Mass Bay Spring Conference focusing on Social Media

March 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Friends, I’ll be attending the Mass Bay District Conference lending a hand as best I can.  MBD’ers, hope to see you there.  — Peter

Shelby Meyerhoff

Using Social Media to Fuel Congregational Mission
Saturday, May 1, 2010
First Parish Weston

MBD’s Spring Conference will introduce participants to a host of new technology and expand our imagination about how to use social media to support our faith. Shelby Meyerhoff, UUA Public Witness Specialist, will present a series of keynotes on the following themes:

Early bird registration fee: $35 by April 11.

  • Technological Landscape of New Media
  • How New Media can Fuel the Engine of Congregational Purpose and Mission
  • Theological and Ethical Implications of New Media

We will also offer breakout sessions for

  • DREs and people who work with youth
  • lay leaders
  • ministers
After that, $45.  REGISTER HERE

Filed Under: Events, Social Media Tagged With:

Announcing April 20th webinar with Michael Durall

March 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Friends,  I just confirmed this webinar with Michael Durall.  Seats are limited – just over 20 available.  Register ASAP if you want to join us.   – Peter

The Almost Church Revitalized – A conversation with Michael Durall

Michael DurallFormat:  Webinar
Date:  April 20th
Time: 7:30pm – 9pm EST
Cost: $12  (online registration fee included)
Registration:  Register online here

Peter Bowden hosts a coversation on the health, growth and future of Unitarian Universalism with Michael Durall, parish consultant and author The Almost Church Revitalized.

This webinar will utilize both a telephone conference call and the UUA’s Persony webinar website. All information will be emailed to registered participants 24 hours before the webinar.

Michael Durall is an organizational consultant for churches with the CommonWealth Consulting Group and the author of The Almost Church, The Almost Church Revitalized, Creating Congregations of Generous People, Beyond the Collection Plate: Overcoming Obstacles to Faithful Giving, and editor of Living a Call: Ministers and Congregations Together.

Learn more about Michael’s work at vitalcongregations.com.


Filed Under: Events, Webinars Tagged With: ,

Registration open – Faith Forward: The BCD Spring Conference

March 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Friends,  I hope you will join me in Providence on April 24th for the BCD Spring Conference.  This event is going to focus on  significant cultural and demographic changes that we as UUs must educate ourselves about.  The world is changing and so must the way we “do church.”   I’ll be leading one of the five workshops. See below.  — Peter

FAITH FORWARD
The Ballou Channing District Spring Conference
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Providence, RI
Online Registration
Register Offline – Download form to mail with check

Demographic and religious practice is changing in the US and it will affect how church life, worship and faith development. The BCD Spring Conference will explore developing trends and possible congregation responses through three sermon presentation within an extended morning worship followed by five conversation workshops.

Following the conference the Ballou Channing District will convene its Annual Meeting at 1:15. There is also an opportunity for non-delegate participants to perform a community service project in the afternoon.

Schedule
Registration opens at 8:15
Conference: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Annual Meeting 1:15 – 3:00
Community Service Project for non-delegates 1:00 – 3:00

Presenters
Rev. James Ford, Minister, First Unitarian Church of Providence
Rev. Eric Wikstrom, UUA Director of Worship and Music Resources
Rev. Sue Sinnamon, Thomas Jefferson District Director of Faith Development.

Workshops
Conversation workshops will be led by each of the above presenters, as well as the following:

Jen Shattuck, BCD Young Adult Ministry Consultant will lead a workshop on congregations meeting the spiritual and religious hunger of the post-boomer generations.  Jen’s Young Adult Ministry Blog.

Peter Bowden, BCD Growth Consultant will conduct a workshop exploring how emerging demographic and religious trends impact our congregations’ outreach and membership initiatives.

Location
First Unitarian Church
1 Benevolent Street
Providence, RI 02840
Google Map

Filed Under: Events

Clara Barton and Mass Bay Districts announce regional staffing

March 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Clara Barton, Mass Bay and Ballou Channing Districts

Its official – the Clara Barton and Mass Bay Districts have approved a shared staffing model.

March 4th the UUA posted a new CBD/MBD Leadership Development Director position on its HR website.  This position will be one of four full time staff shared by the two districts.

I had the honor of facilitating  a February dual district board retreat discussing this.  Congratulations to all involved.

Here is an excerpt of the announcement sent via both districts’ e-newsletters:

We are pleased to announce that the Boards of Directors of the Massachusetts Bay District and the Clara Barton District have each voted unanimously to undertake a new shared staffing arrangement on a two year interim basis beginning July 1, 2010.

In their resolutions, both boards stated:

“We make this decision as an affirmation of the following values:
to expand the reach of Unitarian Universalism,
to increase and model collaboration between
regions, staff and congregations, and
to build the capacity of our districts to more effectively express
and fulfill our purposes.”

The new structure will include the following four positions:

  • District Executive
  • Director of Faith Formation
  • Director of Congregational Development
  • Director of Leadership Development
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Sunday in Sharon, MA

March 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Unitarian Church of Sharon, MA before their building project. There is now a structure behind and to the right of the sanctuary.

