Director of Lifespan Faith Development (DLFD) Search Congregational Conversations
October 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24 2017 | Held in people's homes and at UUCNH
The Mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills is:
- By building a loving religious community that
- nourishes the spirit,
celebrates life, and
cherishes the connectedness of all things,
we will transform ourselves and our world.
Why We Did Small Group Conversations - "The Story of Us"
The DLFD Search Committee sponsored small group conversations in which folks engaged in vital church work to: 1) help shape our future Lifespan Faith Development programs and 2) guide our Director of Lifespan Faith Development Search Committee to search for new, professional religious education leadership. After the conversations were recorded and compiled we would have a “product” to give to the Search Committee for their use.
And this is how we publicized it to the congregation:
What Are We Going to Do?
Well, we’re going to listen to one another while we. . .
How Are We Going to Do This?
The gifts needed to accomplish this are in this congregation right now. Our purpose is to appreciate what is good and best about our program today, and building on this strength, imagine a future of joy, possibility, and hope. Listen to one another with appreciation. We are inviting you to participate by sharing your highest aspirations for UUCNH. What will you have us set our heart to in our RE programs?
Directions
The DLFD Search Committee sponsored small group conversations in which folks engaged in vital church work to: 1) help shape our future Lifespan Faith Development programs and 2) guide our Director of Lifespan Faith Development Search Committee to search for new, professional religious education leadership. After the conversations were recorded and compiled we would have a “product” to give to the Search Committee for their use.
- There was a choice of meeting days, times and locations
- Children and youth ages 8 and up were welcomed and included in this process
And this is how we publicized it to the congregation:
What Are We Going to Do?
Well, we’re going to listen to one another while we. . .
- Discover and explore our changing Religious Education and Lifelong Learning landscape
- Dream and articulate a vision of the future that we want
- Design the principles and propositions our vision needs
- Imagine—what kind of professional religious educator will help make our vision become our destiny?
How Are We Going to Do This?
The gifts needed to accomplish this are in this congregation right now. Our purpose is to appreciate what is good and best about our program today, and building on this strength, imagine a future of joy, possibility, and hope. Listen to one another with appreciation. We are inviting you to participate by sharing your highest aspirations for UUCNH. What will you have us set our heart to in our RE programs?
Directions
- Gather into groups of 8 or more. Allow two hours from beginning to end.
- We will have five “sessions”—the first four of 15 min duration each; and the last of 30 min
- During each 15 min session, converse about the questions; please include our children in these discussions!
- At the end of each session, agree on common themes, points of agreements, and write them down. We will post what you write, and compile them at the end.
- The facilitator will be the scribe.
- We will conclude with a short summation period
Conversation #1 Discovery
The purpose of Session #1 is to share reminisces about what in your past experience with the UUCNH Children and Youth or Adult Faith Development (or another Unitarian Universalist church experience) was transformative. Vital. Significant. Valuable.
Adult Questions
The purpose of Session #1 is to share reminisces about what in your past experience with the UUCNH Children and Youth or Adult Faith Development (or another Unitarian Universalist church experience) was transformative. Vital. Significant. Valuable.
Adult Questions
- Tell a story of something in religious education or adult faith development that really worked for you (your child), pick something you'd like to see continue and develop.
- What were the circumstances of that event/time/success in RE?
- How did it affect your (your child's) life?
- What were the conditions that contributed to making that possible?
- Why was it memorable, valuable?
- What has been your most favorite thing that you ever did in RE? Why was it your favorite?
- Can you tell me a story about your favorite thing?
- What do you like learning most in RE?
- What do you like doing most? Why?
Conversation #2 Dream
The purpose of Session #2 is to imagine a vision and future for Faith Devlopment and Adult LIfelong Learning that we want.
Adult Questions
Imagine a time in the future when people look back on our community as an exceptional example of a thriving, attractive RE program, where mission and vision guide our activities, and where people of all ages are engaged in religious education and faith development initiatives.
In this exciting future,
Child Questions
1. A genie has just granted you three wishes to use for RE class. You can use one wish for a teacher, one wish for something to learn, and one wish for something to do. What would you wish for? Why?
The purpose of Session #2 is to imagine a vision and future for Faith Devlopment and Adult LIfelong Learning that we want.
