Vol. IX Issue 1 January 2006 In this issue: LEADERSHIP Connecting Congregations, Communities by Ministry MONEY Searching for the Perfect Database--Version 2006 TOOLBOX Counting the Ones Who Come on Sunday Morning NOURISHING THE SPIRIT Attraction at All Souls D.C. Is Worship, Programming QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Developing contracts for personnel, congregational meetings at multiple-service churches, and personal information in newsletters BRIEFLY NOTED Youth Survey Planned For January, February; New Hymnal Format Aids Those With Sight Disability; Uncommon Postcards Ready for Purchase; 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. If you would like to submit a question, please write to InterConnections at 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, or email dskinner@uua.org.

Q I am searching for resources on developing contracts for personnel other than the minister and for developing a personnel manual. Can you help?

A Yes. If you go to www.uua.org /programs/ministry/finances/resources.html you will find a model personnel policy manual that applies exclusively to non-ordained staff.

For information about job descriptions and model contracts, people may contact the various non-ministerial professional organizations connected to the UUA:

• LREDA (Religious Educators), Shannon Hawkins, Administrator, lreda@uua.org.
• AUUA (Administrators), Gail Donkin, Administrator, administrator@auua.org.
• UUMN (Musicians Network), Donna Fisher, Administrator, uumn@uumn.org.

Also, if you sign up for the UUA-sponsored email list UU-Leaders, at www.uua.org/lists, you will find other subscribers willing to share information.

Another resource is the Alban Institute, an interfaith congregational support organization. Go to www.alban.org and search out the Alban Personnel Handbook for Congregations by Erwin Berry published in 1999.

Q Our church has just gone to two services and had our first congregational meeting after the second service. We wonder if we are disenfranchising those who attend the first service since few people return for the meeting. How do other churches handle congregational meetings when they have multiple services?

A Dalroy Ward of the UU Congregation of Columbia, Md. (345), which recently went to two services, has its congregational meetings in the evening. "We tie them to a potluck dinner so they're social events as well," he says.

Scott Norris, president of the UU Congregation of Frederick, Md. (279), says, "We have switched to one service on Sundays when a congregational meeting occurs that would require voting. We have also placed the meeting between the two services when the meeting can be kept short."

Vance Bass, a board member of First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, N.M. (613), says they hold their meetings late on Sunday afternoon. "This gives people a chance to go home, get lunch, do some gardening or whatever, then come back. Often, the meetings are cast as community-building affairs, with refreshments afterwards."

Q Is there a safe way to get the word out about deaths, births, illnesses, etc., in a public forum? We used to print them in our newsletter, then stopped when we heard that the practice mightcreate both a danger and a liability.

A Many congregations do print a column of concerns and joys in their newsletters. It's generally considered that the newsletter is a safe enough place because it goes to members and friends. But if the newsletter is also posted on your website, then the most personal information should be removed, says Deborah Weiner, the UUA's director of electronic communication. Some congregations create a password-protected area of their website for these items and make it available only to church members and friends.

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