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 For an orientation program, we are looking for a 5- to 10-minute video with some punch to it as an introduction to Unitarian Universalism. If your congregation has prepared such a video and would be willing to share it we’d love to know about it. John Greenman, pattynjohn@widomaker.com.

A InterConnections would also like to know about such a video since it could be useful to many other congregations. Contact me at dskinner@uua.org.

Q We’re considering a capital campaign. I understand most campaigns collect the money over three years, but what is the rationale for that length? Why not five, for instance? And how should we involve the people who join the congregation toward the end of the campaign or afterward? Should they be asked for contributions as well?

A Wayne Clark, the UUA’s director of congregational fundraising services, says three-year campaigns offer many advantages. Longer campaigns tend to have greater slippage in the rate of pledge completion. In a three-year campaign, he said, a 95-percent completion rate can be expected. In a five-year campaign, it often drops to 90 percent.

Clark said that a five-year campaign might be warranted if a financial feasibility study predicts no significantly large gifts, meaning all the gifts are likely to be given from members’ salaries.

Clark encourages congregations to ask new members to make a financial commitment to the annual operating budget and capital campaign when they join.

How often can a capital campaign be conducted? “Depending on how much energy there is, and the scope of the remaining capital project, a very few churches can run back-to-back campaigns,” says Clark. In general, he says, capital campaigns should be separated by at least five to seven years.

Q A news reporter covered one of our events and got several facts wrong. We don’t want to alienate her because we know we’ll be working with her again, but we also don’t want to just let it go. How should we handle it?

A Send an e-mail thanking the reporter for covering your event, says John Hurley, the UUA’s director of information and public witness. Politely point out and correct the mistakes. Hurley says, “My experience suggests that most reporters don’t mind corrections if they’re offered politely. It’s rare that an error will be so egregious that we’re forced to ask for a correction, clarification, or retraction. You’re absolutely right to value the ongoing relationship more than a small correction. And in the long run, the reporter might feel she owes you something and that could result in greater coverage down the road.”

Q We need to make a new banner for our church. When I attended General Assembly, I could see there’s a uniform size and shape and even a “plumbers’ pipe” support to display it when carried. What are the requirements for creating a banner?

A The banner parade, one of the high points of General Assembly each year, includes banners from each congregation. All the information you need to construct your own banner is available on the UUA Web site at www.uua.org/ga/faq.html.
The site also includes instructions on making a pole support on which to carry the banner. For inspiration, the Web site also includes color photographs of many of the congregational banners that have appeared at General Assembly in recent years.