Organizations, like all systems, seek equilibrium. If a congregation is thrown out of balance by the prospect of change, most members will seek to restore order and sameness. This is natural and should not be a reason to judge one another. Healthy organizations have developed the ability to be receptive to change and resistance--to lean into the disruption to their equilibrium. This is where a congregation becomes a community of learning.

A brief overview of how Governance and Ministry partner to serve the mission of the congregation. (Based on Dan Hotchkiss's Governance and Ministry, 2nd Edition.)...

Video, based on the book Taking Your Church to the Next Level: What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Gary L. McIntosh

Surveys that work best come out of an understanding that the job of leadership is not to “make people happy” but to help the congregation live out its mission.  Surveys that are useless at best and divisive at worst typically seek to honor personal preferences about various areas of congregational life (including the minister).

What are our promises to each other, to our fellow congregants, to any Unitarian Universalist in the world? How do we show up for each other?...

Every Unitarian Universalist Congregation is designed differently. How each congregation functions is a blend of congregational experience, culture, and history. Congregational structures are also affected by whether and which other congregations members have attended or been a part of before. W

Creates a shared vision of the church, an effective mission statement and dynamic mission-centered goals to implement the mission. Develops and affirms a clear identity and purpose with a strong sense of mission. Mission(s) used as a compass in decision-making. Members can identify the...

In this model, the heart is your core values & mission, the arrow is your aspirations or vision, and holding them in relationship is intentional values or covenant. Accidental values act as a counterweight to our aspirations.

We often claim that budgets are moral documents, and that congregational budgets should reflect our values. But line item budgets that include "office supplies, utilities, salary" and other such descriptions don't show how these line items serve the mission of the congregation. How might...

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....

A tale of two villages, one who decided to change with the times as needed, and the other, which held on to old ways in spite of them no longer working.

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.

Moving from receiving to giving back to your community can be a rewarding experience of growth and deepening.

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 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.