Report of RE Consultant

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Findings:

The congregation is committed to a healthy and vibrant religious education program for children and youth.  There were many positive experiences shared from the past, and there is a strong desire to enhance current programming, including hiring a staff person to oversee the program and create a strong religious education committee to guide the mission and vision of the program, as well as assist with hiring a religious professional. There is also a strong longing for an Our Whole Lives program.   Participants shared wishes for multigenerational opportunities for their families and also for people to get to know one another across the generations.  There is an aspiration for children and youth to be involved in the wider church experience, including worship and arts, social justice projects and other affinity groups. 

Concrete next steps:

  • Religious Education Task force should decide commitment of congregation towards a religious professional, including hours available financially, and then create appropriate job description.  (See attached document on staffing)
  • Once a religious professional is hired, a Religious Education Committee should be selected (Hired religious professional should create this committee with the help of the minister, key leaders from the Religious Education Task force, and also families)
  • Hold an additional stakeholder meeting using format from consultant for anyone who was not able to attend so that all voices can be heard.  This will also keep the issue at the forefront and will keep people thinking about the children and youth of the congregation. 

Specific suggested next steps: (Responsibility for these steps may be held by the congregation as a whole, the hired religious professional, the Religious Education Task, the Religious Education Committee or Minister.  They may also be shared between more than one person or group- to be determined).

  • A congregational commitment to children, youth and families in the congregation.  This is to be shared by all.  This should be a creation of a family and child-friendly culture.  All areas of church lift should have conversations about how they can focus on families, including congregational life, hospitality, worship, and social justice committees.  The aspiration to not only create a family-friendly culture for families already present will also attract families visiting and families looking to visit the church. 
    • Possibly look at a study on Family Ministry, (or professional development retreat on the topic) to be offered to a group of congregants focusing on the issue.  (Resources could be provided by Mid America region)
  • Find all of the congregants trained in Our Whole Lives and determine an age group to begin with to offer Our Whole Lives programming for.  Participants might be recruited from outside of the congregation, and local UCC churches. Commit to offering at least one section of OWL, and set a goal to add Elementary OWL 1-2 years down the road. 
  • Offer and Adult Religious Education class on Unitarian Universalist identity.  Often, congregants are hesitant to participate as volunteers with children and youth if they are unsure of their own Unitarian Universalist identity.  This could be a lay-led small group style class.  This would also lay the groundwork for the creation of an Adult Religious Education program at First Unitarian of South Bend.  Some options might be:  Wellspring, Tapestry of Faith programs such as What Moves Us: Unitarian Universalist Theology or What We Choose: Ethics for Unitarian Universalists. 
  • Create friendly child and youth spaces.  Create a family friendly “Wee Worship” area in the back of the worship space, including a rug for floor play, soft, quiet toys and a rocking chair.  Visiting families will feel very welcome when they see the space.  Create some play space in the yard of the church.  This might include a small playground, etc.  Children will appreciate it, and community members will see the church’s commitment to creating an inviting play space for children. 
  • Invite children into leadership.  Brainstorm ways both children and youth can have meaningful roles throughout the church.  This might include, readings during service, lighting the chalice, serving on the board, serving on the Religious Education Committee, writing newsletters, hospitality teams, etc etc. 
  • Create a team to design family friendly multigenerational activities for all ages to invite people into community with one another.  These might be monthly movie nights, weekday potlucks with programming attached to it, Halloween, and other holiday parties.  This list could go on and on with ideas. 
  • Social Justice.  Design service projects for all ages.  Commit to church-wide efforts that all ages can be involved with.  This is a prime area for children, youth and adults to be able to live out our Unitarian Universalist values side by side. 
  • Create opportunities for families to be together to navigate the challenges of parenting and raising a family.  This could include time for sharing a meal and creating community together, offering childcare for parents to have respite, and a time for children to have fun together at church.  More specific curriculum could also be offered for families to discuss raising children as Unitarian Universalists.  This might be a small group ministry style setting while children are in a play group.  Evensong for Families is a curriculum that could be used.  Another option might be Family Circles –by Sheila Schuh UU Family Circle Training – A new bi-annual offering for families wanting to integrate UU values more deeply into home life. Basics of nonviolent communication, family circle process, mindfulness practice, and gratitude practice will be shared. (Contact Sheila at SheilaS@rochesterunitarian.org, 585-271-9070, x109 or Rev. Bob Renjili)
  • Determine family needs/trends for attendance and participation.  It may or may not be Sunday mornings.  There may be a need for weekday options for participation.  Clarify ways in which families, children and youth wish to participate in church life and find ways to meet those various needs.  (For ex.  Offer one multigenerational Sunday morning class, but offer a Wednesday night program with a meal and more age specific programming).  Offer Our Whole Lives at a time when it will not leave any visiting youth feeling unwelcome.  (A time other than Sunday morning).