Enthusiasm, Risk-Taking Build Vital Congregations

Some congregations just seem to know where they’re going and how to get there. They have energy and enthusiasm, not only on Sunday mornings but in their governing board meetings, small groups, and religious education programs.

What creates this feeling? What causes congregations that once struggled to rise above the status quo to shine, to develop a vision of the ministry they want to provide in the world? Often that vision is inspired by a transformational experience––the start of a new ministry, making a conscious decision to grow, holding a capital campaign. Sometimes just an inspirational speaker or workshop will spark a change.

Here are several congregations that have developed new visions of themselves.

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, Iowa: After three decades of static membership, its membership has grown by almost 25 percent in the last five years.

No one would have predicted this a few years ago when the congregation was enduring a period of conflict. But the conflict was followed by several years of interim ministry that enabled the congregation to take another look at itself. It decided it wanted to be more than it had been––and to grow.

“Most of the congregation’s growth has been a product of taking risks,” says the Rev. Mark Stringer, who acknowledges that he was one of the first risks, being called by Des Moines in 2001 right out of Meadville Lombard Theological School.

The congregation stretched in other ways. “For a while now we’ve been about a half position ahead of ourselves in staffing,” says Stringer. “Just before I came, the congregation hired a full-time administrator. Last fall we hired a membership coordinator. Our director of religious education has gone from three-quarters to full time.”

Other changes that facilitated vitality: First Unitarian decided to move from a board and committee governance structure to a council format in which many decisions are made by working groups. Last fall the lay ministry team––the Care Crew––was revamped to serve not only shut-ins, but also to provide outreach to young parents, people needing chores done, etc. Now 50 people are involved.

More changes: A small group ministry program, now in its fourth year, helps connect people. Members switch groups every six months and group leaders have their own monthly group. “That’s become a real leadership training ground,” said Stringer. “People are willing to be leaders because they only have to serve six months. In that time they develop stronger links to me and to the church, and they’re willing to try another leadership role.”

Also, a “leadership think tank” has replaced the committee on ministry. “I wanted more people to be involved,” Stringer says. About 25 people meet every couple of months to talk about what’s happening in the church.

Interim ministry gets some of the credit for these changes. And Stringer takes a little credit himself, pointing out that his preaching style is focused on the newcomer.

UU Church in Reston, Va. (201): Social justice has helped energize Reston. “Several people have taken on social causes and they’ve gotten others involved,” says the Rev. Sydney Wilde, cominister. A vote to hang a banner supporting marriage equality provided a jolt. The congregation is now in the middle of a capital campaign.

When membership fell off several years ago the membership committee, just four people, was boosted to 14. “We spent time making sure people were welcomed and that brought our numbers back up,” said Wilde. Forty-two percent of the congregation is in 11 covenant groups. “People have a place to go where their story is known,” says Wilde. “Also, there’s a huge sense this is a safe community. It’s not a place where people get into big arguments.”

A lay ministry program is beginning at Reston. There’s been a surge in adult religious education. Wilde and cominister Dennis Daniel see themselves as facilitators––and cheerleaders. “When we get leaders who are excited we do everything we can to support and encourage them.”

First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, Pa. (453): A second Sunday service and a second set of children’s religious education classes has helped build enthusiasm and vitality. The hiring of a “super” choir director is helping to nurture musical talents of members rather than relying on outsiders. A new family choir of children and adults sings monthly. It gathers for a weekly potluck before rehearsal. The Rev. David Herndon calls it “building community through music.”

The congregation also started a campus ministry program. A staff member, Devon Wood, coordinates that program 12 hours a week and additionally serves as membership and communications coordinator, working especially with newcomers.

A small group ministry program begun in 2001 now has 15 groups, with more forming. Some are families together in one group. The families gather for a potluck, then the adults have their meeting while children have supervised play.

As a result of all these changes, attendance and membership have increased. The 9:30 service has as many children as the 11:00. The budget is up. “We’ve countered the revolving door syndrome,” says Herndon.

Next, the congregation wants its governing board to move toward policy governance, “allowing our lay people to focus on ministries of community building and pastoral care and community service and social justice work, while allowing our staff to do the institutional maintenance work,” says Herndon.

Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, Pa. (314): Board member Blaise Liffick credits a move to policy governance for helping the board become visionary. He says, “This has freed the board to think more clearly about where the congregation should be heading, rather than about the day-to-day operations.” Small-group ministry and community outreach also get credit.

Are there similarities among these congregations? Several are using small group ministry to deepen community and are looking at policy governance as a way to focus on the “big picture” and work more efficiently. The addition of paid membership coordinators has been important for some. The addition of other staff such as music directors and DREs, or simply increasing their hours, can inspire a congregation. Focusing on something outside the congregation, such as social justice, also helps. And as Rev. Stringer at Des Moines reminds, it’s all about taking risks.

RESOURCES

Small Group Ministry: www.smallgroupministry.net

Policy Governance: www.uua.org/interconnections/policy

Volunteer Coordinators: www.uua .org/ interconnections Do a key word search for “volunteer coordinator.”