Adult Questions
Imagine a time in the future when people look back on our community as an exceptional example of a thriving, attractive RE program, where mission and vision guide our activities, and where people of all ages are engaged in religious education and faith development initiatives.
In this exciting future,
- How are people engaged in religious education? Why?
- What kinds of programs are engaging us?
- What is sustaining our engagement?
- What might you be most proud of doing that helped this new future coming into being?
Child Questions
1. A genie has just granted you three wishes to use for RE class. You can use one wish for a teacher, one wish for something to learn, and one wish for something to do. What would you wish for? Why?
- Wish for a teacher
- Something to learn
- Something to do.
Conversation #3 Design
The purpose of Session #3 is to design through dialog the principles, provocative propositions, and ideals that we must embed into our program to create the future vision that we imagined in Conversation #2.
Adult Questions
2. How can we create opportunities for members to share their journey and the networks involved in that search, as well as nurture new networks among members?
3. How can our program balance development of both the individual and the community? How much autonomy can we give up in exchange for being part of a group?
4. How can we utilize technology to develop programs and engage members? (this could be related to any of the above?
Child Questions
1. Imagine yourself as a Dr. Suess character. What BIG words would you be shouting about Religious Education classes from your book? What would you be doing in your book?
2. Can you draw it for us?
The purpose of Session #3 is to design through dialog the principles, provocative propositions, and ideals that we must embed into our program to create the future vision that we imagined in Conversation #2.
Adult Questions
- How can we meet people where they are? For example, the increasing number of s spiritual but not religious (who are not looking at all to attend a church), as well as the differing wants and needs of our members.
- How can our program support diverse family structures, busy and diverse children and youth, and busy family schedules, as well as an often-transient community?
- How can we instill congregational commitment among the increasing number of families without any church experience (the “un-churched”)?
- How can we identify and support the diverse generational needs of members? How can we adapt to Millennial and GenX families?
2. How can we create opportunities for members to share their journey and the networks involved in that search, as well as nurture new networks among members?
3. How can our program balance development of both the individual and the community? How much autonomy can we give up in exchange for being part of a group?
4. How can we utilize technology to develop programs and engage members? (this could be related to any of the above?
Child Questions
1. Imagine yourself as a Dr. Suess character. What BIG words would you be shouting about Religious Education classes from your book? What would you be doing in your book?
2. Can you draw it for us?
Conversation #4 Destiny | Imagine!
Adult Questions
1. What kind of religious education professional could make this vision we have today a reality?
Child Questions
These Town Hall questions are inspired by the work of Karen Bellavance Grace, 2013 Fahs Fellow for Innovation in Multigenerational Faith Formation from her work in Full Week Faith: Rethinking Religious Education and Faith Formation Ministries For Twenty-First Century Unitarian Universalists. Written by Steven Mead, shared with permission. Edited by Dawn Lindsay.
Adult Questions
1. What kind of religious education professional could make this vision we have today a reality?
- Creator? Designer? Program Manager?
- Risk Taker?
- How much experience? Of what kinds?
- Introvert? Extrovert?
- Experience working in a team environment?
- How resilient? Resourceful? Versatile? Approachable? Principled? Industrious? Passionate? Innovative?
- What would you want them accountable for besides running a core program
- i.Curriculum development?
- ii.Coming of age program?
iii.Youth program coordination?
iv.Strategic planning?
v.Intergenerational worship?
vi.Small group ministry?
vii.Young adult ministry?
viii.Family ministry?
ix.Adult lifelong learning?
x.Pastoral care/counseling?
xi.Interfaith or social justice activities?
xii.Community building activities?
Child Questions
- You are the casting director for a new multi-million dollar movie about UUCNH Religious Education.
- What kind of movie would it be?
- Who would you cast in the lead role? What would they be like?
- What would they do on screen? Would they ride a horse? Wave a magic wand? Drive a taxicab? Speak six languages?
- Can you draw a scene with your lead character in it? (time?)
These Town Hall questions are inspired by the work of Karen Bellavance Grace, 2013 Fahs Fellow for Innovation in Multigenerational Faith Formation from her work in Full Week Faith: Rethinking Religious Education and Faith Formation Ministries For Twenty-First Century Unitarian Universalists. Written by Steven Mead, shared with permission. Edited by Dawn Lindsay.