Displaying 341 – 360 of 489
This list includes every page or product with this tag from UUA.org, UU World magazine, or inSpirit books & gifts.
Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately. Searching by keyword requires use of the "Search" button.
-
Many of our congregations are wondering what our home congregation might look like in a changing context. So today, we’re going to use a different part of our brain.By Tandi Rogers | April 21, 2013 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
Unitarian Universalists tend to use a lot of words when we attempt to explain our religious beliefs and values. We have a complicated faith that does not fit into typical questions about religion from outsiders. This makes sense at a national level. We have a big tent that makes room for a lot of...By Renee Ruchotzke | April 9, 2013 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Communication, Membership Growth & Outreach, Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
Is it possible to imagine that an armed intruder could show up on Sunday morning at one of our congregations, inflamed about our inclusiveness or a particular justice stance we’ve taken in the community, and proceed to do us harm? It happened in 2008 at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist...By Donald E. Skinner | April 8, 2013 (reviewed May 2025) | From InterConnectionsTagged as: Conflict Management in Congregations, Congregational Administration, Facilities Management, Governance for Congregations, Safe Congregations, Staffing & SupervisionPage/Article
-
A fundraising campaign that began in 1993 at the First Unitarian Society of Wilmington, DE, now the First Unitarian Church, was supposed to be all about raising money for a new building project. But along the way the campaign came to be about more than just First Unitarian....By Donald E. Skinner | April 1, 2013 | From InterConnectionsTagged as: Finance for Congregations, Governance for Congregations, Membership Growth & OutreachPage/Article
-
Congregations who care about growth keep detailed tracking records and look for long-term trends.By Renee Ruchotzke | March 26, 2013 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Covenant, Governance for Congregations, Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
It is, of course, every congregation’s desire to have most of its members actively engaged in personal growth, in deepening their spiritual development and working to improve the larger community and the world. There’s a lot of all of that going on at First Unitarian Church in Dallas, which has...By Donald E. Skinner | March 1, 2013 | From InterConnectionsTagged as: Congregational Administration, Covenant Groups & Small Group Ministry, Governance for Congregations, High School-Aged Youth Faith Development, Membership Growth & Outreach, Professional Development for Religious Educators, Young Adult Faith Development (ages 18-35)Page/Article
-
I have a love-hate relationship with meetings. Some of my best experiences have been when I was in a room with engaged, creative people doing important work or solving a difficult challenge. Some of my worst experiences have been when I was in a room where people talked at--or over--each...By Renee Ruchotzke | February 26, 2013 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Effective MeetingsPage/Article -
Very few things that a congregation does affect it as greatly, or are as important, as the choice of a minister. Wonderful ministerial-congregational matches provide new life and purpose to an institution and help lead both parties well into the future....February 7, 2013Tagged as: Bylaws & Policies, Governance for CongregationsPage/Article
-
Some congregations have only one category of membership, whereas other congregations maintain several categories of membership (for example, voting, associate, student, and inactive). If you decide to have more than one category, you must clearly spell out the requirements, rights, and...February 7, 2013Tagged as: Bylaws & Policies, Governance for CongregationsPage/Article
-
Congregations who have no provision in the bylaws for removing members often get bogged down with lists of names of people who are no longer interested, no longer in the vicinity, no longer known by anyone in the congregation, or no longer alive. It is helpful to include a provision in the bylaws...February 7, 2013Tagged as: Bylaws & Policies, Governance for CongregationsPage/Article
-
If the crux of Unitarian Universalism were reduced to a few points in space and time, they would be those potent moments just before and just after we keep a promise, or we break it. All that is exceptional about being human and becoming whole is crystallized in these decisive microseconds.By Douglas Zelinski, New England Region of the UUA | January 29, 2013 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Covenant, Diversity & Inclusion, UU IdentityPage/Article -
Your mission is what is hanging on the wall, Your system is what is happening down the hall....By Renee Ruchotzke | January 22, 2013 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Change & Conflict, Communication, Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
A dedication ceremony provides a finish line for the congregation to cross, a time to say “well done” and “we’re done.”By Donald E. Skinner | January 1, 2013 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Congregational Administration, Facilities Management, Governance for CongregationsPage/Article -
This video discusses the various policies and procedures congregations need to consider when creating and managing a website.Video | By Beth Casebolt | November 4, 2012 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Bylaws & Policies, WebsitesPage/Article -
As congregations prepare for a new church year, newly elected officers will be taking up responsibilities on governing boards. Here are ten tips to help that work go smoothly, courtesy of the Rev. Ian Evison, Congregational Services director for the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Central...By Donald E. Skinner | August 1, 2012 | From InterConnectionsTagged as: Congregational Administration, Governance for Congregations, Leadership DevelopmentPage/Article
-
A good mission—articulated gracefully and served faithfully--can help the members of your congregation feel like they are part of something epic.By Renee Ruchotzke | July 30, 2012 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Membership Growth & Outreach, Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
What is the role of lay leaders in a mission-focused congregation? What is the role of the minister? The Rev. Brent Smith has experience and success leading mission-focused congregations. In this post he shares some of his insights. The distinction between lay and clergy roles is a key element in...By Brent A Smith | July 9, 2012 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
Having a clearly articulated mission statement helps to guide a congregation’s leaders in deciding where to put their energy and resources. But often such statements are put together by a committee and can be a bit….(I hate to say it)…wordy. Last year I visited Western Michigan, where the rest...By Renee Ruchotzke | June 18, 2012 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Communication, Membership Growth & Outreach, Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
How many of our congregations offer programming that isn't working, or has only a very small group of the "usual suspects" participating?By Renee Ruchotzke | June 5, 2012 | From LeaderLabTagged as: Adult Faith Development, Membership Growth & Outreach, Mission/Vision/PlanningPage/Article -
When the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta created a new volunteer/community building program called http://www.uuca.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/March_Newsletter_WEB-201… in Service, organizers wanted a way to promote it and inspire friends and members to participate. That’s how...By Donald E. Skinner | May 10, 2012 | From InterConnectionsTagged as: Communication, Governance for Congregations, Membership Growth & Outreach, Membership in Congregations, UU HistoryPage/Article