The Ministry of Membership

Heidi Mastrud, Director of Congregational Life, First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, UUAMP Board of Trustees

Phil Lund, Director of Faith Development and Congregational Growth, Prairie Star District

Multi-tasking?

Chalice Lighting

Inviting Reflection

Think of a time that your congregation did

not do a good job of being open to

newcomers.

Radical Hospitality

“When I let a stranger into my heart, I let a new possibility approach me. When I reach past my own ideas, I begin to stretch myself open to the world, and this opening of my heart could change everything. That’s pretty frightening stuff. You can’t ever be the same if you start doing that kind of thing.”

- From Introduction, p.xx

Hearing Your Voices

Describe Unitarian

Universalism at its best.

Hearing Your Voices

Describe Unitarian

Universalism at its worst.

What is the Role of the

Membership

Professional/Committee?

Cultivating a Culture of Inclusivity

This is everyone’s work.

Preach it!

Communicate

strategically.

Align programming.

Cultivating a Culture of Inclusivity

Never use insider language.

Intros at every meeting.

Know your congregational

identity.

You have a vision.

My Vision

Come into this place.

There are healing waters here

and hands with soothing balm

to ease your troubled days…

Rest awhile.

Let the warmth of this community

surround you,

hold you,

heal you.

-From “Saved” by Theresa Novak

UU Theology, Principles, Sources

Inherent Worth & Dignity of

All

Justice, Equity &

Compassion

Acceptance of One Another

Universal Salvation

Wisdom From the World’s Religions

What is Hospitality?

Welcome. Without Exception.

My Challenge to You:

Sit down tonight or tomorrow, while

this is still fresh in your head, and

write two or three sentences about

how your work with membership is

a ministry and a faith-full practice.

Then send those ideas to me

(heidi@firstuniv.org) and I’ll compile

them and disseminate them to the

people on this call.

Radical Hospitality

Throw open the windows, swing wide

the doors, crank up the music of our

lives and our congregations. Amazing

things will happen if we… become

available to others, radically available. - From Introduction, p.xx

Resources Serving with Grace: Lay Leadership as a Spiritual Practice, Erik Walker

Wikstrom

Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s Way of Love, Lonni Collins Pratt with Father Daniel Homan

“Saved” from With or Without Candlelight: A Meditation Anthology, Rev. Victoria Safford, ed.

Heidi’s Blog, “Not Hell But Hope” http://nothellbuthope.blogspot.com/

Rev. Justin Schroeder’s Blog, “The Well” http://wellswedidnotdig.blogspot.com/2011/10/mapping-life-hospitality-or-exclusivity.html - this will link to a post about hospitality

www.uuamp.org or Facebook Group: UUAMP

Questions

or Comments?

Thank you!

Join UUAMP at our next webinar!

Greeter 101, April 9, 7:45 ET