It is amazing how much interest there is in developing more UU multi-media training resources. After launching UU PLANET I've received regular inquiries from people looking to purchase our videos.
This Fall and Spring I am focusing on refining the trainings that we'll be producing. Over the Summer, if all goes well, UU PLANET can start production on this training series.
If you'd like to get a taste, schedule a training for your congregation. Our training on developing a culture of sharing our faith is ready for pilot presentations. Congregations in the New England area, if you are interested in growing your community by word of mouth, contact me to discuss hosting a pilot presentation.
For information on scheduling other trainings or retreats please visit our website.
As always, I'd love to hear from you if you have ideas for training materials that our congregations need.
In cooperation,
Peter
Peter Freedman Bowden
UU PLANET Ministry & Media Center
http://www.uuplanet.com
Friday, October 14, 2005
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Did I die and go to Heaven?
Nope! I just checked out the new UU WORLD website. It looks great. So light an airy. I'm pleased to see that with the move from 5 world issues to 4 there is a corresponding investment in a more dynamic website and that the site is well done.
NOW we have a great website for our "quarterly denominational magazine" (uuworld.org) and a much improved website for our association (uua.org).
What's next? I think we need a kick @$$ site for people who are new to our movement. A.k.a. a seeker site. Something with no insider nonsense, UUisms, association business, etc...
I'm pleased to say that I've prioritized this as one of UU PLANET's projects for the coming year. It is time to pull together a fabulous team of people to develop what I see as a grassroots produced or developed seeker site. Where will this seeker site live? Unitarianuniversalism.org -- a domain I saved from the religious right. Yes, Unitarianuniversalism.com died and went to a biblical heaven. A sad sad tale and a domain I'd now stay away from. God help those UU wannabees who try going to that site as their first attempt to learn about us.
After seeing the mega bible site located at the .com I found that unitarianuniversalism.org was not registered and registered it. After several failed attempts to give it to the UUA I parked it. It is still parked to this day.
Given the focus on UU growth and evangelism today I do believe it is time for this parked domain to be unparked. So, over the coming months please look for updates on this project both here and on the UUPLANET newsletter.
I have some ideas for this site. Do you have ideas? I know UU do. Let me have 'em.
NOW we have a great website for our "quarterly denominational magazine" (uuworld.org) and a much improved website for our association (uua.org).
What's next? I think we need a kick @$$ site for people who are new to our movement. A.k.a. a seeker site. Something with no insider nonsense, UUisms, association business, etc...
I'm pleased to say that I've prioritized this as one of UU PLANET's projects for the coming year. It is time to pull together a fabulous team of people to develop what I see as a grassroots produced or developed seeker site. Where will this seeker site live? Unitarianuniversalism.org -- a domain I saved from the religious right. Yes, Unitarianuniversalism.com died and went to a biblical heaven. A sad sad tale and a domain I'd now stay away from. God help those UU wannabees who try going to that site as their first attempt to learn about us.
After seeing the mega bible site located at the .com I found that unitarianuniversalism.org was not registered and registered it. After several failed attempts to give it to the UUA I parked it. It is still parked to this day.
Given the focus on UU growth and evangelism today I do believe it is time for this parked domain to be unparked. So, over the coming months please look for updates on this project both here and on the UUPLANET newsletter.
I have some ideas for this site. Do you have ideas? I know UU do. Let me have 'em.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
"Miracle" snow at my home church
Looking at the UU news as listed on Google I just came upon a story that tells of a pile of snow appearing outside of a Unitarian Universalist church on a recent hot August day. To my surprise it was my HOME church in Providence, RI that had this "miracle" snow appear.
The real miracle is that this story got coverage in our local paper, the Providence Journal, and was picked up by other papers as well.
Since I now live in the city where my wife is a UU minister I had to do some investigating. It would seem that someone raided the pile of "snow" outside the Brown University skating rink.
Though I'm happy for their media coverage, I do wish that it was due to some good work, not a prank. If only they had called all the TV stations, set up a "miracle snow cone sale", and given the proceeds (at eBay prices) to a local charity. That would be news worthy.
Ah, the First Untiarian Church of Providence...
The real miracle is that this story got coverage in our local paper, the Providence Journal, and was picked up by other papers as well.
Since I now live in the city where my wife is a UU minister I had to do some investigating. It would seem that someone raided the pile of "snow" outside the Brown University skating rink.
Though I'm happy for their media coverage, I do wish that it was due to some good work, not a prank. If only they had called all the TV stations, set up a "miracle snow cone sale", and given the proceeds (at eBay prices) to a local charity. That would be news worthy.
Ah, the First Untiarian Church of Providence...
Which kind of CEO are we asking our ministers to be?
Who is behind the present push towards senior ministers serving as CEOs? That I'd love to know.
If you look at the business world and the CEO model some are now recommending there is volumes of literature suggesting that the best CEO knows how to trust, empower and support great staff people.
There is a great article on TEAM MINISTRY in a recent interconnections article.
UUA InterConnections: Collaborative Leadership In Churches' Best Interests
If your congregation is looking to move to a CEO model, make sure you find out if they are trying to move towards an older model where the "boss" calls all the shots, or a more cutting edge CEO model where the staff has a team leader but is a TEAM.
Have stories of UU CEO success or horror? I'd love to hear from you.
FYI -- Be careful where you stick your Policy Governance. It can send a dysfunctional UU leadership-ministry structure straight to HELL.
If you look at the business world and the CEO model some are now recommending there is volumes of literature suggesting that the best CEO knows how to trust, empower and support great staff people.
There is a great article on TEAM MINISTRY in a recent interconnections article.
UUA InterConnections: Collaborative Leadership In Churches' Best Interests
If your congregation is looking to move to a CEO model, make sure you find out if they are trying to move towards an older model where the "boss" calls all the shots, or a more cutting edge CEO model where the staff has a team leader but is a TEAM.
Have stories of UU CEO success or horror? I'd love to hear from you.
FYI -- Be careful where you stick your Policy Governance. It can send a dysfunctional UU leadership-ministry structure straight to HELL.
UUA Lay Leadership Drive Time Essays
At General Assembly 2005 the UUA started distributing discs of what they are calling "Drive Time Essays." These are short informational essays on focused topics for lay leaders.
The first set of these DTE's are now available online as PDF text files and in streaming audio. This is a great resource to share with your leadership.
UUA Programs & Services: Lay Leadership Drive Time Essays
The first set of these DTE's are now available online as PDF text files and in streaming audio. This is a great resource to share with your leadership.
UUA Programs & Services: Lay Leadership Drive Time Essays
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