Sunday I had the pleasure of guest speaking and leading a program at the Unitarian Church of Sharon, MA with our district executive, William Zelazny.  Our focus was on the possibilities and potential associated with a new building and a new minister arriving in the Fall, search willing.

Three weeks ago the Sharon congregation opened a new addition and renovation including a three level elevator.  I remember when my home congregation in Providence, RI, opened its new building after years of study, design and a lengthy build.

New buildings make us look at congregational life with fresh eyes.

  • How do we do this?
  • Where does that go?
  • How do people know to go from here to there?
  • What signs do we need?
  • Where do we need greeters?
  • How do we need to change?
  • How can we meet the opportunities of the days to come?
  • Now that we have a 5 start building, maybe we should have a five star…

Of course, these are all things we should be asking regularly even without new buildings.

Photo credit: Flickr

Filed Under: Event Reports

UU iPhone Apps – What’s on your wish list?

March 5, 2010 By 9 Comments

The other day I had phone with a friend / colleague who develops websites and iPhone apps.  We had a great discussion about what could be created to help UUs share our faith,  info for newcomers,  and apps for congregations.

Last night on Facebook the issue of apps came up with some UU colleagues.

At some point UUs are going to need to develop some apps for mobile devices.  I’m wondering what you’d like to see.  Any ideas?  Anything specific on your iphone application wish list?

I’d like an app or apps featuring:

  • UU historical timeline
  • A Famous UUs application sortable by category w/search
  • An app template that could be customized per congregation to link to news feed, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube accounts
  • An elevator speech app – shake it and it displays one of a random set of statements about our faith
  • A UU quote / wayside pulpit feature – shake for new quote
  • How about a calendar that shares event info for the UUA, all districts (choose those you care about in settings), and UUA affiliates -  It is way too hard to find out what’s happening.

What are your ideas?

Know any UU iphone app developers?  Share this post with them.  We should start connecting people who can make something happen.  Oh, and if you or a UU related organization (including the UUA) are already working on apps, speak up.

Filed Under: Communication Tagged With: , ,

Are UUs ready for the Revolution(s)?

March 4, 2010 By 1 Comment

Over at the blogs Yet Another Unitarian Universalist and Ministrare the question of whether  UUs are ready for social media revolution has been raised.

When I read their posts I immediately thought of our recent Ballou Channing District staff meeting.  We were discussion the theme of our Spring conference on April 24th.  It is going to look at the growing numbers of trends that are changing the way we need to “do church” in a changing nation.

Its important that UU leaders — all of them — start engaging with these issues.  The world is changing and this demands that our congregations change, adapt and/or evolve.   How many revolutions are we dealing with? How many huge demographic and cultural shifts?

If you’re in the Ballou Channing or neighboring districts, consider joining us for our conference this April. I believe the title of the conference is “Faith Forward:  Can Unitarian Universalism Survive?”

I will be leading a workshop looking at growth / change strategies we can use to meet the challenges and opportunities facing our congregations. I’d love for you to join us.

Here is a little more on the conference. I will let you know when the online registration opens. Should be very soon

This year, rather than one presenter we will focus the theme through three sermons embedded in an extended, dynamic, morning worship followed by five conversation workshops.  Presenters include Rev. James Ford, First Unitarian Church minister, Rev. Eric Wikstrom, UUA Director of Worship and Music Resources, and  Rev. Sue Sinnamon, Thomas Jefferson District Director of Faith Development. A detailed program and registration information will be sent in early March to congregation offices and church leaders.

Filed Under: Demographics, Events

Congregational Action and Social Justice program (PDF) from the Rev. Richard Gilbert

March 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A workshop on congregational action for social justice was held in our district late February.  Co-sponsored by the Ballou Channing District and Channing Memorial Church, Newport, RI,  this  workshop explored the spiritual roots of our concern for social justice and the unique UU mission to translate concern into action. Participants learned organizational tools for working with a congregation and planning for change.

The Rev. Richard Gilbert has been kind enough to make the full program booklet and congregational self analysis documents available to all.

Walk the Talk workshop program guide (PDF)

Each participating congregation was asked to come with a completed Congregational Self-Analysis. Download file:

Congregational Self-Analysis (PDF)
Congregational Self-Analysis (Word Doc)
Congregational Self-Analysis (RTF)

Dick Gilbert has been a Unitarian Universalist minister for 45 years, retired in 2005. Currently a Social Justice Coordinator of the St. Lawrence District of the Unitarian Universalist Association, he has taught at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, Starr King School, and Meadville Lombard Theological School. Gilbert’s publications include his Building Your Own Theology series; The Prophetic Imperative: Social Gospel in Theory and Practice; How Much Do We Deserve? An Inquiry into Distributive Justice; and In the Holy Quiet of this Hour: A Meditation Manual.

Thanks to all from Channing Church and the Ballou Channing District who helped make this outstanding event possible!

Filed Under: Event Reports, Events, Growth, Resources, Social Action
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