Rev. Anne Odin Heller, Pacific Northwest District Executive, began her workshop on congregational self-help by pointing out that her district was the northernmost, westernmost and easternmost district in all of North America – easternmost because it crosses the international dateline! Many of the congregations served by the PNWD are so isolated from each other that members have great difficulty attending conferences and meetings. How to get information out to these far-flung folks was her impetus for writing Churchworks.
Rev. Heller very cleverly uses the metaphor of the body to refer to the many aspects of congregational life. Her chapters are titled "Brain," "Breath and Spirit," "Circulatory System," "Ears," "Eyes," "Feet," "Hands," "Heart," "Liver," "Reproductive System," "Skeleton," "Skin, Hair and Nails," and "Stomach." Just as each organ of the human body must function smoothly to maintain overall health, these church "organs" must also function smoothly to create a "well-body church."
After Rev. Heller explained the premise of the metaphor, the audience responded to her request for topics of concern, and the rest of the workshop was spent addressing individual congregational concerns. Frequently mentioned challenges centered around the "Liver" (toxicity and conflict within church life), the "Eye" (vision, mission and covenant statements), and the "Circulatory System" (the health and numbers of red blood cell members infusing oxygen, and white blood cell members as keepers of church values). Other popular topics were the "Skeleton" (organizational structures of the church) and the "Ears" (communication among church members, and whether it is inclusive or exclusive).
Rev. Heller stressed the role of district executives in providing assistance when one or more church organs are experiencing disease or distress. "Your UUA District Executives work for you and your congregations," she emphasized, and she urged us to utilize their expertise and caring concern for the health of the congregations under their watchful eye. She also noted that all royalties from the sale of the book are funneled into a PNWD fund for grants to congregations within the district. The book is available through the UUA Bookstore.
