Commi%ng Time and Treasure in the Beyond Community

Transcription

1 Commi%ng Time and Treasure in the Beyond Community General Assembly The Unitarian Universalist Associa=on Providence, Rhode Island June 26, 2014 Bill Clontz, UUA Stewardship Network Consultant Mark Bernstein, Central East Regional Group Growth Consultant 1

2 Because our faith cannot be found in any book, or any temple, held deep, it is most visible in the spaces between us, when our hands touch in gree:ng, when our voices interweave. So much a part of daily living, we forget there are people who had never imagined this is possible; who sit in the corner of a service with eyes filled with tears and dream of belonging here. What a tragedy if even one melts away unwelcomed, only because we could not hear their dreams. Liz James Handwoven (The Newcomer Poem) 2

3 What does membership mean in our Unitarian Universalist Congrega=ons? 3

4 Many visitors resist membership Religious guilt Fear of being overrun with tasks and responsibili=es Resistance to authority Lack of investment in ins=tu=ons Uncertainty about the future Lack of a ra=onale for joining 4

5 I sent the club a wire sta=ng, PLEASE ACCEPT MY RESIGNATION. I DON'T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT ME AS A MEMBER. Groucho Marx 5

6 OR DOES IT??? 6

7 Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove: "Growing churches are churches where high expecta=ons and serious commitment are the norm. If we are to grow our UU churches for the future of our movement, we need to heed this call...in my experience, casual commitment to membership translates into indifferent support for the church in all areas from volunteerism to financial support. 7

8 Defining the Environment I m lost, but I m making record *me! What Has Changed? 1.The propor*on of un- churched people is on the rise. 2.We have much more compe**on from worthy causes 3.People are busier and have more distrac*ons 4.People expect informa*on and s*mula*on in more ways What Remains Constant? 1.The basic func*ons of a congrega*on remain just added to 2.A certain level of stability and organiza*on is usually necessary 3.Sunday morning remains key just not the only key 4.Churches are s*ll primary charitable fund raisers How Much of This Is About Forecas*ng and Managing Change, Rather than the Specific Changes? 8

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10 Who Are We Looking to ATract? ü Nones ü Those looking for an intellectual and spiritual base ü Those principally walking away from something ü Those looking for community ü Those looking to give back, pay it forward ü The curious ü Families in search of Religious Educa=on for children ü Transferred UUs ü Recycled UUs (!) What Makes Us Think We May be a Match? 10

11 Who Else, Churches or Others, Is Doing This Well? Everything I needed to know about Congrega3ons and Beyond, I learned from Gene Roddenberry! 11

12 What Cons=tuted Deep Space 9 and What Made it Work? ü It was an outpost of civiliza=on, full of diversity ü It offered comfort, community, entertainment, s=mula=on, and other valued elements not readily available elsewhere ü It func=oned as a stand alone en=ty, but had =es to other places and ins=tu=ons, ojen working together for shared goals ü It had a core, resident community that was cohesive (sort of...) in and of itself, BUT: ü One that also reached out to new arrivals and ü One that figured out what connec=on worked with each ü It had many people just passing through BUT: ü Even those passing through made 3T contribu=ons (KEY) ü It was not hard to transi=on from visitor, to regular, to resident 12

13 How Congrega*ons Tradi*onally See the World MEMBERS EVERYBODY ELSE 13

14 Who Else? ü Chari=es and Non Profits ü Universi=es/Alumni Associa=ons ü Interest Groups ü Poli=cal Par=es ü Other Denomina=ons ü Your Congrega=on? 14

15 How Adap*ve Organiza*ons See the World Staff Vendors, Suppliers, In Kind Donors Developing Members Shoppers Alumni/ Snowbirds Core Members Poten=al Members Tourists Donors Special Skill/ In Kind Volunteers Volunteers/ Workers 15

16 Best Prac=ces from Others OUTREACH Ø Everyone has an outreach and rela=onship building mission. Ø Someone has oversight and QC responsibility for this. Ø Development (growth) and communica=on are integra=ve func=ons that require focus and specific responsibili=es. ü Every =me you touch someone, its an opportunity to inform and to invite to come deeper into the circle. ü Everyone is consciously treated the way we want to be treated ü Develop and prac=ce scenarios. How can we be helpful? ü Polish gree=ng & engagement skills competence and confidence. Ø A warm handoff is a mission prac=ced and taught. 16

17 Best Prac=ces from Others Engagement ü Conflict may seem sharper edged to the new comer. ü Have a conflict management (not avoidance) plan for various se%ngs. Ø People give of themselves (3 T s) when: (1) They understand what you are, your priori=es, and what you do. (2) They are clear how their gij specifically makes a difference. Ø Reengage periodically. Not everyone catches the first pass, and not everyone stays without encouragement. 17

18 Best Prac=ces from Others Development ü Development (growth) is rela=onship building. ü Have a plan for each group ü Contact, engage, develop, cross atach. ü It s a constant cycle: Ask Inform Thank. ü Consider mentor members. 18

19 Best Prac=ces from Others Leadership and Training ü Leaders need to be present in the moment, in the group but not of the group, manage by walking around. ü Short yourself on outreach training and resources - - pay the price. ü Place a high value on training and recogni=on. ü Catch them doing right. ü We are a team, doing something important, a joy to perform. Ø VALUABLE assets: Volunteer Coordinator & Grant Writer/Seeker. 19

20 Best Prac=ces from Others Other Factors Ø Cannot be everything to everyone. Ø That seems shallow and grasping. ü People prefer local and personal to large and ins=tu=onal. Ø Provide LOTS of opportuni=es to volunteer, mostly short ones Ø But do so with care Ø Do NOT waste their =me, skills, or money. Ø Know Your Compe==on! ü Technology is empowering, but Face to Face s=ll rules. 20

21 We CAN focus without ge%ng carried away 21

22 Friends are defined as persons wishing to par=cipate regularly in the Church, which includes making an iden=fiable financial contribu=on, but who specifically wish not to be members of the church. By- Laws of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia 22

23 Best Prac=ces from UU Congrega=ons Require a pledge in order to be a friend Friends have access to all communica=ons; are included in Directory Cannot vote or hold high office Friends are periodically encouraged to become members What s important is not how many members we have, but how many lives are we touching? 23

24 So, What Do You Need to Excel in This? Communica=ons models, samples, kits? Fresh thinking about your communica=on tools? Build a Best Prac=ces Data Base? A Plan to Get Off Your Campus and into the World? Forums to Share Tools and Ideas (Clusters?) Ideas and Tools to Mone=ze and Mo=vate? What Else? What do you have that is already working? 24

25 Share one thing that you will take with you from our =me together today. Take Aways

26 "Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists, it is making a new space, a beeer space for everyone. Rachel Olivero 26

27 How to Reach Us Bill Clontz UUA Congrega=onal Stewardship Network Consultant Leadership Mentor Phone: (703) Skype: bill.clontz Blogging at: htp://stewardshipfortherestofus.blogspot.com Mark Bernstein Growth Development Consultant, Central East Regional Group (CERG) Phone (610)