Visioning the future…

How Churches Grow and ChangeHow Churches Grow and Change(and how ours will…)(and how ours will…)

January 8, 2007January 8, 2007

Rev. Dr. Matt TittleRev. Dr. Matt TittleBay Area UU ChurchBay Area UU Church

Houston, TXHouston, TX

How Churches Grow and ChangeHow Churches Grow and Change(and how ours will…)(and how ours will…)

January 8, 2007January 8, 2007

Rev. Dr. Matt TittleRev. Dr. Matt TittleBay Area UU ChurchBay Area UU Church

Houston, TXHouston, TX

Looking at your entire experience at BAUUC, remember a time when you felt most alive, most fulfilled, or most excited about your involvement in the church… What made it exciting? Who else was involved? Describe how you felt about it?

Looking at your entire experience at BAUUC, remember a time when you felt most alive, most fulfilled, or most excited about your involvement in the church… What made it exciting? Who else was involved? Describe how you felt about it?

Visioning the future…Visioning the future…

Source: Campbell, Congregations as Learning Communities, Alban, 2000

Without being humble, what do you value most about yourself as a person and as a member of BAUUC?

What do you value most about BAUUC?

What is the most important thing this church has contributed to your life?

Without being humble, what do you value most about yourself as a person and as a member of BAUUC?

What do you value most about BAUUC?

What is the most important thing this church has contributed to your life?



What is the core ingredient in BAUUC’s make up, without which it just wouldn’t be BAUUC?

Make three wishes for the future of BAUUC…

What is the core ingredient in BAUUC’s make up, without which it just wouldn’t be BAUUC?

Make three wishes for the future of BAUUC…



BAUUC VisionBAUUC Vision

The vision of the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church (BAUUC) is to be a vibrant liberal religious home respecting all people and advocating our principles in the community and the world.

The vision of the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church (BAUUC) is to be a vibrant liberal religious home respecting all people and advocating our principles in the community and the world.

Adopted by the congregation in 2005

BAUUC MissionBAUUC Mission

Our mission is to improve our community and our world by: encouraging spiritual growth in a diverse congregation

which respects the free and responsible expression of ideas;

covenanting compassionate fellowship; providing a joyful environment that nurtures creativity; collaborating with others to promote our values; providing a vibrant life span program; and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

Our mission is to improve our community and our world by: encouraging spiritual growth in a diverse congregation

which respects the free and responsible expression of ideas;

covenanting compassionate fellowship; providing a joyful environment that nurtures creativity; collaborating with others to promote our values; providing a vibrant life span program; and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.

Adopted by the congregation in 2005

Why grow and change?Why grow and change?

Remember, growth is multifaceted: Quantitative, qualitative, spiritual, psychological, relational,

etc. Because we are under-serving our community. Because someone in our local area will benefit from being here. Because our mission and vision call for us to serve. Because many people come looking for something that is

currently missing in their lives (members and visitors). Because it is what human beings do… Because our theology/values require it. Because it would be selfish not to.

Remember, growth is multifaceted: Quantitative, qualitative, spiritual, psychological, relational,

etc. Because we are under-serving our community. Because someone in our local area will benefit from being here. Because our mission and vision call for us to serve. Because many people come looking for something that is

currently missing in their lives (members and visitors). Because it is what human beings do… Because our theology/values require it. Because it would be selfish not to.

Research shows…Research shows…Research shows…Research shows…

Congregations fall into distinctive size categories, and congregations of different sizes organize in different ways. Each has its own recognizable way of “being church.”

Congregations fall into distinctive size categories, and congregations of different sizes organize in different ways. Each has its own recognizable way of “being church.”

Source: Mann, Raising the Roof, Alban, 2001

Research shows…Research shows…

Average sabbath attendance--all ages all worship services combined, over the whole year--is the best single indicator of size.

BAUUC average attendance is 250+.

Average sabbath attendance--all ages all worship services combined, over the whole year--is the best single indicator of size.

