What could possibly go wrong? A look at UUs and Stewardship presented by Bill Clontz of Stewardship for Us. Dawning Future, November 2015...

Being in right relationship with people who have disabilities is more than etiquette. It requires that we treat others fairly; that we ensure that everyone has the same opportunities, resources, and rewards....

Do you find yourself discouraged by all the complaining in your congregation, including your own criticisms? Do certain individuals and issues keep howling louder and louder for attention, drowning out hope for the healthy congregations and relationships? Come join each other as we see how we can...

Are we having fun yet? Surprisingly, many UU congregations aren't. The stress of church work, interpersonal conflict, and lack of resources, to name a few, result in congregational members worrying more and enjoying less. Based on the Shawn Achor book, The Happiness Advantage, this session will...

Marcel Proust wrote, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." In order for congregations to truly see how friendly and hospitable they are, it is helpful to learn from others. This session will provide the nuts and bolts for setting up your own...

Greeting visitors and members at the doors of our congregations is more than saying hello and collecting information. This session will explore the art of greeting and will offer a blueprint for setting up your own greeter training program and monitoring its effectiveness. 2013...

Why Dying and Rebirth are Essential Components of Growth Congregations that aspire to be vital, strong and growing follow a constant cycle of birth, aging, death, renewal and rebirth. This session will look at several theories around the life cycles of congregations and will suggest the critical...

Fun and Effective Team Building Activities for Your Board, Committees, and Congregation Synergy is what happens when a group of people accomplish something that one or two or a few alone could not. Where there is teamwork, there is synergy....

How can our relationships with earning, spending, investing, and giving be spiritually healthy and grounded in our deepest values? How would our congregations and communities benefit from spiritually healthy money conversations?...

In marriage we have vows and in congregations we have behavioral covenants. Without intention and agreements on how to process disagreements and conflicts, vows and covenants can end up meaningless, or even harmful. In other words, we need to agree on how to fight, for fight we will. In this...

Webinar presented by Rev. Richard Gilbert, president of UU Retired Ministers and Partners. 2015...

The challenges that Membership Professionals face require that one react both with their head and with their heart....

Five Ways of Growing Your Congregation. Mark Bernstein discusses five ways of growing strong, vital and lasting Unitarian Universalist congregations. 2012 Additional Resources Five Types of Growth (doc)...

The most common symptom of this dreaded “disease” is focusing on only one aspect of the membership experience, i.e., visitors and newcomers. But there is a whole lifecycle of the membership experience that calls for creative and effective engagement by the membership committee. Those involved in...

Rev. Sue Phillips Dawning Future, November 2015...

Presentation by Kenny Wiley & Rev. Barbara Gadon Dawning Future, November 2015...

Rev. Renee Ruchotzke talks about UU Leadership Institute and where the idea for that came from. Dawning Future November 2015...

Rev. Meg Riley, senior minister of the Church of the Larger Fellowship From Dawning Future, November 2015...

Thematic Ministry Presentation From Dawning Future, 2015 Presented by the staff team of the Washington Ethical Society - Rev. Amanda Poppie, Robyn Kravtiz, Melissa Sinclair and Bailey Whiteman...

What Holds UUism Down and Prevents Us From Rising? Introduction to morning presentations from Dawning Future 2015 Rev. Tom Schade of "the lively tradition"...

Worship service from Dawning Future, November 2015 Presented by the Washington Ethical Society Staff Team.

Theme-based ministry is happening in more and more congregations throughout the Unitarian Universalist movement. Theme based ministry, sometimes called theme based church, helps create multigenerational connections, as people of all ages explore common themes in age-appropriate ways....

This workshop was presented at Cedar Lane Church in September 2014 and focuses on what is Theme Based Church, how it is different from Theme Based Worship and how you can move your congregation to Theme Based Church as well.

The Worship Backpack - This video is a recording of a workshop presented at the Leadership Day for the Metro NY District, 2013. The theme of the day was: Wonderful Ways to Worship: Leading Your Congregation from the Edge of Awe.

This webinar will talk about the importance of finding time for renewal and de-stressing and offer tips on how to delegate as well as strategies for making your own spiritual care a priority. 2015...

