UU Small Group Ministry Resources Now at One Site

The UU Small Group Ministry Network is a resource for congregations engaged in small group ministry. The organization is a new UUA independent affiliate. One of its primary purposes is to collect, develop, and make small group resources more accessible for UU congregations.

The SGM Network’s Web site, at www.smallgroupministry.net, includes information about the network’s 1,100-member e-mail list for leaders of small groups, opportunities to attend SGM workshops and conferences, printed resources, and commentary from leaders in small group ministry.

The e-mail list, Covenant Group News (CG News) is not available through the UUA e-mail list site at uua.org as InterConnections erroneously reported in its October 2004 issue. It is available on the Small Group Ministry Network Web site listed above. A small group ministry e-mail list operated by the Rev. Bob Hill has been merged into CG News.

The UU Small Group Ministry Network also publishes a hard copy newsletter, the SGM Quarterly, available through the network’s Web site listed above or by writing to UU Small Group Ministry Network, 155 Evarts St., Newport, RI 02840. Coordinators of the network are Peter Bowden of Newport, R.I., and Mellen Kennedy of Burlington, Vt. President of the network’s board is the Rev. Calvin Dame. They can all be reached through the Web site.

Members of the Small Group Ministry network receive the SGM Quarterly and other member-only benefits through the Web site. Individual memberships are $35, congregational memberships $60. Funds are used to create SGM resources.

The network will sponsor a weeklong workshop, Transforming Congregations with Small Group Ministry, which will take place August 13-19, 2005, at Ferry Beach, a UU camp and conference center located in Saco, Maine. Topics will include starting SGM from scratch, expanding and enhancing existing SGM programs, establishing relational religious education with SGM practices, enhancing facilitator skills, revitalizing congregations with SGM, writing effective SGM sessions, and shaping ministry for SGM Programs.

Another list of SGM resources can be found by visiting the UUA’s Web site at www.uua.org/cde/sgm.