4/2/2016

1

uua.org

Rev. Renee RuchotzkeCongregational Life Consultant

Widening the Welcome of Your Congregation

uua.org

http://tinyurl.com/hpyeoj9

Slide deck:

4/2/2016

2

uua.org

Who is in our congregations?

Oblivious

Interested

Belong

Committed

Staff

uua.org

4/2/2016

3

uua.org

From Oblivious to Interested

uua.org

Why Do People Come to Church?

4/2/2016

4

uua.org

Why Do People Come to Church?

uua.org

Many Paths…

© Madereugeneandrew

4/2/2016

5

uua.org

Welcoming as a Spiritual Practice

uua.org

Welcoming as a Spiritual Practice

4/2/2016

6

uua.org

Radical Hospitality

uua.org

What is your Theology of Welcoming?

4/2/2016

7

uua.org

Welcoming Space

Photo by Philip Brewer

uua.org

Welcoming Space

Photo by Philip Brewer

4/2/2016

8

uua.org

Welcoming Space

Photo by Philip Brewer

© eflon on Flickr

uua.org

Welcoming Space

4/2/2016

9

uua.org

Welcoming Space

© Colin Macmillan

uua.org

Welcoming Space

4/2/2016

10

uua.org

Welcoming Space

uua.org

Welcoming Space

4/2/2016

11

uua.org

Welcoming Space

uua.org

Welcoming Space

4/2/2016

12

uua.org

Welcoming Space

Photo by Philip Brewer

uua.org

Welcoming Space

4/2/2016

13

uua.org

“Anonymous Visitor” Programshttp://www.cerguua.org/ondemand/course/view.php?id=63

uua.org

Channel Miss Manners…….

4/2/2016

14

uua.org

…Or your own cultural expression of hospitality

uua.org

Knowing that we may get it wrong…

4/2/2016

15

uua.org

Six Key Conversations

uua.org

1. Welcome and Greeting• Key: Reduce Sense of Isolation

4/2/2016

16

uua.org

2. “Restate” your Invitation• Key: Authenticity and Warmth

uua.org

3. Connection before Content• Key: What Matters Most

4/2/2016

17

uua.org

Pre-qualified

uua.org

Connection• What brought you to church today?• When I first visited…..

• Do you have any questions about the church?• One thing I really like about the church is…

• How do you feel about living in the community?• I like……

• I’m originally from _______. • Where did you grow up?

4/2/2016

18

uua.org

4. Acknowledge Late Arrivals• Key: Warmth and inclusion

uua.org

5. Acknowledge Early Departures• Key: Warmth, inclusion and sense of loss

4/2/2016

19

uua.org

6. Break Bread Together• Key: Nourishing, healthy, local

uua.org

From Interested to Belonging

4/2/2016

20

uua.org

Membership Path

uua.org

Focus: Spiritual Hospitality

4/2/2016

21

uua.org

Spiritual Hospitality

Photo by Paul Downey https://www.flickr.com/photos/psd/

uua.org

Spiritual Hospitality

Photo by Seth Vidal https://www.flickr.com/photos/skvidal/

4/2/2016

22

uua.org

TRAINING!!!!!

uua.org

Hospitality

4/2/2016

23

uua.org

http://www.cerguua.org/ondemand/course/view.php?id=49

uua.org

4/2/2016

24

uua.org

uua.org

4/2/2016

25

Beyond the Potluck:Offering programming that “sticks to your ribs”Rev. Renee Ruchotzke, Congregational Life Staff

uua.org