Vol. X Issue 1 Winter 2007 In this issue: ONLINE EXTRA Be Careful What You Wish For: You, Too, Can Rent Your Church Buildings LEADERSHIP Several Ways to Create A Social Justice Program MONEY Religious Educators Need Responsible Compensation TOOLBOX Email Caution Helps Avoid Damaging Situations MEMBERSHIP Congregations Respond To Racism, Oppression NOURISHING THE SPIRIT GA Can Be Rewarding for Congregation Presidents QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Small Talk, Small Group Ministry Programs, And More! BRIEFLY NOTED Redesign for UUA.org; Prison Penpals; Antiracism Trainings; And More! EMAIL LIST Find out when the new InterConnections is online InterConnections Archives

In this feature we seek out answers to questions of broad interest, drawing on experts in congregations, the UUA, and elsewhere. To submit a question, please write to InterConnections, 8800 Norwood, Leawood, KS 66206, or email dskinner@uua.org.

Q I'm looking for back issues of Small Talk, the newsletter for small congregations.

A Small Talk, published by the Rev. Jane Dwinell, and its back issues are online at nhvt.uua.org/publications.htm. If you forget, just go to the New Hampshire/Vermont district website and click on Publications on the left side.

Q We started a small group ministry program two years ago and the groups really took off, but now we're starting to see problems with several of them. Is that normal?

A Peter Bowden, a church consultant and a cofounder of the UU Small Group Ministry Network, smallgroupministry.net, says, "In my consulting work I have yet to find a congregation with a 'mysterious' reason for small group ministry failing. Across the board, problems are the result of some failure to implement a viable model or a failure to support this ministry prior to launching. Sustaining a healthy small group ministry requires a great deal of time, energy, and resources. Small group ministry isn't rocket science, but it is hard work. And well worth it."

"After the establishment of a new program," Bowden continues, "it is common for congregations to let small groups run on autopilot, especially when more urgent matters demand attention. However, it takes regular vision casting and support between group facilitators and skill training for small group ministries to not only stay on track, but to thrive."

Another reason for failure, he says, is that while groups are designed to build intimacy and connections they can sometimes become too inward-looking, at the expense of being open and welcoming. Also, over time the focus of groups naturally drifts toward the interests of group members, Bowden says. Such "small group drift" can move the focus of the group away from leadership development, shared ministry, and outreach.

The UU Small Group Ministry Network offers members a quarterly newsletter addressing the "perils and promises" of small group ministry. An email list, covenant_group_ministry, is available at uua.org/lists.

To join the UU SGM Network mail a check made out to "UU SGM Network"($35 individuals/$60 congregations) to UU SGM Network, 155 Evarts Street, Newport, RI, 02840. Include an email contact and a brief description of your program.

Q We're struggling with our nominating committee. It seems to take form a few weeks before our annual meeting, works like mad to come up with a slate of candidates, then disappears after the election. Is there a better way?

A Lynn Thomas, district executive of the Clara Barton District, wants congregations to transform their nominating committees into something more useful. She says, "Your congregation doesn't need a nominating committee that just functions a short time each year. It needs a leadership development and nominating committee. What would our churches be like with a year-round committee asking boards and committees what skills they need and then asking newcomers, "What really gets your juices flowing? What is it that you would really like to do here?" Contact Thomas at lthomas@uua.org for more information.

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