Theme-Based Ministry
Theme-based ministry, sometimes called theme-based church, helps create multigenerational connections as people of all ages explore common themes in age-appropriate ways. Theme-based ministry extends faith development beyond Sunday morning. Families can continue the conversation in the car ride home or over the dinner table; small groups that meet during the week can go deeper with the theme.
If your congregation longs to:
- Offer worship experiences with depth
- Ensure a balance of theological and religious learning
- Better integrate spiritually connected programming across the lifespan
- Weave a central thread throughout all church programming
- Build a cohesive theological understanding
- Find common language and common symbols
- Embrace a practical theology you use in everyday life
- Meet the very real challenge of today’s busy families and intermittent church attendance
- Give focus to your music and arts staff
...then theme-based ministry may be for you!
This model can be used with any sized congregation. We’ve seen it work in congregations with a worship attendance of 35 and in congregations with a worshipping community of 900+ with a full complement of theme programs taking place throughout the week.
Theme-based ministry is happening in more and more congregations throughout our movement as a powerfully engaging way of focusing the life of a congregation on monthly themes through worship, religious education, small groups and other activities.
Access a list of the themes tagged in the UUA’s Tapestry of Faith programs and Worship Web:
- Worship Web is searchable by theme as well as by component (such as chalice lighting or prayer) or by occasion (such as Animal Blessing or Easter)
- Tapestry of Faith programs are searchable by theme as well as age group (such as children or youth) or resource type (such as story or activity).
Learn More About Theme-Based Ministry
For more information contact themebasedministry@uua.org.