We'll look at ways that your classroom practices, curriculum choices and worship can affirm UU Identity in children and youth. We'll tap into the power of Tapestry of Faith as a tool for building and growing a sense of connection with our Unitarian Universalist history, principles and way of living.

This webinar will introduce you to resources to prepare and respond to a variety of situations that put your community at risk. We’ll touch on how to open up a non-anxious dialogue within the congregation, the role of the board in creating clear policies, and how to effectively prepare and train...

We'll revisit this important topic with the latest information and resources for insuring the physical, emotional and sexual safety of our children, youth, and adults. A process for creating a safe congregation policy will be touched on, including new language to address disaster and trauma...

This workshop will introduce the characteristics of a “spiritually strong” congregation. We will explore how faith development for all ages is a key factor in bold living, and we’ll consider the value of healthy leadership and a strong mission in living out a bold vision. 2015...

Come learn about a replicable model for creating local-based, weeklong justice experiences for the youth in your congregation. This model draws on interests and leadership of your youth and partnering them with local organizations creating more justice in your town or city. With Rev. Lane Campbell.

Topics we will touch on include: the spiritual needs of children, creating rituals at home, how Unitarian Universalism fits into identity development, and how parents can prepare themselves for the role as primary religious educator. 2013...

When a family faces a challenge, their congregation may be one of the first places they turn for support, consolation or affirmation....

Every RE program should provide annual training and guidance for their volunteer staff before heading back to the classroom in the fall. We'll look at sample agendas, suggested content, and ways to make important event fun and engaging day for all. 2014...

Creating a vital religious education program is most successful when a healthy balance exists between staff and lay leaders. This video offers guidance and resources on building healthy relationships, communication, shared leadership, shared responsibility, and working in covenant. 2013...

Topics we will touch on include: a short introduction to faith development, models for adult faith development, 10 building blocks, and creating a plan. 2013...

Finding the right volunteer for the job and providing ongoing training so that they feel competent and confident is an important piece of the recruitment puzzle. We'll look at some strategies and tips for recruiting and equipping a 21st century volunteer. (2014)...

Congregations with multi player staff teams must work intentionally to create strong, collegial partnerships. We’ll talk about covenant, collegiality, creative tension, and conflict – all forces that can be leveraged to build better staff relationships. (2015)...

We’ll look at the challenges of working through change of all types in your program, from introducing new curriculum to adding a second service. The role of staff and leaders in change management will be examined and strategies for lowering anxiety will be introduced. (2015)...

Serving on a congregational board can be both rewarding and stressful. Some stress is natural, but certain kinds of stress can lead to burn-out.

Leaders must learn to model how to de-center the culture of the congregation from White identity and culture.

There is virtually nothing that you can do in your congregation that is more exciting or enlivening as serving as a lay leader. Moving from receiving to giving back to your community can be a rewarding experience of growth and deepening. Accompanying Workshop (PDF) (2 hours)...

A wide assortment of tools and methods can enhance a meeting’s productivity and enjoyment. (Yes, most meetings can be fun!) Below are a few suggestions. ...

Learn about some common difficult meeting behaviors and a few strategies to cope with them.

Learn about how to prevent destructive conflict in meetings by nurturing a culture that promotes respectful communication and creative interchange.

First, be sure you have prepared well for the meeting. Setting up the Space Plan to have one or two people arrive early to prepare for the meeting. Their duties should include the following: Chairs should be set up in a way that is comfortable....

Planning well in advance enables leaders to relax and be more present at the actual event, in addition to creating a comfortable environment for participants. The following are nine key areas to consider in preparing meetings. Discern Who Needs to Be Part of the Planning and Carrying out of the...

If meetings are to be truly meaningful and transformational, it is crucial to involve participants fully.  Read eleven ways to maximize participation.

The practice of congregational polity dictates that the business of our congregations take place at congregational meetings. Learn how to hold an annual meeting and how to hear reports, elect new positions and approve the annual budget.

Learn more about the some of the basic components and concepts pertaining to meetings, together with the definitions of these terms.

Meetings are a central activity in the life of any congregation, and in large measure the successes and failures of a congregation hinge upon the effectiveness of these meetings. As religious liberals, we meet because we are committed to the democratic process and want to draw out the diverse insights, experiences, and values from members and friends in our midst.