Category: Church development

Formerly “Conceiving the church”.

How far are you from church?

Years ago, and I don’t know if its true anymore, there was an unwritten rule that someone would go as far as a work commute to go to church. So I guess it’s important to know how far someone will commute and now? Two considerations are important. Some studies (referenced here)suggest that the phenomenon of… Continue reading How far are you from church?

A short guide for a practically welcoming church

I’m tired of hearing about deep or radical hospitality from sickly churches unable to keep walk-in visitors. Can we start with satisfactory welcome, at least at first. Which brings me to this correctly aimed and practical blog post I’ve seen shared online. Be sure to read “Open Letter to Churches Seeking New Members” (See Lyda… Continue reading A short guide for a practically welcoming church

If every place was like Vermont

And I don’t mean, “full of Ben and Jerry’s.” Ran some numbers: if every state (including D.C. and the Virgin Islands) was as densely populated with Unitarian Universalists as Vermont (in the #1 position), there would be more than 950,000 members in Unitarian Universalist congregations today. Think of it as food for thought rather than… Continue reading If every place was like Vermont

Do join the Chalice Lighters program

A word to the Unitarian Universalists out there. It’s no secret I ride Unitarian Universalist evangelism and church planting inadequacies pretty hard, but there seems to be one consistent bright spot that I’d like to promote: district-level Chalice Lighters programs. These are, in brief, individual donation subscription pools to support growth initiatives like building acquisition,… Continue reading Do join the Chalice Lighters program

The Wired guide to evangelism

When we got our copy of Wired magazine this month at the office, I made an “evangelism note” to myself to revisit it. The suite of cover articles relate to towns — it’s not just Silicon Valley any more! — that have grown new tech-related jobs. I wondered if there’s a vibrant Unitarian Universalist presence… Continue reading The Wired guide to evangelism

I found a church in Newport Pagnell

Excuse the pun and, urm, backseat driving. This is a pointed question to the British Unitarians out there. Why are there no Unitarian churches in Milton Keynes, a postwar “new town” with more than 200,000 residents? Not even one. And, given the usual caveats about growth, it’s set to double in population in the next… Continue reading I found a church in Newport Pagnell

Emerging church 2011 update

A year ago, I reviewed the status of congregations that had been “emerging” — that is, in a state of recognized development — in the Unitarian Universalist Association since my original scan in 2008. Call it my version of May sweeps. A few updates. Since then, four congregation have been admitted to the UUA. Unitarian… Continue reading Emerging church 2011 update

New church shall be born with …

Here’s my thought — it makes more sense to construct a plan (not unlike a business plan) as a basis for organizing a church than to try to gather people and see what you have in common, which in so many words is (or was) the conventional wisdom for forming Unitarian Universalist churches. And because… Continue reading New church shall be born with …

A distributed project for both sides of the Atlantic (and Pacific)

There’s no place in the word saturated with Unitarians, Universalists and kindred faithful. The demographic (and existential?) crisis the British Unitarians and Free Christians face can and may be seen elsewhere, including the United States. Short of forming a new congregation — and that’s quite an ask so there’s needs to be a second task… Continue reading A distributed project for both sides of the Atlantic (and Pacific)