Your congregation is a complex, living system of relationships and structures that needs the tending by its leaders to thrive. This curated group of resources (formatted as downloadable "books") will help you understand, shape, and grow your faith community.
Congregations Naturally Grow and Contract
Congregations, like any living systems, have a natural life cycle. Many of the patterns of growth and decline are organic, dependent on the resources of time, energy, creativity, and material resources readily available. Sometimes we can shape that cycle with focused energy and creativity. Sometimes the cycle has run its course, and we need to let it go, with love and care.
Each stage is also an opportunity – from emerging, to incorporation and membership, to thriving, to struggling, to renewal, or to decline and possibly dissolution -- to deepen our connections within Unitarian Universalism; to live into our covenantal relationship as an association of congregations.
Congregational Life Cycles Resources for Emerging, Renewing, and Declining Congregations
Tips, tools, and spiritual grounding for each stage of congregational life, from emerging, to membership, to thriving, to renewal, or to decline and possibly dissolution.
Congregations Need Clear Structure and Direction
It's important for the leadership in a congregation to have clear lines of communication and authority, a clear direction based on shared values, and structures to keep the congregation safe and solvent.
The Congregational Handbook
How to Develop a Healthy and Vital Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Congregations Need Outreach Strategies
It's important for the leadership in a congregation to have clear lines of communication and authority, a clear direction based on shared values, and structures to keep the congregation safe and solvent.
Outreach & Marketing: Communicate Who You Are
Outreach and marketing is communication that makes it easier for people to find us, and to have a pretty good idea of what they will find when they visit.
Congregations Need Membership Growth Strategies
People need community more than ever, and UU congregations can offer meaningful and deep relationships. Being clear and intentional about your path to membership will lead to sustained growth.
Membership and Belonging A Guide to Membership in UU Congregations
Membership in UU Congregations is an intentional process of commitment and covenant. This guide provides practices and tools useful in training membership teams and/or professionals.
Congregations Need Leaders Who Think In Systems
Today's Leaders need to develop "big picture" thinking, so that they can see not just the parts of their congregations but the relationships between the parts and the people.
Core Leadership Trainings
Effective Leadership Development teams focus on recruiting and relationship building. By using our suite of four leadership development trainings, you can spend less time on content and more on connection. All of our courses have discussion questions that you can use for in-person sessions.