Survival is not enough, especially for UUs!

Visiting our congregations as a guest speaker, corresponding with people about congregational change across the US - one thing is clear. CHANGE is still a four letter word. Yes, I know it has six letters....

While many of us are embracing growth and changing our ways, the truth is it only takes one person in most of our congregations to put on the breaks. In my home congregation I've watched them investigate hospitality, membership, growth multiple times, each resulting in the conclusion that there is a need for a part time volunteer/membership coordinator. Three cycles and a decade later their at it again. Who will put on the breaks this time? I love 'em, but they are stuck. Trying to drive into the future while somewhere someone is pulling on the emergency break. Or maybe its the steering wheel they are grabbing.

The author who turned me into a UU evangelist -- he gave me the tools and the attitude -- is best selling marketing author Seth Godin. Seth has a number of books out which UU's should read. My most recent read is Survival Is Not Enough: Why Smart Companies Abandon Worry and Embrace Change.

This is one I'd buy a stack of an give to your board. They'll love you for giving them a book that is a great read, not "churchie", and totally relevant.

Curious about this Godin guy, check out his blog. One business blogs on the planet Earth.

Church Marketing Lab offers free design ideas

Looking for some inspiration for posters, fliers or other church marketing materials? The people over at Church Marketing Sucks has developed a flickr group where people can share their designs. They are calling this the Church Marketing Lab.

One of my favorites is the design for the Crossroad's High School Ministry. They have worked in an atom symbol and a bio-hazard symbol. I have no doubt that their students where t-shirts with these designs with pride.

Watch a slide show of the some of the images in the lab....

UU's being led through month of gratitude

A search on Unitarian Universalist spiritual practices led me to a post by Thom Belote, Minister of the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church in Overland Park, KS. Thom is leading his congregation through a month of gratitude in February. Each day has a featured spiritual practice. Very cool....

I love seeing UU ministers share their ideas and "campaigns" with such generosity. If you are sitting on a practice, program or related resource you know other congregations would want to hear about, let it be known. Send it to the UUA, your district office, me - get it out there.

http://revthom.blogspot.com

I just talked with Tom about this program and he directed me to his source of inspiration for this, Rev. Ken Beldon of Wellsprings. If you check out their site notice "small groups" on the front page. Nice... If you got 'em, don't be shy! Show off your groups.

CGNews Changes, Groupwise! and UU TV

I've gotten some great emails from people since announcing last week that I am stepping down as editor Covenant Group News, the Unitarian Universalist Association's primary e-newsletter on small group ministry.

Why the change? Success!

Since launching the UU SGM Network my work has been growing. I am both a television producer and a UU consultant, trainer and guest speaker. My alternative ministry & UU media work has been growing. My secular tv production as well. Taken together all of this has squeezed out the time I had for both our network and my own writing.

Over 2008 I hope to spend more time writing and producing resources related to the various consulting work I do. Those of you interested in new small group ministry articles from me can subscribe to the small group section of my e-newsletter, "GroupWise: On UU Group Life and Leadership". I will be writing articles as time permits and compiling them for later publication.

In addition to writing, I would love to find time to do more to get us organized to produce UUtv. I haven't has much time for this, but since I first started talking about it the size of web video has doubled. Now IS the time... Stay tuned for more on that.

UUA Presidential Candidates and Supporters

Below is a youtube video player built to show the videos from the two candidates for UUA President. I will be adding videos from both candidates as I find them on youtube.

Get this player/link for your site.

Campaign Websites

Hallman - Morales