In this feature we seek out answers to questions of broad interest, drawing on experts in congregations, the UUA, and elsewhere. If you would like to submit a question, please write to InterConnections at 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, or e-mail dskinner@uua.org.

Q. We're wanting to get a long-range planning team and process in place for our church. Can anyone share whatever has worked well for you in terms of how you set up your team, choose people to be on it, and what steps your team took to undertake planning?

A. I've chaired the Long-Range Planning Committee at our church of 480 members and have several suggestions, says Linda Ropes, at Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO.

First, don't reinvent the wheel. Do some research in your archives and see what surveys, annual reports, or other materials can give you a historical perspective.

Second, be sure the people on your team have been in leadership positions so they are savvy about what is going on. Invite several past presidents to join you, or at least recent board members. Conduct a survey to find out what people are hoping for in the future of the congregation. It doesn't work to project a plan if it doesn't fit their needs and hopes. Get help from someone who knows how to write surveys so your questions are clear and give you the information you want.

Hold focus groups to discuss the survey results and see if the feedback matches the results. Finally, make sure your results are used by the next round of leaders. It can be disappointing to go to all that work and have your plan sit on a shelf somewhere.

See also "Strategic Plans are Key To Congregation's Future," InterConnections, November, 1998. Also contact your district office.

Q. We lose a lot of members within several years of joining. Should we be talking to these people to find out why they left? Is there an established way to do this?

A. Unfortunately, many congregations lose a significant number of members within three years, says the Rev. William Zelazny, district executive of the UUA's Ballou Channing district. An exit interview can be useful, but keep in mind that people often will not tell the real reason for their departure. It does not hurt to ask.

This interview is best done by phone, by the membership committee or the committee on ministry since it relates to the overall ministry of the church. Introduce it as a way for the church to better understand itself and its ministry, says Zelazny. Keep the interview short, asking perhaps: (1) What brought you to the church initially? (2) With what activities/groups were you involved? (3) What is your over all impression of the church? (4) Would you mind saying why you stopped coming? Close by wishing the person well in their spiritual quest and give an open invitation to come back if the church will fit their life and religious needs.

In addition to phone interviews look at the overall picture. Do dropouts come from any particular population in the church? Do they go to another UU congregation or another religion?

Q. We're looking for ideas for our congregational newsletter as well as sources for chalice artwork. Are there sources within the UUA for these?

A. On the UUA Web site, you'll find information on how to prepare newsletters, where to find UUA news items to include in them, and how to subscribe to an e-mail list for newsletter editors. You can find information about creating electronic newsletters and chalice clip art.

Another Response

I would offer a different response to the question in the October 2001 issue of InterConnections about how to get involved with social justice work (which suggested asking members about their social justice passions).

Contact organizations in the neighborhood of your church — the nearest food bank, homeless shelter, public school, public library, retirement or assisted living place, etc. Asking what is needed has led us to do a food distribution every Saturday morning that attracts more people than attend church on Sunday morning, and to a tutoring program for grades one-through-three children who are "off-track" at any one time at the year-round primary school. Responding to neighborhood needs may be more difficult at first than responding to members' wishes.

Frank Amon,
First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles