of workshops on Ministers Considering Part-Time Models and Ministerial Experiences with Part-Time Models.

Recordings of workshops on Employment Matters and Ministerial Search for Part-Time Ministries.

Both in-reach and outreach are important in our congregations, but we need to find the right balance between the two.

In the wake of such great change internally and externally, we must ask ourselves, “What is the Church to be and do in this time?” Come, let us gather in community as we reflect on this question, speak honestly of our journey, and faithfully imagine a future to come.

In March of 2023 we were joined by Mackenzie McDade who shared her experience of ADHD as a person and Religious Educator. This presentation will highlighted the assumptions that people make about ADHD and how those assumptions prevent us from providing meaningful lifelong ministry to those with...

Zoom bombers have returned to our spaces and it's time to update our tips for dealing with them in light of software updates and new tactics.

Rev. Erica Baron invites us to think about the words as the map to the covenant, and the covenant is the landscape. The covenant is always there and is beyond words.