1. Path to Membership Patricia Hall Infante
Congregational Life Consultant
Central East Region of the UUA

2. Welcome!

3. Introductions Share: Write Your first name Your congregation
What brings you here today
Write
A question you have
Expectation you have
Challenge you are facing

4. Overview Welcome & Chalice Lighting Introductions Overview
Definitions & Motivations
Basic Hospitality
Multicultural Welcome
BREAK

5. Overview Path to Membership Model Whose work is it?
When Things Don’t Go as Planned
Small Group Ministry
How Service Leads to Leadership
Wrap Up/Questions
Closing & Gratitude

6. Definitions: Brainstorm
Membership V.
Belonging
Key Questions: What’s the difference? Who benefits?

7. Motivations towards Membership
Institutional
Community
Individual
Increase resources
Life transitions
Spiritual Seeker
Increase
Enhance shared experience
Family Ministry
diversity
Spiritual Crises
Maintain reputation and status
Relational
Need for Community
Energy and vitality
Prior UU Experience
Affirmation

8. Expectations of Membership
Institution
Community
Individual
Participation
Increase shared experience
Friendship
Financial
Affirmation of values
Volunteer/Lead
Increase diversity
Spiritual/Personal Growth
Share the load

9. Basic Hospitality Trained greeters Offer welcome packet
Warm, extroverted individuals!
They should be able to connect first time visitors with information about programs and the facility
Offer welcome packet
Family welcome packet
Simple sign-in process
Self service information
Accessibility
Be authentic in how you represent yourself!
Assessment tool on uua.org

10. Multicultural Welcome
Definition of Multiculturalism …means nurturing a religious community where people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures see their cultural identities reflected and affirmed in every aspect of congregational life – worship, fellowship, leadership, governance, religious education, social justice, etc.

11. Multiculturalism means that we create religious homes where encounters between people of different cultural identities intersect with Unitarian Universalism to create a fully inclusive community where, in the words of a vision statement adopted by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Leadership Council, “all people are welcomed as blessings and the human family lives whole and reconciled.”

12. Multiculturalism means that one cultural identity does not dominate all other identities; that people are able to participate in their faith community without denying or hiding their cultural identities, that the role of cultural identity is part of pastoral and prophetic ministry, and that leaders have the competency to understand how their multiple identities and socialization influence their values, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and interactions with others.

13. Key Questions How might our welcome practices by monocultural?
What is the role of assumptions in creating inclusive multicultural welcome?
What is the role of white supremacy culture in creating inclusive multicultural welcome?

14. Ten minutes!

15. “A” Path to Membership Model
No right way!
Goal is to move folks from a seeker to an integrated member.
Serves as a discernment tool for the institution
Provides community with a continuity and an ongoing stream newcomers and engaged participants to increase energy
Provides clarity of expectations for the individual

16. Your Path to Membership
Should be explicit
Connected to mission
Doesn’t have to be complicated!
Should include:
data collection
A means to build relationship
A systematic way of reaching out and following individual progress

17. Whose Work is it? Membership Committee Members Board/Leadership
Minister/Staff
Membership Professional Landscape
Director
Manager
Coordinator
UUAMP is a professional organization dedicated to supporting individuals and institutions doing this work. uuamp.org

18. When Things Don’t Go as Planned
First impressions
Lack of energy and vitality
Mission Misalignment
Family Ministry
Safety
Special
Multigenerational worship
Cooperative requirements
Lack of social media presence
You make them uncomfortable
NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO STAY

19. Small Group Ministry
Covenant Groups, Fellowship Groups, Soul Matters Groups, Parenting Groups
Helps individuals build relationships that begin to bind them to the community more deeply
Experience personal growth and transformation
Make friends
Commit to service
A caveat:
Need to ensure they follow a healthy process

20. Service Leads to Leadership
High level of engagement
Internalize mission and goals of the institution
Experience their own agency to create change
Experience the impact of their service
High level of commitment
Time, Talent and Treasure

22. wrap up

23. Take Home Plan 1 Idea to implement 1 learning goal for you
The congregation
The membership committee
The leadership
What do you need?
Who do you need?

24. Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver