Congregational Life - Religious Education
I believe that education is a life-long adventure. It is an exploration! While much is "personal" (a matter of reading, reflecting upon experiences, etc.), I feel it is best embraced in community, as people of all ages, and all backgrounds, share their learning process together. Doing so allows those of different age groups who share similar values to benefit from each other’s thoughts, experiences and skills. Significantly, it brings focus to a sense of unity among individuals who also might otherwise not come into contact with each other.
Trained, supported volunteers and fairly compensated religious education professionals are essential. As a half-time minister of a congregation without religious exploration staff, contracted to preach twice monthly (with little remaining time available to allocate to Religious Exploration), I have had to think creatively about ways to encourage spiritual growth/intellectual stimulation.
Sunday intergenerational stories and Sunday sermons are a central source of shared religious exploration, especially when participants in the service choose to engage with the topic and share their thoughts with one another afterwards. Another source which I particularly enjoy is the focused workshop. I have led workshops training facilitators for Spiritual Reflections groups, for Covenant Groups, and as Worship Associates. Focus areas for other workshops include: Mission & Vision, Leadership Development, Safe Congregations, Stewardship, Covenants, Sexuality & Religion, Diversity Sensitivity, Social & Environmental Justice Activism, New2UU (UU History).
Religious exploration programs remain vibrant through ongoing leadership development (and volunteer recognition). When in-house resources (funds, trained facilitators, etc.) are low, it can also be helpful to actively draw attention to existing opportunities (such as programming in other Cluster congregations), and resources (such as the UUA curricula, which can be easily adapted to suit congregational resources). As Cluster Minister, I encouraged area congregations to share their resources and best practices.
One of the most recent, successful religious exploration efforts was through my introduction of a "theme based ministry". For ten months of the year the congregation focuses on one theological theme each month: through a monthly flier including resources for exploration (which led to the creation also of a flyer geared specifically toward Youth), worship services, chalice-children activities, team and committee meeting check-ins, service projects, etc. Feedback for this as an intellectually and spiritually stimulating, community-building religious exploration program, has been remarkably positive - and I have enjoyed it immensely. (See: http://revsteffithemes.weebly)
Trained, supported volunteers and fairly compensated religious education professionals are essential. As a half-time minister of a congregation without religious exploration staff, contracted to preach twice monthly (with little remaining time available to allocate to Religious Exploration), I have had to think creatively about ways to encourage spiritual growth/intellectual stimulation.
Sunday intergenerational stories and Sunday sermons are a central source of shared religious exploration, especially when participants in the service choose to engage with the topic and share their thoughts with one another afterwards. Another source which I particularly enjoy is the focused workshop. I have led workshops training facilitators for Spiritual Reflections groups, for Covenant Groups, and as Worship Associates. Focus areas for other workshops include: Mission & Vision, Leadership Development, Safe Congregations, Stewardship, Covenants, Sexuality & Religion, Diversity Sensitivity, Social & Environmental Justice Activism, New2UU (UU History).
Religious exploration programs remain vibrant through ongoing leadership development (and volunteer recognition). When in-house resources (funds, trained facilitators, etc.) are low, it can also be helpful to actively draw attention to existing opportunities (such as programming in other Cluster congregations), and resources (such as the UUA curricula, which can be easily adapted to suit congregational resources). As Cluster Minister, I encouraged area congregations to share their resources and best practices.
One of the most recent, successful religious exploration efforts was through my introduction of a "theme based ministry". For ten months of the year the congregation focuses on one theological theme each month: through a monthly flier including resources for exploration (which led to the creation also of a flyer geared specifically toward Youth), worship services, chalice-children activities, team and committee meeting check-ins, service projects, etc. Feedback for this as an intellectually and spiritually stimulating, community-building religious exploration program, has been remarkably positive - and I have enjoyed it immensely. (See: http://revsteffithemes.weebly)