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What is a UU Ministerial Start-Up Workshop?
In general, a Ministerial “Start-up” Workshop offers opportunities
for
- Looking Backwards- Where have we been? What have we been through?
- Looking Inward - How do we operate? What is the ministry of
this church? What are we here for?
- Looking Forward - Where are we going? What can we accomplish?
- Covenanting - How shall we be together? What can we promise each other?
A Unitarian Universalist Start-Up Workshop capitalizes on the opportunity presented
to both the congregation and minister in this time of transition where there
can be a sense of exceptional openness in the congregational system. The benefit
of having a facilitated session allows the group to get a lot out on the table;
to speak openly of their hopes for the future and the covenant between them
as minster and congregation.
The clarification of expectations, goals, and ways of relating at the beginning
helps to establish a stable and healthy environment in which both the minister
and congregation can grow and flourish, setting the stage for healthy shared
ministry and a successful settlement for the minister and congregation.
The Process
The standard Start-up (*) begins Friday evening with exercises and conversation
that include a large number of participants. Often the congregation in general
is invited to pot-luck meal and then engages in a conversation that unveils
a deeper history of the congregation. Saturday is for a smaller group of key
leadership and their work is devoted more toward “unpacking” the
history, creating goals and/or a covenant.
The exercises that we do in large and small groups are meant to tease out and
respond to the questions noted above. How much emphasis is put in each of these
areas is related to the minister’s and congregation’s hoped-for
outcomes. It isn’t likely we could cover everything in one day, so each
congregation chooses where to put its emphasis – what will strengthen
and encourage an effective and nurturing ministry?
(*) Many congregations have chosen to do the Start-up Workshop in one day,
usually a Saturday. The format is adjusted to capture the essence of the Friday
night exercises and move through other exercises and conversations in a pattern
similar to the longer version. Neither one nor the other is more effective.
Broad participation of congregational leaders (the Board and beyond) leads to
greater satisfaction with the process, and an important gauge of success is
the participation, engagement and good will of all participants.
Who Should Attend
The minister, religious educator, other church staff, Board members and/or Council
leaders (major Committee chairs) should attend the entire Start-up process.
In addition, it is important to have as broad a representation of the congregation
in this mix: elders, long-time members, newer folks, young adults, parents and
if possible even youth (depending on congregational demographics).
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