BAUUC average attendance is 250+.



Congregations do not grow or decline smoothly, but tend to “plateau” at certain predictable levels of attendance.

Congregations do not grow or decline smoothly, but tend to “plateau” at certain predictable levels of attendance.



In order to break through an attendance plateau, a congregation must deliberately relinquish familiar patterns of behavior and begin to act as larger congregations act.

In order to break through an attendance plateau, a congregation must deliberately relinquish familiar patterns of behavior and begin to act as larger congregations act.


Church TypesChurch Types

Family (0-50) Extended family(s) Everybody knows everybody Organized around 1-2

individuals or a family (primary leaders)

Part-time clergy in chaplain role (secondary leader)

Family (0-50) Extended family(s) Everybody knows everybody Organized around 1-2

individuals or a family (primary leaders)

Part-time clergy in chaplain role (secondary leader)

Pastoral (51-150) 2-3 networks of families/

friends unified around pastor Clergy in direct relationship

with each member Clergy does everything Board operates like a

committee concerned with daily ops

Members recognize faces, new and old, and know most people

Pastoral (51-150) 2-3 networks of families/

friends unified around pastor Clergy in direct relationship

with each member Clergy does everything Board operates like a

committee concerned with daily ops

Members recognize faces, new and old, and know most people


Church TypesChurch Types

Program (151-400) Known for quality and variety of

programs Separate programming for

different ages and interest groups Pastor recruits, equips, and

inspires a small group of leaders (paid and volunteer)

Decision making is distributed in wider circle (50ish)

Pastoral care is shared

Program (151-400) Known for quality and variety of

programs Separate programming for

different ages and interest groups Pastor recruits, equips, and

inspires a small group of leaders (paid and volunteer)

Decision making is distributed in wider circle (50ish)

Pastoral care is shared

Corporate (401+) Known for excellence in worship,

music, and for range of programs Specialized ministries for narrowly

defined groups (known outside of cong.)

Subcongregations form around various worship services

Senior pastor concentrates on worship and staff leadership (sometimes a CEO)

Decision making is multi-layered structure of Board, staff, councils, and committees

Pastor provides crisis ministry. Other pastoral care done in small groups or lay pastoral care teams.

Corporate (401+) Known for excellence in worship,

music, and for range of programs Specialized ministries for narrowly

defined groups (known outside of cong.)

Subcongregations form around various worship services

Senior pastor concentrates on worship and staff leadership (sometimes a CEO)

Decision making is multi-layered structure of Board, staff, councils, and committees

Pastor provides crisis ministry. Other pastoral care done in small groups or lay pastoral care teams.


BAUUC is…BAUUC is…

A program size church with,

A pastoral personality and expectations,

A corporate governance structure, and

A strong family heritage!

A program size church with,

A pastoral personality and expectations,

A corporate governance structure, and

A strong family heritage!

Perceived (and real) barriers to growth


Being unclear about having a vocation to make room for more of our neighbors in order to serve a growing community.

Being unclear about size plateau concepts or realities.

When space is effectively “filled up.”

Being unclear about having a vocation to make room for more of our neighbors in order to serve a growing community.

Being unclear about size plateau concepts or realities.

When space is effectively “filled up.”




Not being staffed for growth.

When the perceived “adequate” budget does not permit growth.

When ministry infrastructure is inadequate for movement to the next size.

Not being staffed for growth.

When the perceived “adequate” budget does not permit growth.

When ministry infrastructure is inadequate for movement to the next size.


