Website as Front Door

When there's a news event involving Unitarian Universalism in your community, the news media will probably go first to your congregation's website. Make sure there's something there that clearly and concisely explains our religion and that you wouldn't be embarrassed to see in print, cautions Debbie Weiner, UUA electronic communication director.

Thus, your website is not the place for UU jokes or for airing controversies.

Free Online Subscriptions To InterConnections

InterConnections is mailed only to board members and professional staff of our congregations, but other leaders are eligible to receive the online version. Here's how simple it is to take advantage of this:

Anyone who is not receiving the newsletter is invited to sign up to get a short e-mail every time a new issue of the newsletter is ready. The e-mail will contain a headline description of the feature articles and a link to click that will pop the new issue right up on their computer screens.

To subscribe, go to http://lists.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/InterConnections-L.

Your Website Can Put Church Visitors at Ease

A congregation's website should provide information for people who are looking for a religious home, says Gila Jones, a member of the UUA's Electronic Communications Committee. It should answer the questions that prospective visitors ask before coming to a worship service, as well as those they may not be bold enough to ask in person.

Probably the most common concern of visitors is what they should wear to worship services, says Jones. If business attire is appropriate, say so. If shorts and sandals are okay, tell people that. People with children often ask questions about child care and religious education.

Other important information:

• The general format and time of services.
• Address, map, phone, e-mail address. Names and titles of staff and the website designer.
• Information about your congregation's involvement in the community, including social justice work.
• A link to the UUA website, http://www.uua.org, as well as one to your district's website.
• If you have a church logo or symbol, that's an ideal item for the website. Post your mission statement if you have one.

An article in the January issue of InterConnections incorrectly stated that the Wayside Community Pulpit is still available by subscription. These large-print quotations on posters, suitable for insertion in display frames outside of church buildings, are now sold by the series through the UUA Bookstore. Series 6, with 18 quotations, costs $50. Order number is #7719. Series 7 consists of 12 posters for $25. Order number is #7021. A free list of the quotations in each series is available on request. Call (800) 215-9076 or visit http://www.uua.org/bookstore for more information.

The address for the UU Church, Buffalo, NY, website--http://intotem.buffnet.net/uuchurch--was incorrectly listed in the March issue of InterConnections.

Dot Wyman, UU Church of Delaware County, Media, PA, writes: In the article on political action by congregations (InterConnections, January 2000), the one spot you missed has to do with signing petitions. This action DOES NOT endorse the candidate, but does endorse the right to be on the ballot.

UUA's Video Lending Library Discontinued But Tapes Available

The UUA has discontinued its video loan library, due in part to low demand. Some videos will continue to be available through the following departments:

• The Religious Education Department will lend curriculum-related titles through its curriculum loan library.
• The Faith In Action Department will continue to lend videos to trainers engaged in justice work.
• New programs, such as the anti-racism video discussion series being developed by the Youth Office and Faith in Action, will rely on videos generally available from local video rental stores.
• The video loan library stock will be divided among UUA district offices with an interest in lending these materials to their congregations.

The following books are available at the UUA Bookstore. Call (800) 215-9076 or visit http://www.uua.org/bookstore for more information.

• Can Our Church Live? Redeveloping Congregations in Decline, by Alice Mann. Practical options for declining congregations. Discussion questions provide a basis for congregational planning. (Alban Institute, 2000); Item # 7220 $18.95
• More Than Numbers: The Way Churches Grow, by Loren Mead. What do church growth and evangelism really mean in a time when it's mathematically impossible for every congregation to achieve significant numerical growth? Provocative argument: spiritual, organizational and evangelical development are just as important as numerical growth and all are needed for healthy, expanding churches. (Alban Institute, 1993); #4760 $11.25
• Alban Personnel Handbook for Congregations, by Edwin Berry. Practical and proven strategies for managing church staff. Includes guidelines and forms for interviews and evaluations, benefits, disciplinary action, discrimination issues and developing personnel policies. (Alban Institute, 1999) #7728 $22.95

The Baton Rouge, LA, Unitarian Church (297 members), made $10,000 on its annual garage sale last year and $8,000 this year. The secret, says Kella Simonin, a cochair of the auction committee, is in the organization--and the pricing.

The sale has separate areas for electronics, furniture, clothing, and linens. There is an area for childrens' clothes, toys, and games; a clothing accessories section, and a general store for miscellaneous and junk. "Price most items at 90 percent off retail," says Simonin, but have a 'Treasures' area for items such as oil paintings or fine jewelry and price these items higher. Hold a silent auction for some of the better items.

Simonin acknowledges she's a garage sale junkie and has a good idea what will sell and for how much. "You need dedicated people who don't mind getting dirty," she says. Having quality items to sell also helps.

Encourage congregation members to clean house and donate items. Throughout the year tell friends and members who are moving that you'd like their excess. Have a place to store donated items.

To save time, all similar items, such as dresses or suits, are priced the same unless they're exceptional. Have a pre-sale on Thursday evening for sale volunteers. On Saturday big-ticket items are cut to half price or people are invited to fill a box or bag for $3. Whatever's left at 1 p.m. Saturday goes to a thrift store, which pays the church a small amount for it.

Have a transportation manager who will make phone calls, matching people with vans and trucks with those who need items picked up.

E-Mail List for Ministers Of Small Congregations

Ministers serving small congregations are invited to join a new e-mail discussion list devoted to them and their concerns. This list welcomes UU ministers, seminarians, and transfer candidates who are UUMA members, and serve, or have served, UUA member congregations with fewer than 100 members.

To subscribe, send a message to listproc@uua.org with the phrase subscribe smallchurch-min First name Last name in the message body.

Young Adult Conference To Focus on Networking, Growth, Visibility

Those interested in increasing the number of young adults in our congregations are invited to ConCentric 2000, a conference August 5 to 8 at Camp Mardela on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

ConCentric is the annual leadership development, networking and business meeting for the UUA's young adult/campus ministry movement, known as C*UUYAN, the Continental UU Young Adult Network. The organization is devoted to fostering community and spirituality among UUs between the ages of 18 and 35.

All congregations are encouraged to send representatives, says Joey Lyons, an organizer. Cost is $45 and travel scholarships are available.

The purpose of the conference is to build regional networks of young adults, talk about how to attract them to UU congregations and to UU campus ministries, and to raise their visibility.

"We're especially inviting those young adults who are or want to be leaders in their own congregations, or are youth ministers or are involved in campus ministry," says Lyons.

There will also be discussions on young adult topics at General Assembly 2000 in Nashville, June 22-26. Go to the C*UUYAN website to find Young Adult events. Young adults may also inquire at the GA exhibit booth. For more information about the conference, contact Alison Miller, (212) 535-5530.

Why teach RE? 5 Great Reasons

One of the ways the First Unitarian Society, Madison, WI, (1,126 members), helps recruit teachers is with a Top 10 list of reasons people should teach. Here, from the society newsletter, are five, by Harry Carnes:

5. You think Neighboring Faiths is a sitcom.
4. Those (Frank Lloyd) Wright pews hurt your back.
3. You don't know the difference between Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. You secretly love the smell and feel of Playdough.
1. And the top reason: You'll learn as much as the kids do and get to meet other terrific adults who contribute so much to our shared ministry with children and youth.

Taking a Summer Break? Church Visitors Don't

The pace of activities in many of our congregations slows during summer months, but don't make the mistake of waiting until after Labor Day to rev it back up. Surveys show that church shopper traffic picks up significantly in August.

Early in August, have your new "Welcome to Our Church" and religious education brochures in place, and update your website with fall programming. If possible, arrange for the minister to be in the pulpit at least part of the month. Put extra polish into religious education programming. Make sure greeter teams are at their posts.