3. Finding Your Center: Spiritual Grounding as Leaders

UU chalice

Serving on a congregational board can be a transformative experience, especially if you are grounded in your faith in Unitarian Universalism and its potential to share its message of love and grace in the world (or however you might articulate the mission of liberal religion in your context).
Here you will find some resources to find your own center and grounding while serving on your board.

Download the Syllabus (PDF) to keep track of your progress!

Covenant is Foundational to Unitarian Universalism

Covenant is the silk that joins Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, communities, and individuals together in a web of interconnection. The practice of promising to walk together is the precious core of our creedless faith. “Covenant” is both a noun and a verb. It can be a written agreement among individual community members promising to behave in certain ways, and it can mean to engage in mutual promises with Spirit, with other people and communities.

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Shared Ministry

Being in covenant together is a lot like a dance. There is give and take. Occasionally you step on someone else’s feet or they step on yours. Some of the steps may be familiar, even habitual, but other steps might feel awkward at first. But when you are able to step into the flow of give and take, of awareness and adjustment, the dance of ministry becomes fluid and organic.

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Lay Leadership as a Spiritual Practice

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.

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Practicing Intercultural Agility

In order for a congregation to reflect the global majority in its membership, its leaders must learn to model how to de-center the culture of the congregation from White identity and culture. Here are some practices to get you started.

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Self-Care

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. It's important for board to develop a culture that supports board members in their work as well as in their own growth and development.

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Serving with Grace

By Erik Walker Wikstrom

From Skinner House Books

Discover how to experience congregational work as an integrated element in a fully rounded spiritual life.

Buy This Book