Posted by Annette Marquis on April 10, 2008
Nancy Proctor, from the UU Congregation of the Outer Banks in Kitty Hawk, NC, and chair of the TJD Growth and Development Council, recently compiled this information about small congregation growth. And although it focuses on small congregation growth, most of the information is applicable to congregations of any size.
This is probably the best place to start if you want to see what the latest research shows as to why churches grow.
FACTs on Growth
This is an article about small congregations and growth:
A Saving Remnant: Vitality in Small Congregations
This is a very large pdf file but has lots of good information on growing members on the UUA website:
The Membership Journey
To learn more about your community:
If there is a Episcopal Church in your zipcode go to:
Studying Your Congregation and Community
If there is a Nazarene Church in your area go to:
Neighborhood Demographics Reports
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Posted by Annette Marquis on March 10, 2008
I believe that it is the role of our congregations to, first, help new people connect with members of the congregation, secondly, to help them understand Unitarian Universalism and deepen and clarify their faith, and thirdly, to help them put their faith into action by serving the world. If you see this as your mission with new members of your congregation, I would recommend that you become intentional about how you bring people into this incredible faith. Having a plan for what happens after someone joins your congregation can result in developing a life-long UU, rather than one that burns out and leaves us after two or three years. Whether you are from an emerging congregation or a well-developed one, I encourage you to develop a program that moves people through the steps of connecting, deepening, and serving. The following three programs make a great way for new members to spend their first year in your congregation:
Evensong- this eight-week small group ministry program designed to help congregation members make lasting connections with one another. It includes Weekly worship services designed for groups of 10 to 20. Each service includes singing, readings and discussion. Participants in this program are invited to share thoughts, experiences, doubts and religious beliefs. Evensong is a wonderful way for members to get to know each other at a deeper level and to help them clarify their beliefs.
A Chosen Faith by former UUA President, the Reverend John Buehrens, the minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, the Reverend Forrester Church. Use the online discussion guide to delve deeper into what Unitarian Universalism is all about.
Weaving the Fabric of Diversity - this eight-week course delves into the hallmark of Unitarian Universalism social justice work with an exploration of embracing diversity: racism, heterosexism, ableism, classism and ageism.
(Thanks to The Reverend Susan Smith, District Executive in the Southwestern Conference for these wonderful suggestions)
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Posted by Annette Marquis on February 14, 2008
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