Congratulations to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County (Media, PA), for being the newest UUA Breakthrough Congregation! Each year the UUA’s Congregational Life Office recognizes a handful of congregations that have “broken through” barriers to achieve exemplary goals.

The UU Church of Delaware County is highlighted in the current edition of the UUWorld, which will be hitting Unitarian Universalist members’ mailboxes at any moment. The following study guide is intended to accompany the article about the congregation. We hope that this enables lively discussions for your congregational leaders.

 

Questions for Discussion and Deeper Study

 

The UU Church of Delaware County has a culture of saying “yes” and is described as a “congregation that puts themselves on the edge” in bold ways.

Questions for Discussion

• In what ways does your congregation says “yes?”
• How might a culture that encourages innovative thinking help leaders and members deepen their own spiritual growth?
• What is the boldest action your congregation has taken in support of its mission? How did it feel to take a bold step forward and what did you have to “leave behind” to move forward?

Delaware County has an innovative “Growth through Service” program that integrates volunteer service opportunities with faith development. Congregants develop individual goals for spiritual growth and are matched with volunteer opportunities to help them meet those goals.

Questions for Discussion 

• What are some of the ways that your congregation connects volunteers to service opportunities?
• Is there a process by which congregants can articulate individual spiritual goals and do you see a connection to service within your context?
• How might such a program help your congregation reimagine the way in which leaders are trained and developed?

 

At UUCDC, several volunteers identified a target group, young families, and sought permission from the leadership to develop social opportunities for connection that evolved into several small ministry groups.

Questions for Discussion 

• As you think about your congregation, are there groups or ministry areas that are ripe for connection through small group ministry?
• Is this something you can imagine happening in your congregation? Why or why not?

 

UUCDC has raised its expectations for members in a number of ways including asking for an increased financial commitment, the Growth through Service program and an overall culture that values “showing up.”

Questions for Discussion 

• What areas can you think of where higher expectations could help your congregation live its mission more fully?
• How receptive is your congregation to change and how might leaders prepare the congregation for this work? What might be a first step to raising expectations?

 

 

Photos from the UUWorld pages on Flickr.

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This Study Guide creator is Patricia Infante, Congregational Life Staff with the Central East Regional Group. CERG offers many excellent growth resources. Please check them out! Thank you, Pat, for so generously serving our faith.