Necessary InfrastructureNecessary Infrastructure

New member incorporation Member ministry development Lifespan faith formation Pastoral care Small-group ministries Board and staff development

New member incorporation Member ministry development Lifespan faith formation Pastoral care Small-group ministries Board and staff development


& Growth Areas & Growth Areas

Ministry(s) Prophetic, membership, social justice, music, small-group, pastoral care, health

Worship Governance Lifespan Religious Education Stewardship Fellowship Physical plant Daily operations

Ministry(s) Prophetic, membership, social justice, music, small-group, pastoral care, health

Worship Governance Lifespan Religious Education Stewardship Fellowship Physical plant Daily operations

“An unexamined faith is not worth having” - Rev. James Luther Adams

Strengths

Imagine…Imagine…

3 Sunday worship services 1-2 other vespers/worship services each

week Weekly dinner for 100+ Monthly coffeehouses, speakers, etc. 24+ covenant groups

3 Sunday worship services 1-2 other vespers/worship services each

week Weekly dinner for 100+ Monthly coffeehouses, speakers, etc. 24+ covenant groups

Keep imagining…Keep imagining…

Multiple support groups (grief, mental health, life transitions, etc.)

Continuous new member and adult faith development classes

Leadership training Lay pastoral care teams

Multiple support groups (grief, mental health, life transitions, etc.)

Continuous new member and adult faith development classes

Leadership training Lay pastoral care teams

Keep imagining…Keep imagining…

More (maybe double) staff in admin, custodial, support, RE, music…

400-500 worship attendance every week $500,000 operating budget 350+ voting members

More (maybe double) staff in admin, custodial, support, RE, music…

400-500 worship attendance every week $500,000 operating budget 350+ voting members

Stop imagining…Stop imagining… Everything in these “imaginary” slides is either

already, will be, or needs to be happening within two years, with…

1 minister (and maybe a student) 1 building sized for about 300 members 1 sanctuary sized for seating 150 1 UU congregation serving a community of

500,000 people…

Now, imagine 5 or 10 years out…..

Everything in these “imaginary” slides is either already, will be, or needs to be happening within two years, with…

1 minister (and maybe a student) 1 building sized for about 300 members 1 sanctuary sized for seating 150 1 UU congregation serving a community of

500,000 people…

Now, imagine 5 or 10 years out…..

Pastoral (51-150) Corporate (401-1k)

Family (0-50) Program (141- 400)

Pastor-Centered

Group-Centered

Organism Organization

Size Transition “N-Curve”Source: Mann, Raising the Roof, Alban, 2001

BAUUC Member GrowthBAUUC Member Growth

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300

Members

BAUUC Budget GrowthBAUUC Budget Growth

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100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Budget

Member & Budget GrowthMember & Budget Growth

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50

100

150

200

250

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Members

Budget

TangiblesTangibles

Before the building opens: Settled DRE and Youth Director hired Long-range planning process Volunteer recruitment Lay pastoral care training More publicity

When the building opens: Double sexton staff New worship service structure Vespers service More robust fellowship and RE

Before the building opens: Settled DRE and Youth Director hired Long-range planning process Volunteer recruitment Lay pastoral care training More publicity

When the building opens: Double sexton staff New worship service structure Vespers service More robust fellowship and RE

TangiblesTangibles

Soon after the building opens: Three Sunday services Robust programming, membership integration, and

fellowship activities Near Future (2-3 years):

Ministerial interns Additional staff Collaboration and growth of UUism throughout

Houston

Soon after the building opens: Three Sunday services Robust programming, membership integration, and

fellowship activities Near Future (2-3 years):

Ministerial interns Additional staff Collaboration and growth of UUism throughout

Houston

Strategic PlanningStrategic Planning Comprehensive five and ten year plans (including

membership, staff, budget, building, programming, etc.)

Staff and volunteer division of labor Re-evaluate governance structure New missioning/visioning/purposing process Simultaneously strengthen small group and large

group ministries Looking forward to Phase II of building project

(new sanctuary)

Comprehensive five and ten year plans (including membership, staff, budget, building, programming, etc.)

Staff and volunteer division of labor Re-evaluate governance structure New missioning/visioning/purposing process Simultaneously strengthen small group and large

group ministries Looking forward to Phase II of building project

(new sanctuary)

Questions?Questions?

Documents

Visioning the future…