Excerpt from the "Small
Congregations Growth Workshop"
Several factors distinguish growing
and vital congregations. The most crucial issue is a congregation's
willingness to change. David Roozen and Kirk Hadaway, in their
research on church growth, note, "Simply adding a program
designed to help churches grow will not produce sustained growth
in a declining church. . . lasting changes need to be made in
their identity, vision and direction."
To grow is to change. The single most important growth
related action is moving to embrace an Outward Orientation. Churches that
solely focus on their existing members will
not be successful in their growth efforts and maintaining new
memberships. Outward Orientation moves the congregation to become
more extroverted in its actions rather than introverted. This
shift calls upon the members to mature their own faith, as well
as to alter the community building activities and organizational
practices to becoming more of a presence with the surrounding
community. Each member can become outwardly oriented and help
with the process of growth.
How can you do that?
Here are some ideas:
1. Live by UU principles and
participate in community events and organizations that reflect UU Principles.
2. When someone asks you about
your religious and spiritual beliefs, share them..
- Carry a "7 Principles" card with you and give it
to people when they ask about UUism.
- Talk with someone you don't know at the coffee hour.
- Bring a non-member to a Sunday service or church social.
3. Show your UU identity, and
when someone asks about it, tell them!
- Wear a UU T-shirt.
- Put a UU decal on your
car or home window.
- Wear chalice
jewelry or a chalice lapel pin.
Be a steward of our faith every day of the week . . .
at church, at home, at work, and in the community!
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Unitarian 
